By Harry Nara · Last updated
- Viewing area gates open at 8pm, last entry 10:30pmThursday 31 December 2026
- Fireworks over the Thames at midnightThursday 31 December 2026
- Where
- Victoria Embankment and the South Bank, around the London Eye
- Tickets
- Ticketed
- Time of year
- December
- Dates
- Around the same dates every year
From the Mayor of London: Thursday 31 December 2026, gates from 8pm, last entry 10:30pm, the event ends at 12:30am. The first batch of tickets went on sale through Ticketmaster at noon on Friday 23 October 2026; the date of the second batch is still to be announced. Prices are unchanged from last year.
The midnight fireworks over the Thames can only be watched from six ticketed viewing areas, each with its own gate, station and side of the river, and you cannot move between them on the night. Choose your area by where you want to be when it ends as well as by the view, and arrive well before the last entry at half past ten. Tickets come only from Ticketmaster and sell out.
What London New Year’s Eve actually is
The Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve display is a fireworks show over the Thames at midnight, centred on the London Eye, with music played through the sound system in the viewing areas. City Hall runs it, and the riverside on both banks near the Eye is closed off into six ticketed viewing areas. Without a ticket you cannot get into any of them.
The areas sit on closed roads, so they are step-free, but they are standing only, crowded at the entrances and up to two kilometres from public transport. It is a late, cold night on your feet, and the organisers advise against bringing young children; under-16s need an adult with them, and everyone needs a ticket.
How the viewing areas compare
- Blue, for the head-on view. Victoria Embankment from Westminster Bridge to the Golden Jubilee footbridges, on the north bank and directly opposite the Eye. It is in the dearer price band, and you go in through Gate 1 from Victoria or Gate 2 from Charing Cross and Embankment.
- Green, for the closest view. The area directly behind the London Eye on the south bank, entered through Gate 7 from Waterloo. It is the nearest you can get to the display, and it sits in the cheaper price band.
- Red, Pink and White, for the side views. Red runs along the north bank from the footbridges to Temple Avenue, entered from Holborn or Blackfriars, and Holborn has no step-free access. Pink is Waterloo Bridge, reached from Southwark, and White is Westminster Bridge, reached from Waterloo, with no way in from Westminster station. Pink and White cost the same as Blue; Red is in the cheaper band.
- Orange, if crowds are the problem. The accessible area on the Albert Embankment, in front of St Thomas’ Hospital and opposite the Houses of Parliament. It has seating, a hearing loop, smaller crowds and a vehicle drop-off about 700 metres away, at the cost of a partial view, and it is about two kilometres from Waterloo.
Tickets and what it costs
There are two prices. The Blue, Pink and White areas cost £55 and the Red, Green and Orange areas £40, and a buyer with a London postcode pays £20 less on each ticket, checked against the billing address of the card. A small booking fee goes on top. Each person can buy up to four, and tickets are released in two batches through Ticketmaster, the only official seller.
There are no refunds. If you cannot go, resell at face value on Ticketmaster’s fan-to-fan resale or transfer the ticket into someone else’s name. The lead booker may be asked for photo ID that matches the tickets, and anyone with a Londoner’s discount may need proof of address at the gate.
Official information and booking: www.london.gov.uk/events/london-new-years-eve-2026
Getting there
Each area has its own numbered gate and recommended station, and those gates are the only way in. Westminster, Golden Jubilee, Lambeth, Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges are closed to people crossing before and after the event, so the river is hard to get over on foot that night. Pick an area on the side of the Thames you want to be on when it ends.
Gates open at 8pm and the last entry is 10:30pm, with no admission after the time on the ticket and no refund for arriving late. Allow far more time than a journey planner suggests: the stations near the river are very busy, and the walk from a station to some gates is up to two kilometres. Work out the trip home before you set off.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Booking different areas for one group
You cannot move between viewing areas on the night. If you are going with friends, everyone needs a ticket for the same area, or you will see in the new year on opposite sides of the river.
Arriving after half past ten
The last entry is 10:30pm and it is enforced, with no refund for anyone turned away. The entrances are the most crowded part of the night, so aim to reach your gate well before.
Bringing a backpack
Backpacks and suitcases are not allowed in, and neither are glass, chairs, pushchairs or sparklers. Carry a small bag and wear the layers instead of packing them.
Buying from anyone but Ticketmaster
Only Ticketmaster sells valid tickets, and the lead booker may be asked for photo ID that matches them. A ticket from a reseller can leave you outside the gate at midnight.
Other London events
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a ticket for the London New Year’s Eve fireworks?
Yes, to watch from the riverside viewing areas. People without a ticket are not allowed into them, and tickets come only from Ticketmaster.
How much are London New Year’s Eve fireworks tickets?
£55 for the Blue, Pink and White areas and £40 for the Red, Green and Orange, plus a booking fee. Buyers with a London postcode pay £20 less per ticket.
Which viewing area has the best view of the fireworks?
Blue, on Victoria Embankment, faces the London Eye head-on. Green, behind the Eye on the south bank, is the closest. The others are side views, and Orange, the accessible area, has a partial view.
What time should you arrive for the London fireworks?
Gates open at 8pm and the last entry is 10:30pm. There is no admission after that and no refund, so leave time for crowded stations and a walk of up to two kilometres.
Can you take children to the London New Year’s Eve fireworks?
The organisers advise against bringing young children to a late, crowded outdoor event. Under-16s must be with an adult, every child needs a ticket, and pushchairs are not allowed.
Sources
- Mayor of London, New Year’s Eve event page
- Mayor of London, ticket terms and conditions
- Ticketmaster, the official ticket seller
- Transport for London, journey planner
Dates on this page are checked against the organiser’s own listing and confirmed through 2027. Written and maintained by Harry Nara.