In case you’re nonetheless scrambling for New 12 months’s Eve plans, right here’s one thing totally different for NYE 2026: The final word information to New 12 months’s Eve drone exhibits 2025-2026: ditch the crowded ball drop and catch a drone present as an alternative.
This 12 months’s exhibits vary from intimate 200-drone shows to huge 600-drone spectacles synchronized with fireworks. Whether or not you’re searching for a family-friendly early countdown or a midnight extravaganza, listed below are one of the best drone exhibits occurring on December 31, 2025.
Drone exhibits to look at for NYE 2026: leap to your area
West Coast
Las Vegas: Essentially the most formidable present of the night time
What’s occurring: 600 drones + fireworks from 10 on line casino rooftops + stay countdown on Sphere’s Exosphere.
When: Midnight (8-minute present).
The place: Drones launch from Las Vegas Occasion Plaza (throughout from Wynn Las Vegas).
Price: Free to look at from the Strip.
Las Vegas goes all-in this 12 months with their first-ever synchronized drone and fireworks show. Fireworks by Grucci is dealing with the pyrotechnics, that are launching from Aria, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Resorts World, The Strat, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Virgin Accommodations and Wynn Las Vegas. That’s all whereas 600 drones fly in choreographed vogue alongside them.
The theme is “Rock,” that includes basic and up to date rock anthems with elevated energy salutes and rapid-fire aerial shells. The finale transitions to a patriotic theme honoring America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, ending with Grucci’s signature Titanium Grand Finale.
The logistics: The Strip closes to visitors from Tropicana to Spring Mountain Boulevard, creating a large viewing hall. You’ll have loads of house to stake out your spot, however count on huge crowds. In case you’re staying on the Strip, your lodge may supply viewing events, although nothing beats being outdoors for the complete sensory expertise. (But it surely’ll be chilly!)
Planning suggestions: E book lodging now in the event you haven’t already. Las Vegas lodge charges spike dramatically for NYE. The Strip closure means ride-sharing and taxis will likely be nightmare gasoline; plan to stroll or keep throughout the closure zone. Additionally, in the event you’re planning to look at, ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New 12 months’s Rockin’ Eve” is broadcasting from Vegas with Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough beginning at 8 p.m. EST, so that you may catch your self on TV. Get extra particulars right here.
Temecula, California: The early chicken particular
What’s occurring: Drone present “grape drop” for East Coast countdown
When: 9:00 p.m. (East Coast midnight)
The place: Civic Middle, 41000 Predominant St., Temecula, CA
Price: Free
Temecula’s signature Grape Drop is ideal for anybody who doesn’t wish to keep up till midnight. That is Southern California wine nation, so the “grape drop” theme is sensible. This 12 months, they’re executing it as a drone present reasonably than a bodily drop.
The night runs 6-10 p.m. with stay music from Know Phantasm and Lifetime Rocker, meals distributors and free youngsters’ actions. The drone present occurs at 9 p.m. to coincide with the East Coast countdown, that means you may have a good time the brand new 12 months and nonetheless get dwelling at an affordable hour.
Planning suggestions: Temecula is about 90 minutes from San Diego and two hours from Los Angeles with out visitors. It’s additionally wine nation, so in the event you’re making the drive, contemplate reserving a tasting room go to earlier within the day. Simply keep in mind: in the event you’re ingesting wine all afternoon, organize a delegated driver or rideshare for the night festivities.
Get extra particulars concerning the Grape Drop right here.
Southwest
Austin, Texas: Stay music meets aerial innovation
What’s occurring: Sky Components drone present + midnight fireworks at Auditorium Shores
When: 11:40 p.m. drone present, midnight fireworks
The place: Auditorium Shores, Austin, TX
Price: Free and open to the general public
Sky Components is illuminating Austin’s New 12 months at Auditorium Shores with a drone present at 11:40 p.m., setting the stage for the midnight fireworks finale.
Austin’s New 12 months celebration started in 2006 as “First Night time Austin” and has advanced into town’s premier NYE occasion. Since 2010, it’s been set at iconic Auditorium Shores the place Austinites take pleasure in stay music, meals, and a family-friendly surroundings with Austin’s signature native aptitude.
Occasion schedule:
- 7 p.m. – Gates open; meals, drinks, and distributors obtainable
- 7 p.m. – Stay music: The Level, Tameca Jones, Chaparelle, The Head and the Coronary heart
- 11:40 p.m. – Austin’s New 12 months Drone Present offered by Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Drinks
- Midnight – Fireworks finale
Planning suggestions: The occasion is owned by the Metropolis of Austin and produced in partnership with Blue Norther Stay and Go to Austin. For everybody’s security, the occasion options safe entrances on the east and west ends of the park, and all visitors and belongings will likely be topic to look upon entry. Arrive early for one of the best viewing spots alongside Girl Fowl Lake.
Dallas, Texas: Triple menace celebration
What’s occurring: 500 drones + 5,000+ pyrotechnic results + 259 LED gentle show on Reunion Tower
When: 11:59 p.m.
