Your guide to First Night Boston 2026

This year marks the 50th anniversary of First Night, Boston's annual New Year's Eve celebration.

What began in 1976 as a night of family-friendly entertainment has remained just that, bolstered by dazzling displays like ice sculptures and fireworks.

The best part? You don't even need a ticket to go. Since 2015, the event has been free to the public.

Festivities for First Night 2026 begin at 10 a.m. and will take place across 10 different locations in Boston, including Boston Common, Long Wharf, Copley Square and City Hall Plaza.

Here's where to go for sights, eats and performances, plus tips on how to get there.

You'll find bites to eat at Boston Public Market, Boston Common and City Hall Plaza.

Boston Public Market's vendors stop serving up food at 3 p.m., but concession stands and food trucks will remain at Boston Common and City Hall Plaza late into the night.

Most live music at First Night will be performed on the Main Stage at City Hall Plaza.

This year's lineup includes local artists kei, Sons of Levin and Veronica Robles. You can also head over to Trinity Church at 1 p.m. for the Emancipation Proclamation Concert (co-presented by the Handl + Haydn Society and the Museum of African American History), or visit Old South Church at 6:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. for the "Pipes and Pops" brass and percussion concert.

Fireworks go off at 7 p.m. on Boston Common and midnight along Long Wharf.

You can check out the ice sculptures at City Hall Plaza starting at noon on New Year's Eve. Along Boston Harbor, you can see other ice sculptures or even take part in annual "Ice Sculpture Stroll"  that day.

For the first time, Boston Harbor Now will offer a free water shuttle between East Boston’s Lewis Mall Dock, Fan Pier and Lovejoy Wharf so you can get between both displays without a car.

You'll be able to catch the Skating Club of Boston's annual Frog Pond Ice Skating Spectacular at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Boston Common.

You can view a full schedule of the activities for the day here.

Parking in downtown Boston is limited on a regular day, and especially so on New Year's Eve. Because of that, city officials recommend taking the MBTA between First Night event sites.

City Hall Plaza is accessible via the Orange Line, Blue Line and Green Line. Just get off at State (on the Orange and Blue lines), Haymarket (on the Orange and Green lines) or Government Center on the Green Line. You can also take the Red Line or Green Line to Park Street for access to the festivities on Boston Common.

If you need to drive, city officials suggest reserving a parking spot through SpotHero or checking the Center Plaza Garage, City Place Garage, Pi Alley Parking Garage, Dock Square Parking Garage or the Garage at Post Office Square for spaces to park.