New Year’s Eve in Fort Lauderdale is Thursday, December 31, 2026, and the plans already published range from a free street festival downtown to DJ parties on a Las Olas ballroom patio and a beach rooftop. Every event below has been published for 2026 by the venue, organizer or ticket seller, except three clearly marked spots that threw a party last year and had not announced this year’s plans as of early November.
Quick Picks
- Best free option: Orange Bowl Downtown Countdown, Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
- Best on Las Olas: The Riverside Hotel countdown, Las Olas Boulevard.
- Best near the beach: Escape Rooftop at Kimpton Shorebreak, Fort Lauderdale Beach.
- Best for bar hopping: Fort Lauderdale New Years Eve Bar Crawl, Las Olas.
- Best on the Hollywood Broadwalk: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Hollywood.
Orange Bowl Downtown Countdown
The City of Fort Lauderdale and the Orange Bowl list their free New Year’s Eve street festival for December 31, 2026, from 4:30pm to 1am in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, on the Orange Bowl’s event page. The two have run it together since 2011, and it is open to children and adults.
The organizer’s page gives the location only as Downtown Fort Lauderdale, with no street address yet, and does not list performers for 2026, so check the city’s special events page in December before you go. It is the obvious start for families and anyone who wants a countdown without a ticket (get directions).
New Year’s Eve 2027 Countdown at The Riverside Hotel
The Riverside Hotel is throwing a disco glamour themed party from 8pm to midnight with DJ Gerber, an unlimited premium open bar, food stations from 9pm, desserts at 11pm and a Champagne toast. The hotel says it is 21 and over, tickets are not refundable, seating is first come, first served, and there is no planned fireworks display from the hotel. Tickets were listed at about $179 on the hotel’s Eventbrite page.
The Riverside is at 620 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The hotel offers paid valet at the entrance plus a garage and metered parking nearby. Good for a dressed up night on the boulevard; our guide to bars on Las Olas covers where to go after midnight (get directions).
New Year at Escape Rooftop, Kimpton Shorebreak
The Shorebreak’s rooftop party has a live DJ set by DJ Blcknsss, a menu by Chef Michael Mayer, an open bar and a Champagne toast, starting at 6pm. Early bird tickets are $175 per person until November 15, per the resort’s Eventbrite page, which also lists cheaper entry tiers.
Kimpton Shorebreak is at 2900 Riomar St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, a block off the beach. Pick it if you want ocean air and a DJ without the crowds on the strip; our rooftop bars in Fort Lauderdale guide has the rest of the high floors (get directions).
Fort Lauderdale New Years Eve Bar Crawl
PubCrawls.com is running a 21 and over crawl from 6pm to 2am that checks in at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila on Las Olas, with a wristband, a digital map and drink specials at the participating bars. Tickets on Eventbrite ranged from free to about $49 in early November, with no refunds unless the event is cancelled.
Check in is at 21 W Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. It suits groups who would rather move between bars than commit to one room (get directions).
Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort
Ten miles south on the Hollywood Broadwalk, Margaritaville lists a New Years Eve Buffet and Party on December 31, 2026, from 6pm to 1am on its official events calendar. The resort had not posted the entertainment or prices in early November, so check the calendar before booking.
Address: 1111 N Ocean Dr, Hollywood, FL 33019. A relaxed beach option for mixed age groups; our Hollywood nightlife guide covers the bars along the Broadwalk and downtown (get directions).
Pier 6 Rooftop Masquerade Ball
About fifteen minutes north in Pompano Beach, Pier 6 Rooftop is hosting a masquerade themed party from 7:30pm to 1am with DJ Vince, passed hors d’oeuvres from 9pm to 10:30pm and a midnight Champagne toast. Masks are encouraged. Tickets were listed from about $116 on the rooftop’s Eventbrite page.
Address: 200 N Ocean Blvd, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, right by the pier (get directions).
Tin Roof Fort Lauderdale
Tin Roof Fort Lauderdale threw a New Year’s Eve party in 2025 (its second annual Casino Royale NYE Bash). Its 2026 plans were not announced as of early November; check its Instagram.
Address: 219 S Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, a short walk from the Himmarshee bars (get directions).
Wharf Fort Lauderdale
Wharf Fort Lauderdale threw a New Year’s Eve party in 2025 (a New Year’s Captain’s Ball on the river with bottle service). Its 2026 plans were not announced as of early November; check its Instagram.
Address: 20 W Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (get directions).
The Manor
The Manor threw a New Year’s Eve party in 2025 (the Mount Olympus themed “Summit of the Gods” night with DJ Alex Acosta and dancers). Its 2026 plans were not announced as of early November; check its Instagram. For the rest of the strip, see our Wilton Manors bar guide.
Address: 2345 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (get directions).
Planning Your Night
Ticketed rooftops and hotel parties have fixed capacity, and several of the listings above are no refund, so decide early and buy from the official links. Rideshare prices surge in the hour or two after midnight; downtown, the Riverside, Wharf, Tin Roof and the bar crawl check in are all within walking distance of each other along Las Olas and Andrews Avenue, which makes it easy to build a night on foot. The beach is a separate short ride east across the Intracoastal, and Wilton Manors is a ten minute ride north, so pick one area for the hours around midnight. Parking downtown is mostly garages and meters, and the Riverside offers paid valet. Most parties here are 21 and over, and the Riverside asks guests to dress to impress.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is New Year’s Eve 2026 in Fort Lauderdale?
Thursday, December 31, 2026. The free Downtown Countdown is listed from 4:30pm to 1am, and most ticketed parties start between 6pm and 9pm.
Is there a free New Year’s Eve event in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. The Orange Bowl Downtown Countdown is a free street festival listed for December 31, 2026, in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Where can I celebrate New Year’s Eve on Fort Lauderdale Beach?
Escape Rooftop at Kimpton Shorebreak has a DJ party a block from the sand, and Pier 6 Rooftop in Pompano Beach and Margaritaville in Hollywood are short drives along the coast.
What are the best New Year’s Eve parties on Las Olas?
The Riverside Hotel countdown with DJ Gerber and the bar crawl that checks in on West Las Olas are the published options so far.
Are Wilton Manors bars doing New Year’s Eve in 2026?
As of early November, no Wilton Drive venue we checked had published a 2026 party. The Manor held one in 2025, so watch its Instagram.
Header photo: JTOcchialini, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
