Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2025 in Austin: Fireworks, Live Music, Family Events, and Iconic Parties to Ring in 2026
As the clock winds down on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Austin is fully in celebration mode. Across the city, residents and visitors alike are gathering in parks, music halls, restaurants, and neighborhood venues to mark the arrival of 2026 in ways that reflect Austin’s creative spirit, music legacy, and community-first culture.
Whether the plan is to watch fireworks over Lady Bird Lake, catch a live show at a historic theater, enjoy an early countdown with kids, or dress up for a themed party downtown, the Austin area offers a wide range of confirmed New Year’s Eve experiences—each with its own pace and personality.
Featured Public New Year’s Eve Celebration in Austin
Austin’s New Year (Official City Event)
Auditorium Shores,900 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704 (MAP)
The city’s primary New Year’s Eve celebration returns to Auditorium Shores with a free, large-scale event running from 7:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Headlined by The Head and the Heart, with supporting performances by Chaparelle, Tameca Jones, and The Point, the evening culminates in a midnight fireworks show over Lady Bird Lake and a drone light show at 11:45 p.m.
CapMetro is offering free rides after 5:00 p.m., and CNN will broadcast live from the site beginning at 11:30 p.m., making this one of the most visible New Year’s Eve events in Texas.
Live Music and Concerts Across Austin
Bob Schneider’s Great Big Spectacular – Paramount Theatre
713 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
A longtime New Year’s Eve tradition, Bob Schneider’s annual show returns to the Paramount Theatre with doors opening at 8:00 p.m. and the performance beginning at 9:00 p.m., blending music, humor, and a celebratory countdown.
Clay Walker – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
Country music fans can ring in the new year with Clay Walker at ACL Live, featuring a midnight countdown and balloon drop in one of Austin’s premier concert venues.
The Spazmatics – Speakeasy
412 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
The Spazmatics headline Speakeasy’s New Year’s Eve Bash with their signature 80s covers, creating a high-energy downtown party atmosphere.
Early 2000s Tribute Night – Hotel Vegas
1500 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702 (MAP)
Hotel Vegas hosts a themed tribute night with local bands covering artists like Daft Punk, MGMT, and The White Stripes, offering a nostalgic spin on New Year’s Eve.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
High-Energy Parties and Club Celebrations
The Belmont New Year’s Eve Extravaganza
305 W. 6th St., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
Running from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., The Belmont’s celebration features a silent disco with three music channels, a heated courtyard, and a VIP rooftop deck overlooking downtown.
The Roosevelt Room – Roaring ’20s New Year’s Eve
307 W. 5th St., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
The Roosevelt Room hosts a Roaring ’20s–themed New Year’s Eve party with classic cocktails, semi-formal to formal attire, and a ball-drop projection to mark midnight.
Midnight Rhinestone Rodeo – Fairmont Austin
101 Red River St., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
Fairmont Austin’s seventh-floor rooftop transforms into a “Midnight Rhinestone Rodeo,” complete with a live band, themed décor, and sweeping views of the city skyline.
Disco New Year – Electric Shuffle
91 Red River St., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
Electric Shuffle offers a Disco New Year featuring an open bar, high-tech shuffleboard, and DJ-driven dancing for those looking to keep the energy high through midnight.
Family-Friendly and Early New Year’s Eve Options
Thinkery New Year’s Eve Celebrations
1830 Simond Ave., Austin, TX 78723 (MAP)
Held earlier in the day, Thinkery’s New Year’s Eve sessions included balloon drops and hands-on STEM activities, giving families with young children a chance to celebrate without staying up late.
St. Elmo Brewing – Early Countdown
440 E. St. Elmo Rd., Austin, TX 78745 (MAP)
St. Elmo Brewing hosted 4:00 p.m. countdowns at both locations with DJs and food trucks, offering a relaxed, kid-friendly way to welcome the new year early.
Pins & Wheels at Playland Skate Center
8822 McCann Dr., Austin, TX 78757 (MAP)
Pins & Wheels hosted a DJ-led skate party with balloon drops at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., creating a daytime celebration option for families.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
New Year’s Eve Dining and Upscale Restaurant Experiences
Several of Austin’s top restaurants are marking the evening with reservation-only prix fixe menus:
Uchiko - 4200 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78756 (MAP)
Uchiko is offering a special omakase-style menu paired with a complimentary champagne toast.
Juniper - 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702 (MAP)
Juniper’s six-course Italian-inspired New Year’s Eve dinner provides an intimate, food-forward way to close out the year.
Garrison at Fairmont Austin - 101 Red River St., Austin, TX 78701 (MAP)
Garrison is featuring a multi-course chef’s tasting menu designed as a refined New Year’s Eve dining experience.
Important Logistics for New Year’s Eve in Austin
Road closures are in effect near Auditorium Shores, including West Riverside Drive from Lee Barton Drive to South 1st Street between 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., and South 1st Street from Cesar Chavez Street to Riverside Drive beginning at 10:30 p.m. Lady Bird Lake will be closed to all watercraft between the railroad bridge and South 1st Street from 10:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. for the fireworks display.
CapMetro is offering free rides after 5:00 p.m., while rideshare services are expected to experience heavy demand and surge pricing shortly after midnight.
As 2025 comes to a close, Austin residents and visitors have no shortage of local ways to welcome 2026—through music, fireworks, food, family activities, and long-standing city traditions. For more coverage of New Year’s Eve events in Austin, things to do in Austin TX, and upcoming community celebrations, stay tuned with My Neighborhood News.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.