New Year’s Eve is usually a battle between the glitter ball dropping in Times Square and your willpower to stay awake past midnight. This year, the show wins. ABC and Dick Clark Productions have officially super-sized Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026, stretching the celebration to a record-breaking eight hours of live programming.
That’s an extra hour and a half of star-fueled chaos, sparkle, and music, running from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. ET on December 31. It will stream on Hulu the next day for anyone who falls asleep somewhere between 50 Cent and Mariah Carey.
This year’s lineup isn’t just stacked. It’s skyscraper-level stacked. Performers span genres, generations, and vibes, creating a sort of sonic buffet for anyone who likes music in any form. Artists hitting the stage include heavyweights like Charlie Puth, Chappell Roan, Demi Lovato, Mariah Carey, Maren Morris, and Post Malone. Add in OneRepublic, Pitbull, 6lack, AJR, Little Big Town, and Le Sserafim, and suddenly the show feels like every playlist you’ve ever loved decided to unite for one night only.
© Disney General Entertainment ConEven better, the show is truly embracing its role as the country’s live New Year’s block party. The performances and countdowns won’t just unfold in New York City. The celebration spans multiple cities, including Las Vegas, Chicago, Puerto Rico, and more. It’s a coast-to-coast celebration that basically eliminates the fear of missing out. Wherever the party is, the cameras are rolling.
Ryan Seacrest returns as host, this time joined in Times Square by Rita Ora, who’s bringing her charm and high-voltage energy to the cold streets of Manhattan. Chance the Rapper is grabbing the mic in Chicago, leading the very first live Central Time Zone countdown. Meanwhile, retired NFL star Rob Gronkowski reunites with Julianne Hough out in Las Vegas, where Julianne steps into her New Year’s Rockin’ Eve co-hosting debut.
© Penske MediaAnd because no New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is complete without a few surprises, details for the Puerto Rico festivities and the Times Square headliner are still under wraps. Think of it as the entertainment equivalent of a wrapped gift under the tree that no one is allowed to touch yet.
© Getty Images for Puerto Rico ConNow let’s talk performers. The list reads as a musical fever dream in the best possible way. It includes 50 Cent, Ciara, Goo Goo Dolls, Zara Larsson, Rick Springfield, Jessie Murph, Leon Thomas, Jordan Davis, New Kids on the Block, The All-American Rejects, Tucker Wetmore, Filmore, and DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! featuring Busta Rhymes, T.I., and Wyclef Jean.
Even the KPop world gets representation with KPop Demon Hunters: The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X. And yes, Maren Morris is taking the stage powered by Carnival Cruise Line. If anyone can make pop-country feel like a vacation, it’s her.
© Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeThe result is a show that feels bigger, louder, and more unpredictable than ever before. It’s an eight-hour sprint through memories, nostalgia, and future hits, wrapped in fireworks and sequins. This is the year to keep your makeup on past midnight, refill your champagne, and pretend you don’t have morning plans.
The celebration is gearing up to be the kind of night people talk about long after their confetti has been vacuumed from the carpet. It’s music history in real time. So tune in to ABC on 8 p.m.on December 31 and farewell 2025 with the best in music.
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