When do London New Year’s Eve fireworks tickets go on sale?

Tickets for the fireworks on 31 December 2026 are sold in two batches, exclusively through Ticketmaster. The first is on sale from midday (UK time) on Friday 23 October 2026; a final, smaller batch follows later in the year, on a date still to be announced. Last season the tickets sold quickly.

How much do the London fireworks tickets cost?

£55 for Category A (Blue, Pink and White areas) and £40 for Category B (Red, Green and Orange), including VAT, plus a booking fee — the same as last year. Residents with a London postcode get a £20 discount per ticket, bringing the prices to £35 and £20.

Where is the best place to watch the London fireworks?

The closest views are from the official ticketed areas on the riverbank, straight across from the launch points. The most comfortable is from the water: on a New Year’s Eve cruise you watch from the river, with dinner or a party on board depending on the cruise.

Are there free places to watch the fireworks?

Yes, but not on the riverbank inside the ticketed areas. Free views are possible from Vauxhall Bridge, the Millennium Bridge and Alexandra Palace, among others. They get very crowded, the view is partial or distant, and access to bridges may be restricted on the night.

What time do the fireworks start?

At midnight, straight after Big Ben’s twelve chimes. Entry to the ticketed areas is from 8pm to 10:30pm.

What is the best alternative if tickets sell out?

A New Year’s Eve cruise on the Thames. You watch the fireworks from the river, and depending on the cruise the evening includes dinner or a party on board. Cruises for 31 December 2026 are on sale now.

Can visitors from abroad buy fireworks tickets?

Yes. Tickets are sold to UK residents and international visitors alike; only London postcodes get the discount. Sales are handled exclusively by Ticketmaster, and tickets bought anywhere else are not valid.

Are the viewing areas accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes. The Orange area on Albert Embankment is the one designated for spectators with access needs, with fewer crowds, some seating, a hearing loop, accessible toilets, a Mobiloo unit with a hoist and changing table, first aid and a vehicle drop-off point about 700 metres away. The other areas are step-free but crowded and loud.

What can I bring into the viewing areas?

Under this year’s terms, backpacks, suitcases, glass bottles and other glass containers, fireworks and sparklers, laser pens, bicycles and drones are not allowed. The areas are standing only: no chairs, pushchairs or prams, except wheelchairs and, in the Orange area only, compact folding chairs. Last season alcohol was not allowed either, while small bags and sealed non-alcoholic drinks were. Security searches at the gates are mandatory, and once inside you cannot move to another area or leave and come back.

How long do the fireworks last?

Usually twelve to fifteen minutes, as in recent years, with thousands of fireworks launched from the London Eye and from barges on the river.

London New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2026

London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are fired over the River Thames at midnight at the end of Thursday 31 December 2026, from the London Eye and from barges moored beside it. The display usually lasts twelve to fifteen minutes and the riverside viewing areas are ticketed. You can also watch from a Thames cruise or from a more distant free viewpoint.

Date and time: Midnight as Thursday 31 December 2026 turns into Friday 1 January 2027, straight after Big Ben’s twelve chimes.
Where: Over the Thames around the London Eye, with Westminster and The Shard in view along the river.
How long: Usually twelve to fifteen minutes, with thousands of fireworks.
Tickets: The riverside viewing areas are ticketed, with capacity capped at around 100,000. Tickets are on sale from midday (UK time) on Friday 23 October 2026, through Ticketmaster only.
Free to watch: Not from the riverside areas. Free views are possible from bridges and high ground further out, partial or distant.
From the water: New Year’s Eve cruises on the Thames are on sale now and the view is part of the fare.

The display is centred on the London Eye. Big Ben’s twelve chimes mark midnight, The Shard lights up with its countdown, and the fireworks begin as the last chime fades, at the first moment of 2027. No other event in London’s calendar draws as many people to the riverbank.

Since the event became ticketed, capacity along the river has been capped at around 100,000 places. That leaves three ways to be there:

Buy a ticket for one of the official viewing areas along the Thames — on sale from 23 October, through Ticketmaster only
Book a New Year’s Eve cruise and watch from the water
Find a free viewpoint further out, with a partial or distant view

Tickets for the London New Year’s Eve fireworks

The Mayor of London has confirmed that the fireworks return on 31 December 2026. Tickets are sold in two batches, exclusively through Ticketmaster: the first from midday (UK time) on Friday 23 October 2026, and a final, smaller batch later in the year, on a date still to be announced. Tickets bought anywhere else are not valid. For official updates on ticket releases, viewing areas and entry requirements, visit the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve event page.

