London New Year's Eve Fireworks 2026: Tickets, Prices & How to Get Them
If you have ever wanted to welcome the New Year with the London Eye lighting up the sky, Big Ben counting down to midnight and fireworks exploding above the River Thames, now is the time to start planning.
London’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks are returning on 31 December 2026, welcoming 2027 with the capital’s huge riverside celebration. And if you want to watch the display from one of the official viewing areas, you need a ticket.
The first batch of tickets goes on sale at 12 noon on Friday 23 October 2026, with tickets available exclusively through Ticketmaster. Around 100,000 people are expected to attend the official event along the Thames, so this is one of those London events where waiting until December is probably not the best strategy.
Here is everything you need to know before tickets go on sale.
When are London's New Year's Eve fireworks?
The official London New Year's Eve fireworks will take place on Thursday 31 December 2026, as London says goodbye to 2026 and welcomes 2027.
The celebration takes place around the River Thames, with the London Eye at the centre of the display. The countdown begins with Big Ben’s famous bongs at midnight, followed by thousands of fireworks, lighting effects and music.
The event is expected to attract around 100,000 ticket holders, while millions more watch the celebration on television and online around the world.
The fireworks themselves are only part of what makes the night feel special. You are standing in central London, surrounded by the Thames, Westminster, the London Eye and thousands of other people all counting down to the same moment.
And yes, it is one of those London experiences that looks even more impressive in person.
When do the 2026 fireworks tickets go on sale?
This is the important date:
Friday 23 October 2026 at 12 noon
That is when the first batch of tickets will be released.
There will also be a smaller final batch later in the year, but the exact date for that release has not yet been announced.
Demand for the official fireworks is consistently high, so if you know you want to attend, the first sale is the obvious opportunity to try.
Where should you buy them?
Only buy your tickets through the authorised Ticketmaster sale.
Buy London New Year's Eve Fireworks tickets through Ticketmaster
The Mayor of London has specifically warned that tickets purchased through other websites or unofficial sources will not be valid for entry.
That is particularly important with an event this popular. If you see someone advertising an “official” ticket somewhere else, don't assume it is genuine.
How much do London New Year's Eve fireworks tickets cost?
There are two headline price levels depending on the viewing area and whether the person buying the ticket has a London postcode.
For London residents
Tickets cost:
£20 for the lower-priced viewing areas
£35 for the higher-priced viewing areas
For visitors and people outside London
Tickets cost:
£40 for the lower-priced viewing areas
£55 for the higher-priced viewing areas
There is also a £2.66 booking fee per ticket charged by the ticketing provider.
So, for example, a London resident buying a £20 ticket will pay the ticket price plus the applicable booking fee.
The London resident discount is based on having a London postcode. Ticketmaster says postcode verification takes place during booking using the billing address attached to the payment card, and proof of address may also be requested when entering the event.
Which viewing areas can you choose?
There are six official ticketed viewing areas for the 2026 fireworks:
Blue
Red
Pink
Green
White
Orange – Accessible Viewing Area
The areas are spread around both sides of the Thames and offer different perspectives of the fireworks.
And this is worth knowing before you buy: you cannot simply walk between the different viewing areas on the night.
Your ticket is for the area you choose, and you need to use the entrance associated with that area.
What is the best viewing area?
There isn't one answer for everyone because the best area depends on whether you care most about a direct view, being close to the London Eye or making your journey home easier.
Blue Area – head-on view
The Blue Area covers Victoria Embankment between Westminster Bridge and the Golden Jubilee Footbridge.
It is on the north side of the Thames and provides a head-on view directly opposite the London Eye.
For someone who wants a classic view of the fireworks with the London Eye directly in front of them, this is one of the most appealing choices.
Green Area – behind the London Eye
The Green Area is on the south side of the river, behind the London Eye.
It offers an up-close view from directly behind the London Eye, giving you a very different perspective from the Blue Area.
Pink Area – Waterloo Bridge
Pink tickets provide access to Waterloo Bridge.
This gives you a partial, side-on view of the London Eye and fireworks, rather than the head-on perspective offered by Blue.
White Area – Westminster Bridge
White tickets provide access to Westminster Bridge.
It is another south-side option, offering a partial side view close to the London Eye.
Red Area – further down the Thames
The Red Area covers Victoria Embankment between the Golden Jubilee Footbridge and Temple Avenue.
It offers a side view further down the river from the London Eye.
Orange Area – accessible viewing
The Orange Area is the designated accessible viewing area.
It is located on Albert Embankment beside St Thomas’ Hospital, on the riverside opposite the Houses of Parliament.
It has a side view of the London Eye but is designed with accessibility in mind, including accessible toilets, a hearing loop, seating and a less crowded environment than the other viewing areas.
When can you enter?
The ticketed viewing areas are not places where you simply turn up at 11:45pm.
For the 2026 event, entry to the viewing areas is scheduled between 8pm and 10:30pm.
That means you should plan to be in central London well before midnight.
Do not make the mistake of thinking you can arrive at 11:50pm, find your entrance and walk straight in.
New Year's Eve in central London is extremely busy, and there are significant restrictions around the event.
Can you buy a ticket on the night?
No.
Tickets will not be available to buy at the event on New Year's Eve. Everyone attending the official ticketed viewing areas needs to have secured a ticket in advance.
The Mayor of London also says that anyone without a ticket will not be allowed into the specially designated viewing areas.
So if the first sale sells out, you cannot simply turn up at the Thames and expect to join the official crowd.
How many tickets can one person buy?
You can buy up to four tickets per person.
For larger families or groups, another adult can purchase another allocation of up to four tickets. However, groups should plan carefully because everyone needs to travel together and may be asked to show photo ID at the entrance.