The place: Launched from Reunion Tower, 300 Reunion Blvd E
Price: Free to look at from downtown; ticketed occasions obtainable at Reunion Tower
Dallas is celebrating the tenth anniversary of “Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower” with their largest present but. It is a hybrid manufacturing with all of the issues within the air: 500 drones, over 5,000 pyrotechnic particular results, and a 259 LED gentle show on the tower itself.
Reunion Tower is an iconic 561-foot commentary tower in downtown Dallas, and watching fireworks launch from it whereas drones choreograph round it must be spectacular. Hunt Realty Investments is producing this in collaboration with Reunion Tower.
Planning suggestions: Downtown Dallas has wonderful viewing angles from a number of areas. The skyline is comparatively low-rise in comparison with different main cities, so that you received’t be blocked by tall buildings. Reunion Tower presents ticketed NYE packages if you would like assured viewing with facilities (test reuniontower.com for particulars and pricing). In case you’re watching from avenue degree, arrive early for good positioning. Dallas climate on NYE averages within the 40s-50s°F, so gown warmly however not Chicago-level heat.
Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma: Downtown countdown at Scissortail Park
What’s occurring: Sky Components drone present with stay music and official downtown countdown
When: 9:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. (drone present at countdown)
The place: Scissortail Park, Love’s Journey Stops Stage, Higher Park
Price: Free and open to the group
Rejoice the New 12 months at Scissortail Park’s free, family-friendly NYE Occasion within the Park. Sky Components will elevate the second with a choreographed drone present that paints the OKC skyline with dynamic countdown numbers, hovering resolutions, and celebratory animations synchronized to the festivities.
Drive, Oklahoma’s Occasion Band, will carry out stay on the Love’s Journey Stops Stage and lead the official countdown to midnight. The celebration additionally options meals and beverage vans and vacation distributors.
Planning suggestions: The family-friendly occasion presents a extra intimate various to main metropolis celebrations whereas nonetheless delivering spectacular aerial leisure. Be taught extra concerning the occasion right here.
South
Spring, Texas: All-day, all-night celebration
What’s occurring: Sky Components drone present with “Midday 12 months” and midnight celebrations
When: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. AND 8:15 p.m.–12:15 a.m.
The place: Metropolis Place Plaza
Price: Free
Sky Components brings the countdown to life at Metropolis Place’s New 12 months’s Eve celebration. This uniquely all-day and all-night occasion options Midday 12 months enjoyable for households adopted by a night occasion.
Daytime celebration (10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.): Ring within the “Midday 12 months” with a enjoyable daytime occasion designed for households. Take pleasure in an interactive child’s DJ, particular festive characters, and festive photograph ops. Rely all the way down to the large second as we ring within the “Midday 12 months” with a spectacular balloon drop round midday.
Night celebration (8:15 p.m.–12:15 a.m.): Kick off the night time with stay music, dancing, meals vans, festive characters, and photograph ops. The grand finale contains a drone present.
Planning suggestions: Each occasions are free, situated outdoors within the stunning plazas, and require no RSVP. Get extra particulars right here.
Sarasota, Florida: Waterfront glow occasion
What’s occurring: Sky Components drone present at Waterside Place
When: 7:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m. (midnight drone present)
The place: Lakewood Ranch, Waterside Place
Price: Free
Ring in 2026 at Lakewood Ranch’s New 12 months’s Eve at Waterside Place, the place the night time culminates in a spectacular Sky Components drone present lighting up the waterfront sky.
Get able to GLOW at this electrifying block-party celebration. Dance the night time away with stay music from #NoFilter, gasoline up with scrumptious bites from meals vans and candy deal with distributors, and rack up factors within the Neon Nostalgia Arcade, the place retro vibes meet futuristic enjoyable.
Household actions: This family-friendly celebration is full of thrilling actions for all ages, together with an outside arcade, glowing LED mini golf, airbrushed giveaways, inflatables, face portray, airbrush tattoos, and extra.
Planning suggestions: Lakewood Ranch is situated simply outdoors Sarasota, providing a extra intimate various to Orlando’s main theme park celebrations. The waterfront setting gives wonderful viewing angles for the drone present. Get extra particulars right here.
Kissimmee, Florida: Theme park various
What’s occurring: All-new drone present debut at Enjoyable Spot America
When: Shortly earlier than midnight
The place: Enjoyable Spot America Kissimmee, 5700 Enjoyable Spot Means
Price: Park admission required (test web site for NYE charges)
Enjoyable Spot America, which is close to Orlando, is debuting their first-ever New 12 months’s Eve drone present this 12 months. The park is positioning this as a family-friendly various to the huge (and massively crowded) celebrations at close by Walt Disney World and Common Orlando.
The drone present options “coordinated lights and technology-forward visuals” with rides working all through the night time. It’s a smaller-scale manufacturing in comparison with Vegas, however the benefit is ambiance — you’re in a theme park with sights, not standing on a packed avenue nook.