The rules for this year’s sale:

Prices are the same as last year: £55 for Category A (Blue, Pink and White areas) and £40 for Category B (Red, Green and Orange), including VAT, plus a booking fee.
Residents with a London postcode get a £20 discount per ticket, bringing the prices to £35 and £20. The postcode is checked against the billing address of the card used to pay.
Each person can buy up to four tickets. In a larger group, another adult can buy up to four more, and the group must travel to the event together.
Book the same viewing area if you want to stay together: you cannot move between areas on the night.
Tickets cannot be refunded and are not sold on the night. If you cannot go, you can resell them at face value through Ticketmaster or transfer them to someone else by changing the name on the ticket.

Another way to see the fireworks: a Thames cruise

The riverside allocation is limited and it sells out. If you miss the first batch, there is a final, smaller release later in the year, and tickets can also come back through Ticketmaster’s official resale at face value.

On a New Year’s Eve cruise you watch the fireworks from the river, with dinner or a party on board depending on the boat. Cruises for 31 December 2026 are on sale now.

See New Year’s Eve cruises

Map and viewing areas

There are six official viewing areas along the Thames — Blue, Red, Pink, Green and White, plus the accessible Orange zone on Albert Embankment. Each area has its own numbered entry gates, nearest stations and arrival route; the Blue and Red areas have two gates each, and you choose yours when you book. On the night you cannot move from one area to another.

Area	Ticket category	Bank	View of the London Eye	Station and gate
Blue Victoria Embankment, Westminster Bridge to Golden Jubilee Footbridge	Category A	North bank	Head-on view, directly opposite	Victoria (gate 1); Charing Cross or Embankment (gate 2)
Red Victoria Embankment, Golden Jubilee Footbridge to Temple Avenue	Category B	North bank	Side view, further downriver	Holborn (gate 4); Blackfriars (gate 5)
Pink Waterloo Bridge only	Category A	South bank	Side view	Southwark (gate 6)
Green Behind the London Eye	Category B	South bank	Up-close view, directly behind the Eye	Waterloo (gate 7)
White Westminster Bridge only	Category A	South bank	Side view, close to the Eye	Waterloo (gate 8)
Orange Albert Embankment, by St Thomas’ Hospital; the accessible area	Category B	South bank	Partial side view	Waterloo (gate 9)

Holborn station has no step-free access. From Waterloo Bridge (Pink) you cannot cross to the other areas, and the White area cannot be reached from Westminster Underground station.

The map below shows the gates, the stations and the walking routes: download the map of viewing areas and arrival routes. It is the map Ticketmaster is using for the 2026 sale, unchanged from last year.

Accessibility

The Orange viewing area on Albert Embankment is the one designated for spectators with access needs. It has fewer crowds, some seating (you can also bring your own folding seat), a hearing loop, first aid, accessible toilets and a Mobiloo unit with a hoist and changing table.

A vehicle drop-off point is about 700 metres away, along pavements with dropped kerbs; it is best used before 8pm, when road closures start to restrict access. The other areas are step-free but crowded and loud, with no seating.

Where to watch the London fireworks in 2026

There are three ways to see the display: the official ticketed areas on the riverbank, a New Year’s Eve cruise on the Thames, or a free viewpoint further out. They differ less in what you see than in what the night costs you in queuing, standing and getting home.

Option	What it costs	View	Comfort	Best for
Recommended New Year’s Eve cruises	Varies by cruise; dinner or onboard party included according to the package	Open view from the river	Away from the crowds on the bank; bar, drinks and seating depend on the cruise	Couples, small groups, anyone who prefers to avoid the long wait in the riverside viewing areas
Official ticketed areas	£40–£55 (£20–£35 for Londoners)	Closest to the launch points, straight across the water	Standing only, except for some seating in the Orange area; entry closes at 10:30pm	Being as close to the fireworks as possible
Free viewpoints	Free	Partial or distant, depending on where you stand	Crowded, exposed, no facilities	Last-minute plans and tight budgets

What the table leaves out: a riverside ticket gets you a place on the bank for the fireworks, among around 100,000 people. A cruise covers the whole evening, with dinner or a party on board depending on the package and the view from the river, and it can be booked today.

See all New Year’s Eve cruises

New Year’s Eve cruises on the Thames

New Year’s Eve cruises leave from piers in central London during the evening and come back after midnight, once the display is over.

There are three types of New Year’s Eve cruise:

Dinner on board — dinner is served at the table on the boat.
Restaurant dinner plus cruise — dinner ashore first, then you board later for the fireworks.
Party on board — no dinner, a DJ or a live band, and dancing past midnight.

Whichever you choose, the boat takes up position on the river for the display. Each boat’s page gives the pier, the boarding and return times and what is included: compare the New Year’s Eve cruises before choosing.

