New Year’s Eve 2026 in California

By the ULTIMATE California Editorial Team

San Diego: Hotel del Coronado and the Gaslamp

Hotel del Coronado’s 2026 festive season, “A Holiday Through Time”, ends with a Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party at The Laundry, the hotel’s restored 1919 laundry building, now its Holiday Lodge: a live band, an open bar, passed bites and a dessert bar. The Del has not yet printed times or prices; its Skating by the Sea rink on the beach stays open until 3 January 2027.

Across the bay in the Gaslamp Quarter, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego holds its Midnight Masquerade from 9pm to 2am: three floors, more than fifteen DJs, and masks encouraged. There are general admission and Premiere Pass tickets, tables, daybeds and cabanas, and a Stay & Celebrate package with a room and two tickets. It is for over-21s only.

Our advice: if you stay at The Del, book a room facing the Pacific and walk down to the sand at midnight.

Hotel del Coronado: A Holiday Through Time, 2026 →   Hard Rock Hotel San Diego: Midnight Masquerade →

Napa Valley: a cave dinner and a ballroom party

The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa has the valley’s fullest programme. The New Year’s Eve Candlelit Cave Dinner, from 6pm to 9.30pm in the resort’s Estate Cave, is a many-course menu of hamachi with Osetra caviar, Hokkaido scallops, foie gras and squab pithivier, A5 Wagyu and Maine lobster, with Trinitas Cellars wines and a tower of New Year’s sweets: $445, tax and service included.

Afterwards, Midnight at The Meritage fills the ballroom from 9.30pm to 1am, with Entourage The Band, a balloon drop and a sparkling wine toast at midnight ($100, or $200 VIP with reserved seats and a private bar). Ember and Olive & Hay also serve New Year’s Eve dinners, and every dinner ticket includes the party. All sales are final.

Silverado Resort in Napa has also announced its New Year’s Eve party for 2026, though it has not yet published times or prices.

Our advice: the Meritage’s New Year’s Eve Getaway adds two party tickets, a 3pm late checkout and free parking to a room, so nobody needs to drive.

The Meritage: New Year’s Eve in Napa →   The Meritage: Candlelit Cave Dinner →   The Meritage: Midnight at The Meritage →   Silverado Resort: New Year’s Eve →

Santa Barbara and Monterey

In Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Symphony rings in 2027 at the Granada Theatre from 8.30pm to 10pm, with the conductor Sean Mayes leading a celebration of fifty years of disco and a glass of bubbly for everyone. The Symphony advises booking early for the best seats.

In Monterey, the Portola Hotel & Spa turns its De Anza Ballroom into the Countdown Club, a speakeasy party from 7pm with an open bar, a buffet dinner, late-night bites, the Alison Sharino Band and Champagne at midnight. Tickets are $220 until 30 November, then $250, including tax and gratuity; over-21s only.

Our advice: after the concert, walk down State Street to the harbour; Santa Barbara is small enough to see the year out on foot.

Santa Barbara Symphony: New Year’s Eve →   Portola Hotel & Spa: the Countdown Club →

Lake Tahoe: fireworks in Heavenly Village

Our advice: South Lake Tahoe fills up over New Year; book rooms and lift tickets well ahead, and carry chains for the mountain passes.

New Year’s Day: the Rose Parade and a Viennese concert

On Friday 1 January 2027 the 138th Rose Parade sets off at 8am from Orange Grove Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, on a 5½-mile route along Colorado Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard. Its theme is “Welcome”. The roads on the route close from 10pm on New Year’s Eve until 2pm on New Year’s Day; grandstand seats and parking are sold through the Tournament’s own ticket links. The 113th Rose Bowl Game follows that afternoon.

In San Diego, Salute to Vienna fills the Jacobs Music Center at 2.30pm on 1 January with overtures, arias and duets by Johann Strauss Jr. and the Blue Danube waltz: the Strauss Symphony of America with members of the San Diego Symphony, conducted by Michael Zehetner, with the soprano Brigitta Simon, the baritone Thomas Weinhappel and dancers from San Diego Ballet.

Our advice: a grandstand seat for the Rose Parade means an early start but no all-night wait on the kerb; book it now.

Tournament of Roses: Rose Parade →   Tournament of Roses: the 2027 theme →   San Diego Symphony: Salute to Vienna 2027 →

What is still to come

When we checked, Rosewood Miramar Beach, San Ysidro Ranch, the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, Auberge du Soleil, Montage Healdsburg and Appellation Healdsburg had not yet published their New Year’s Eve 2026 events, and nor had the Palm Springs hotels; we will add them as they are confirmed. For the season as a whole, see our guide to Christmas in California.

Our advice: California’s distances are long and New Year’s Eve roads are busy; plan to sleep where you celebrate.

Christmas in California →

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