Planning suggestions: Kissimmee is vacationer central, so lodging are plentiful however guide quick for NYE. Enjoyable Spot is way smaller than the main Orlando parks, which implies extra intimate crowds however fewer facilities. The park is about quarter-hour from Disney Springs and 20 minutes from Common Orlando, making it straightforward to mix with an extended Orlando trip. Test their web site for particular NYE hours and admission pricing.
Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina: Southern Instances Sq.
What’s occurring: Sky Components 300-drone present at The Market Frequent
When: Midnight
The place: The Market Frequent, Myrtle Seaside
Price: Free
Sky Components lights up The Market Frequent’s Southern Instances Sq. New 12 months’s Eve celebration in Myrtle Seaside with a choreographed 300-drone spectacular that counts all the way down to 2026 within the night time sky. Paired with the occasion’s stay music, brand-new jumbotron highlights, and the enduring ball drop, this present elevates the occasion right into a panoramic, family-friendly expertise.
The celebration options stay music and leisure, scrumptious foods and drinks distributors, and a fun-filled kids’s nook for the entire household.
Planning suggestions: Myrtle Seaside presents plentiful lodging, however guide early for NYE charges. The Market Frequent gives a extra walkable, neighborhood-style celebration in comparison with the oceanfront strip. This is a wonderful possibility for households who need a festive ambiance with out the chaos of Instances Sq..
Vicksburg, Mississippi: Bicentennial finale
What’s occurring: Sky Components drone present for Vicksburg’s two hundredth anniversary closing celebration
When: December 31, 2025
The place: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Price: Test occasion particulars
Sky Components helps Vicksburg cap its two hundredth anniversary on the Bicentennial New 12 months’s Eve/Closing Celebration. The synchronized drone fleet will animate town’s story in gentle—suppose daring “200” reveals, river-and-commerce icons, and tributes to its individuals and humanities—creating an unforgettable, photo-ready finale.
Designed as a contemporary twist on custom, the present makes use of choreographed formations and customized imagery to present Vicksburg a singular, cutting-edge celebration that everybody can expertise collectively. The occasion will reminisce on what’s hopefully been a memorable bicentennial 12 months whereas trying to the longer term to acknowledge what’s subsequent.
Northeast
Huntington, New York: An alternative choice to Instances Sq.
What’s occurring: 200-drone present by Sky Components (16 Guinness World Document holders)
When: 11:50 p.m. (15-minute present)
The place: Sky above car parking zone throughout from Huntington Put up Workplace, Wall Road
Price: Free
Sky Components is bringing critical credentials to Huntington Village. The corporate that was a semi-finalist on America’s Bought Expertise additionally holds a number of Guinness World Document titles in drone present manufacturing. The 200 drones will fly greater than 100 toes within the air for a 15-minute, music-choreographed efficiency beginning at 11:50 p.m.
The road occasion kicks off at 9:30 p.m. with DJ Mike Shortt, and the present is designed as a “family-friendly various to fireworks.” In case you’re within the New York metro space and need one thing much less chaotic than Instances Sq., that is your transfer.
Planning suggestions: Huntington is on Lengthy Island’s North Shore, about an hour from Manhattan by LIRR. In case you’re coming from town, test prepare schedules prematurely. Service could also be modified for the vacation. The village can be internet hosting the Huntington Vacation Spectacular by way of January 4 with nightly gentle exhibits, so you can also make a full night of it. Road parking will likely be at a premium; arrive early or use the LIRR.
What to learn about NYE 2026 drone exhibits
Drone exhibits vs. fireworks: In case you’re used to conventional fireworks, drone exhibits are totally different. (Assuming they aren’t placed on in tandem with fireworks), they’re quieter (good for teenagers, pets, and veterans with PTSD), extra exact, and might create detailed photographs and textual content that fireworks can’t match. The tradeoff is much less visceral affect. There’s no increase, no sulfur scent, no particles raining down. Then once more, some cities are combining each (Vegas, Dallas) to get the detailed imagery and the increase.
Climate considerations: Drones are generally extra weather-sensitive than fireworks. Excessive winds, heavy rain or snow can floor exhibits. Test every metropolis’s contingency plans and comply with their social media for real-time updates on December 31.
Images suggestions: Drones create totally different challenges than fireworks. They transfer slower and extra intentionally, so you should use decrease ISOs and longer exposures. A tripod is important for something longer than 1/sixtieth of a second. For video, 24fps or 30fps works properly. The slower body fee creates good movement blur on the transferring drones. And in the event you’re filming the drone present with a drone? Tread cautiously. The airspace may be restricted within the spot you’re flying so that you don’t work together with their drones.
Reserving home windows: Most NYE lodge charges are already elevated, however you’ve nonetheless received time. Vegas and Orlando are the costliest and most probably to promote out. Temecula and Huntington supply extra last-minute flexibility. In case you’re flying, ticket costs usually peak round December 26-27, so guide now if doable.
Have you ever attended a NYE drone present? I’d love to listen to about your expertise! Drop me a word on Instagram @thedronegirl or within the feedback proper beneath.
And in case you have a NYE 2026 drone present I ought to learn about to share with different readers, contact me right here.
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