Austin will ring in 2026 with a familiar mix: live music, fireworks over Lady Bird Lake, and a national TV audience watching us do it. This year’s Austin’s New Year celebration doubles as CNN’s Central Time Zone headquarters, with anchors, musicians and a few celebrity cameos for the countdown.
Now, Austin’s New Year isn’t trying to outdo Times Square — and that’s kind of the point. The free, all-ages event takes place Dec. 31 at Auditorium Shores. Indie folk mainstays The Head and the Heart headline a lineup stacked with local talent, while CNN correspondents Sara Sidner and Cari Champion broadcast live from the park as part of “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.” Translation: Austin gets its moment, and it’s being televised.
Who’s performing — and who’s popping up on TV
The night’s music is Austin-forward, with performances by The Point, Tameca Jones and Chaparelle before a headlining set from The Head and the Heart. Just before midnight, the crowd gets a drone show followed by fireworks. On screen, CNN’s coverage brings a bigger celebrity orbit. Sidner and Champion will anchor the Central Time Zone countdown live from Auditorium Shores, with interviews and appearances that include Flavor Flav and Ariana Madix.
Elsewhere on CNN’s nationwide broadcast, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will be bouncing between performances and cameos from a truly chaotic lineup that includes Shakira, Florence + The Machine, Patti LaBelle, Hugh Jackman, Stephen Colbert and more.
When and where
Gates open at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Schedule highlights include:
- 7–11:45 p.m.: Live music (The Point, Tameca Jones, Chaparelle, The Head and the Heart)
- 11:45–11:55 p.m.: Drone show
- 11:30 p.m.–midnight (TV): Fireworks and CNN broadcasts the Central Time Zone countdown live from Auditorium Shores
How to attend, what to know before you go
Blankets and chairs are allowed at Auditorium Shores, but pets are not, except for trained service animals. The event will feature entrances on the east and west ends of the park, and all bags will be subject to search. Outside alcohol, glass, fireworks and sparklers are prohibited. A range of food trucks and bars will be on site — including Amy’s Ice Cream, Chi’Lantro BBQ, Garbo’s Lobster and T-Loc’s Sonora Hot Dogs — with alcoholic beverages available for guests 21 and older…