Free viewing spots

If you do not get a ticket, the fireworks can still be seen for free from further out. Expect a partial view, a large crowd and a long walk afterwards:

Vauxhall Bridge — good sightlines, further back from the main area.
Millennium Bridge and Southwark Bridge — closer in, but the bend of the river blocks part of the view.
Alexandra Palace — a hilltop view over the whole city, distant but wide.
Primrose Hill — closed for New Year’s Eve 2026. The park will be closed from 8pm on 30 December until 6am on 1 January and cannot be used to watch the fireworks.

Access to bridges and surrounding streets may be restricted on the night, so check the latest official travel and closure advice before setting off.

Before you go

Arriving — the ticketed areas can be entered from 8pm to 10:30pm, only through the gate you chose when booking, and once you are in there is no re-entry. Whatever you have booked, count on being in place well before midnight.
Bridges and roads — Westminster Bridge, the Golden Jubilee Footbridge, Lambeth Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge are closed before and after the event, and vehicles are kept out of the event area from 2pm. Check your route before you set off, not on the night.
Cold — the riverbank is exposed and you will be standing still for hours. Warm layers matter more than a good coat.
Food and facilities — every viewing area has places to buy food and drink, accessible toilets and first aid.
ID — the lead booker may be asked to show photo ID matching the name on the tickets: a passport or driving licence, or a good-quality photocopy of either. If you booked with the London resident discount, you may also be asked for proof of address.
Digital tickets — Ticketmaster uses SafeTix mobile tickets for this event. Have your ticket ready to display on your phone at the entrance.
Children — everyone needs a ticket, whatever their age. Under-16s must be with an adult, and the organisers advise against bringing young children to a late, crowded outdoor event.
Without a riverside ticket — a Thames cruise, a free viewpoint further out, or one of the bars, restaurants and clubs that run their own countdown.

Getting there and getting home

Central London is at its busiest on New Year’s Eve: roads close, stations become one-way and the walk back is long. Plan your journey home before you set off. Our guide to New Year’s Eve transport in London covers night services, closures and the routes that stay open.

On a cruise, each boat’s page says where and when it brings you back, so plan the journey home from there.

London New Year’s Eve Fireworks – FAQ

When do London New Year’s Eve fireworks tickets go on sale?

Tickets for the fireworks on 31 December 2026 are sold in two batches, exclusively through Ticketmaster. The first is on sale from midday (UK time) on Friday 23 October 2026; a final, smaller batch follows later in the year, on a date still to be announced. Last season the tickets sold quickly.
How much do the London fireworks tickets cost?

£55 for Category A (Blue, Pink and White areas) and £40 for Category B (Red, Green and Orange), including VAT, plus a booking fee — the same as last year. Residents with a London postcode get a £20 discount per ticket, bringing the prices to £35 and £20.
Where is the best place to watch the London fireworks?

The closest views are from the official ticketed areas on the riverbank, straight across from the launch points. The most comfortable is from the water: on a New Year’s Eve cruise you watch from the river, with dinner or a party on board depending on the cruise.
Are there free places to watch the fireworks?

Yes, but not on the riverbank inside the ticketed areas. Free views are possible from Vauxhall Bridge, the Millennium Bridge and Alexandra Palace, among others. They get very crowded, the view is partial or distant, and access to bridges may be restricted on the night.
What time do the fireworks start?

At midnight, straight after Big Ben’s twelve chimes. Entry to the ticketed areas is from 8pm to 10:30pm.
What is the best alternative if tickets sell out?

A New Year’s Eve cruise on the Thames. You watch the fireworks from the river, and depending on the cruise the evening includes dinner or a party on board. Cruises for 31 December 2026 are on sale now.
Can visitors from abroad buy fireworks tickets?

Yes. Tickets are sold to UK residents and international visitors alike; only London postcodes get the discount. Sales are handled exclusively by Ticketmaster, and tickets bought anywhere else are not valid.
Are the viewing areas accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes. The Orange area on Albert Embankment is the one designated for spectators with access needs, with fewer crowds, some seating, a hearing loop, accessible toilets, a Mobiloo unit with a hoist and changing table, first aid and a vehicle drop-off point about 700 metres away. The other areas are step-free but crowded and loud.
What can I bring into the viewing areas?

Under this year’s terms, backpacks, suitcases, glass bottles and other glass containers, fireworks and sparklers, laser pens, bicycles and drones are not allowed. The areas are standing only: no chairs, pushchairs or prams, except wheelchairs and, in the Orange area only, compact folding chairs. Last season alcohol was not allowed either, while small bags and sealed non-alcoholic drinks were. Security searches at the gates are mandatory, and once inside you cannot move to another area or leave and come back.
How long do the fireworks last?

Usually twelve to fifteen minutes, as in recent years, with thousands of fireworks launched from the London Eye and from barges on the river.