London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are fired over the River Thames at midnight on Thursday 31 December 2026, from the London Eye and from barges moored beside it. The display lasts twelve to fifteen minutes, the riverside viewing areas are ticketed, and the other two ways to watch it are from a boat on the water or from a free viewpoint further out.
- Date and time
- Thursday 31 December 2026, at midnight, 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
- Twelve to fifteen minutes, with more than 12,000 fireworks.
- Tickets
- The riverside viewing areas are ticketed, with capacity capped at around 100,000. Sales for this edition have not been announced.
- 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.
Between Big Ben, whose twelve chimes mark midnight, and The Shard with its countdown lights, the centre of the night is the London Eye — and the moment the last chime fades the sky above it goes up. It is how London hands 2026 over to 2027, and it is watched by more people on the riverbank than any other event in the city’s calendar.
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 — not on sale yet for this edition
- 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
Ticket sales for 31 December 2026 have not been announced and no release date has been published. This section will be updated the day it is.
What is known is how the last edition worked, and it is a reasonable guide to what to expect — not a promise:
- Tickets were released in two waves, a first one in October and a smaller second one in December.
- Prices were £55 for Category A (Blue, Pink, White areas) and £40 for Category B (Red, Green, Orange), plus a booking fee.
- Residents of a London postcode paid £20 less per ticket, so £35 and £20.
- Each person could buy up to four tickets. Larger groups needed a second adult to buy, all tickets for the same area and the same entry gate, and everyone arriving together.
- Moving between viewing areas during the night was not allowed.
Waiting for tickets? There is already a way to see them
The riverside allocation is limited and it sells out. It also buys a place standing in a crowd on the bank, in the cold, with the walk home afterwards — and if you miss the release, there is no second chance at the same spot.
On a New Year’s Eve cruise the view is part of the fare, together with dinner or the party on board, the bar, and a seat until the river empties. The boats for 31 December 2026 are on sale now.
See New Year’s Eve cruisesMap 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 one has its own entry gate, its own nearest stations and its own arrival route, and on the night you cannot move from one to another.
The map below shows the gates, the stations and the walking routes: download the map of viewing areas and arrival routes. The 2026 map has not been published yet, so this is last season’s — normally confirmed with only minor changes. We will replace it the day the new one is released.
Accessibility
The Orange viewing area on Albert Embankment is the one designated for spectators with access needs. Last season it offered reduced crowding, a drop-off point nearby, accessible toilets, a Mobiloo unit with hoist and changing table, first aid, some seating — you could also bring your own — and a hearing loop. The other areas are step-free but crowded and loud.
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 | Price | View | Comfort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Recommended New Year’s Eve cruises |
From £369 dinner or party on board |
Open view from the river, no crowd in front of you | Seated, indoors and out, warm, with a bar and toilets | Couples, small groups, anyone who does not want to queue |
| Official ticketed areas | £40–£55 last season (£20–£35 for Londoners) |
Closest to the launch points, straight across the water | Standing only, gates close hours before midnight | Being at the heart of the event, whatever it takes |
| Free viewpoints | Free | Partial or distant, depending on where you stand | Crowded, exposed, no facilities | Last-minute plans and tight budgets |
One line the table cannot hold: the boats already on sale for 31 December 2026 can be cancelled free of charge up to 30 days before departure. Tickets for the official viewing areas are not refundable, and the boats that have not reopened yet still carry last season’s terms — each boat’s page says which applies.
See all New Year’s Eve cruisesNew Year’s Eve cruises on the Thames
The Thames fleet sails on the last night of the year from piers in the middle of London — Westminster, Embankment, Bankside, Tower Millennium, London Bridge City — and comes back in between one and two in the morning, once the bridges have emptied.
They come in three kinds, and the difference matters more than the name of the boat:
- Dinner on board — you eat on the boat, usually seated at a table for the evening.
- 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 to midnight.
Most of the fleet sails and takes up position on the river for the display; two of the vessels are permanently moored and never leave the pier, which is a real difference on the night. Each boat’s page states which one it is, the pier it leaves from, the boarding time 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:
- Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge — good sightlines, slightly back from the main area.
- Millennium Bridge and Southwark Bridge — closer in, but the bend of the river blocks part of the view.
- Parliament Square — Big Ben and Westminster in the frame, a short walk from the London Eye.
- Trafalgar Square — central and lively, but only a partial view of the sky above the river.
- Alexandra Palace — a hilltop view over the whole city, distant but wide.
- Primrose Hill — closed on the night last season after more than 30,000 people gathered there the year before. No decision has been published for this edition.
However you choose to spend it, the fireworks of 31 December 2026 will fill the night with light and noise and the feeling that 2027 has properly started. The only thing left to decide is where you will be standing — or sitting.
Before you go
- Arriving — last season the gates of the ticketed areas opened at 8:00 pm and closed at 10:30 pm. Whatever you have booked, count on being in place well before midnight.
- Bridges — several are closed to traffic and some to pedestrians. 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.
- If you have no ticket — a boat, 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 the return before the outbound. Our guide to New Year’s Eve transport in London covers night services, closures and the routes that stay open.
If you are on a boat, the question answers itself: you step off at the pier you left from, after the crowds on the bank have gone.
London New Year’s Eve Fireworks – FAQ
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When do London New Year’s Eve fireworks tickets go on sale?
No release date has been published for 31 December 2026. Last season the tickets came out in two waves, a first release in October and a smaller second one in December, and they sold quickly. That is a precedent, not a commitment: this page is updated the day the date is announced.
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How much do the London fireworks tickets cost?
Prices for this edition have not been confirmed. Last season they were £55 for Category A (Blue, Pink and White areas) and £40 for Category B (Red, Green and Orange), plus a booking fee, with £20 off per ticket for residents of a London postcode — so £35 and £20.
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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 nobody stands in front of you, you have a seat, a bar and a way home, and the view is included in the fare.
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Are there free places to watch the fireworks?
Yes, but not on the riverbank inside the ticketed areas. Free views are possible from Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Alexandra Palace, among others. They get very crowded and the view is partial or distant.
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What time do the fireworks start?
At midnight, straight after Big Ben’s twelve chimes. Last season the gates of the ticketed areas opened at 8:00 pm and closed at 10:30 pm, so arriving early was the only way in.
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What is the best alternative if tickets sell out?
A New Year’s Eve cruise on the Thames. The view is part of the fare, along with dinner or the party on board, and the boats already on sale for 31 December 2026 can be cancelled free of charge up to 30 days before departure — which the official tickets cannot.
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Can visitors from abroad buy fireworks tickets?
Yes. Tickets are sold to UK residents and international visitors alike; only London postcodes get the discount. Last season sales were handled exclusively by Ticketmaster and tickets bought elsewhere were not valid. The vendor for this edition has not been announced.
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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 reduced crowding, accessible toilets, a Mobiloo unit, first aid and a drop-off point nearby. The other areas are step-free but crowded and loud.
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What can I bring into the viewing areas?
Last season small bags, warm clothes and sealed non-alcoholic drinks were allowed; large bags, alcohol and anything dangerous were not, and there were security checks at every gate. Once inside, moving to a different viewing area was not permitted.
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How long do the fireworks last?
Twelve to fifteen minutes, with more than 12,000 fireworks launched from the London Eye and from barges on the river.
