9 Best Ways to Ring in the New Year in Atlanta
Atlanta knows how to ring in the New Year in style! Whether you’re looking for a lively countdown, a family-friendly celebration, or a uniquely ATL tradition, the city is full of unforgettable ways to welcome 2026.
As an Atlanta local, I’ve spent many New Year’s Eves hopping between fireworks shows, festive bars, and community countdowns — and I can confidently say this city knows how to celebrate.
From the iconic Peach Drop to early festivities perfect for the kiddos, Atlanta has a New Year’s event for every kind of partygoer. Here are the best ways to ring in the New Year in Atlanta this year.
Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Atlanta
1. Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is an annual New Year’s Eve tradition in Atlanta. The Peach Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that has been played in Atlanta since 1968.
This season’s showdown takes place January 9, 2026.
Date: January 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
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2. Stone Mountain Park’s Early Celebration
This one is for the kids! Stone Mountain Park is helping you get the kids in bed before midnight while still letting them enjoy the excitement of the New Year.
Stone Mountain Park will ring in the New Year early with a magical snowfall and early 2026 countdown, with fireworks when the clock strikes 9 p.m. The early NYE celebration will take place during the regular Stone Mountain Christmas event and is included with your daily Christmas Admission Pass.
Date: December 31, 2025 just before 9 p.m.
3. NYE Live! at The Battery
NYE Live! is a huge 21+ New Year’s Eve celebration at Live! at The Battery. This themed party will have unforgettable photo op moments, roaming entertainers, access to Sports & Social and PBR Atlanta, and exclusive VIP packages with private bars and food stations.
All packages include a champagne toast for the balloon drop at midnight, live entertainment, photo ops, drink tickets, a DJ, and more.
Date: December 31, 2025 at 8 p.m.
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4. Georgia Aquarium New Year’s Eve Celebration
Guests 21+ can enjoy a night at the Georgia Aquarium ringing in the New Year. At this spectacular Downtown Atlanta NYE party, you can get exclusive after-hours access to all aquarium main galleries, live entertainment, cocktails, food, and a champagne toast to the New Year at midnight.
Tickets include light bites, drink tickets, live music, a countdown to midnight, access to the main galleries until 11:30 p.m., and an after midnight snack.
Date: December 31, 2024 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.
5. New Year’s Bubble Bash at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is putting together a special kid-friendly countdown to ring in the New Year. At the New Year’s Bubble Bash, there will be music from their DJ, you can design your own Peach Drop, make your own bubble solution and wand, make firework art, and join in on the yearly bubble-wrap-popping tradition.
You have three options for your early New Year’s Eve celebration: Play Session A, Play Session B, and Play Session C. Play Session A goes from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a countdown at 11 a.m. Play Session B goes from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a countdown at 2 p.m. Play Session C goes from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a countdown at 5 p.m.
Date: December 31, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
6. Crawl ‘Til The Ball Falls: Atlanta NYE Bar Crawl
Experience the best bars Atlanta has to offer in one epic New Year’s Eve pub crawl. During Crawl ‘Til The Ball Falls: Atlanta NYE Bar Crawl, you’ll bop around town enjoying champagne toasts, watched the ball drop in Times Square on TV, and dance to the best music at Atlanta’s hottest venues.
With your experience, you’ll get entry into all the participating bars and clubs, drink specials all night, and a great way to welcome 2026 in style. Get your tickets here.
Date: December 31, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
7. New Year’s Eve Celebration at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands
Margaritaville at Lanier Islands is ringing in the New Year with fireworks at LandShark Landing, NYE drink and appetizer specials, a complimentary champagne toast, and extended park hours with Snow Island open until 9 p.m. and the Magical Nights of Lights open until 10 p.m.
Admission to the Fireworks Extravaganza at LandShark Landing is free, you’ll just have to pay the parking pass fee to get on the island.
Date: December 31, 2025 at midnight
8. IllumiNights at the Zoo
And if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the Chinese New Year, check out Zoo Atlanta’s IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival. This fun, festive light display features more than 80 animal lanterns, all hand-painted by Chinese artisans.
The lanterns depict your favorite animals, some of which you can see in real life at Zoo Atlanta and some that the zoo doesn’t have. You can see the lanterns unlit during a day visit to the zoo, but it’s a separate ticketed event to see them all lit up at night.
Date: November 21, 2025 through January 18, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. nightly.
9. Countdown Over ATL
Countdown Over ATL is the city’s new celebration that replaces the iconic Peach Drop (RIP).
Instead of dropping a peach, a digital drone peach will be in the sky followed by a synchronized fireworks display across multiple sites. It will be most visible from Midtown and Downtown, with the idea being that you don’t have to gather in one spot, you can see it from all over the city.
So instead of crowding together at Underground Atlanta, this year you can celebrate New Year’s from a rooftop bar and still get the full experience.
Date: December 31, 2025
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Save on Atlanta’s Top Attractions
Want to save big on Atlanta’s top attractions? with the Atlanta CityPASS, you can save up to 50% on the cost of entrance tickets to 5 top Atlanta museums and attractions!
Get admission to your choice of 5 from the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and Zoo Atlanta, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Top Atlanta Tours
A guided tour is always a good way to get to know a city! Check out these top Atlanta tours.
- 90-Minute Guided Sightseeing Tour by E-Car
- Atlanta’s Black History and Civil Rights Tour
- Midtown Atlanta Food & Cocktail Tour
Where to Stay in Atlanta
Find the perfect place to rest your head on your Atlanta vacation!
- My Favorite Stay: Westin Peachtree Plaza
- Top Hotel: The Candler Hotel
- Great Value: Hampton Inn & Suites Perimeter Dunwoody
- Unique Stay: Stonehurst Place
Craving More Atlanta Activities?
If you need more things to do while visiting Atlanta, check out these top posts:
- 30+ Holiday Light Displays in Atlanta You Won’t Want to Miss
- Atlanta on a Budget: 10 Tips for a Cheap Trip
- A Weekend in Atlanta with the Atlanta CityPASS: Itinerary
Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
- Save on Attractions: Save 50% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.
Cheers!
Paige
How will you celebrate the New Year in Atlanta? Let me know in the comments!
Atlanta is great place to be for NYE.. ty for these fun ideas
It sure is!