If you are going with friends, make sure you book the same viewing area.
You won't be able to move between areas once you are there.
What about children?
Children can attend, but the organisers strongly recommend against bringing young children because this is a late-night, crowded outdoor event.
Anyone under 16 who attends must be accompanied by an adult, and everyone needs their own ticket regardless of age.
If you are bringing children, think carefully about which viewing area you choose and how you will get home afterwards.
New Year's Eve crowds can be intense even for adults.
What time does the fireworks event start?
Ticketmaster lists the event as getting underway from 8pm on 31 December.
The viewing areas then close to arrivals at 10:30pm, leaving you inside the event area ahead of the midnight countdown.
The main spectacle happens at midnight, beginning with Big Ben's bongs before the fireworks fill the sky around the London Eye.
The 2026 display will also feature lighting and music, with the show looking back at the year that has passed before welcoming 2027.
Why are London's New Year's Eve fireworks ticketed?
This isn't a new change.
London's official New Year's Eve fireworks have been a ticketed event since 2014.
According to City Hall, ticketing helps make the event safer and more manageable, while supporting the long-term sustainability of the celebration.
With roughly 100,000 people attending around the Thames, organising controlled viewing areas is a very different proposition from simply letting everyone gather along the river.
What happens to the rest of central London?
This is something visitors sometimes underestimate.
The fireworks aren't just an isolated event happening around the London Eye. New Year's Eve causes major changes across central London, with crowds, road closures, altered pedestrian routes and extremely busy public transport.
Ticketmaster specifically warns that many bridges will be closed to both traffic and pedestrians around the event and that you won't be able to cross them before or after the fireworks.
Your viewing area therefore affects more than your view of the fireworks.
It can also affect how you arrive and how you get home.
Check your route before New Year's Eve
Once you have your ticket, look carefully at the entrance information for your particular viewing area.
For example:
Blue uses entrances accessed from the north side.
Red is also accessed from the north side.
Pink is accessed from the south side.
Green is accessed from the south side.
White is accessed from the south side.
Orange is accessed from the south side.
The stations and routes associated with each area are different.
Transport will also be exceptionally busy after midnight, so don't assume that the nearest station to your hotel will be the easiest one to use.
Ticketmaster recommends planning your journey in advance through Transport for London.
Plan your New Year's Eve journey with TfL
What if you don't get a ticket?
Don't panic immediately.
City Hall has confirmed that a smaller final batch of tickets will go on sale later in 2026. The date has not yet been announced.
However, if you don't get an official fireworks ticket, don't head towards one of the ticketed viewing areas hoping you can watch from inside.
You won't be able to enter without a valid ticket.
London has plenty of other ways to celebrate New Year's Eve, including restaurants, parties, river cruises, theatre shows and rooftop events. You can also watch the official fireworks broadcast from home.
Is it worth buying a ticket?
If seeing London's famous New Year's Eve fireworks in person is something you've always wanted to do, yes, this is the sale to pay attention to.
The experience isn't simply about watching fireworks.
You are standing beside the Thames with the London Eye in front of you, Big Ben marking midnight and tens of thousands of people around you counting down to a new year.
But it is also important to know what you are signing up for.
This is a huge outdoor event in the middle of winter. It will be crowded, you will be standing for long periods in most viewing areas, public transport will be busy and getting home afterwards requires some planning.
If you're happy with all of that, the atmosphere can be unforgettable.
Your London New Year's Eve 2026 checklist
If you're planning to try for tickets on 23 October, have these ready:
Before noon on 23 October:
Decide how many people are going.
Decide whether you qualify for the London resident ticket.
Choose which viewing area you prefer.
Check the entrance and transport route for that area.
Make sure your payment details are ready.
Use the official Ticketmaster website.
Avoid unofficial ticket sellers.
After booking:
Check your ticket details carefully.
Keep the booking confirmation somewhere accessible.
Make sure the names on the tickets are correct.
Plan your journey to the correct entrance.
Check TfL closer to the date for New Year's Eve travel changes.
Dress for a long winter evening outdoors.
Remember that you cannot move between viewing areas.
And perhaps most importantly, don't leave the journey home until midnight.
Think about where you will be standing, which side of the Thames you will finish on and where you want to go afterwards.
The big date to remember
London's New Year's Eve fireworks are one of those events where the planning starts surprisingly early.
The fireworks might not happen until 31 December, but the first ticket sale happens on:
Friday 23 October 2026 at 12 noon
Tickets are being sold exclusively through Ticketmaster, with prices starting at £20 for London residents and £40 for non-Londoners, rising to £35 and £55 respectively depending on the viewing area, plus the booking fee.
If you want to experience the official London fireworks with the London Eye at the centre of the celebration, this is the date to put in your calendar.
And if you miss the first batch, keep an eye out for the smaller release later in the year.
London has a habit of making New Year's Eve feel like a huge occasion — and when the Thames, Big Ben, the London Eye and fireworks all come together at midnight, it is easy to understand why.
Final thoughts
There is something particularly special about starting a new year in London.
You can spend the afternoon wandering through the festive streets, have dinner somewhere in the city, make your way towards the Thames in the evening and then watch one of the world's most recognisable New Year's Eve celebrations unfold around you.
Just remember that the fireworks are ticketed, the viewing areas are controlled, and the night requires more planning than an ordinary evening in central London.
If you're serious about going, 23 October is the date to remember.
Planning your next London day out? Discover more neighbourhood guides, hidden gems, food spots and things to do on LondonYaar.com.
Follow @rohan.londonyaar for more London places, stories and things worth knowing before you visit.