City of Austin Seal

City of Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release Date: Dec. 18, 2025
Contact: Austin Communications & Engagement     512-974-2220    Email

Date/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, 7 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. 
Location: Auditorium Shores (800 W Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78704) 
Tickets: Austin’s New Year is free and open to the public 
Event Website: austintexas.gov/ANY  

In just two weeks, the City of Austin and Visit Austin will host Austin’s New Year as we welcome 2026 at Auditorium Shores. Austin’s New Year will feature a night of entertainment headlined by The Head and the Heart, as well as local favorites Chaparelle, Tameca Jones, and The Point, local food and beverage vendors, and a midnight fireworks show. CNN’s Sara Sidner and Cari Champion will be live at Austin’s countdown as part of the network’s “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.”
 

Schedule of Events

  • 7 p.m.: Gates Open. Food Trucks, Bars, and Vendors Open
  • 7 - 11:45 p.m.: Music Performances by The Point, Tameca Jones, Chaparelle, The Head and the Heart
  • 11:45 - 11:55 p.m.: Austin’s New Year Drone Show presented by Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
  • 11:55 p.m. - midnight: Countdown to 2026 ending with a midnight fireworks show

CNN will broadcast the Central Time Zone countdown live from Auditorium Shores starting at 11:30 p.m. Visit the event webpage for additional information. 

Attendees are welcome to bring blankets and chairs, but pets – except for trained service animals – are not allowed. New this year, the event will feature secure entrances on the east and west ends of the park. For everyone's safety - All guests and their belongings will be subject to a search upon entry into the event. A variety of local vendors will have food, as well as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (21+ only) available for purchase. Local food truck vendors onsite this year include Amy's Ice Cream, Arepa World, Chi'Lantro BBQ, Garbo's Lobster, JABS Burger & Fries, Redfin, Shawarma Point, T-Loc's Sonora Hot Dogs, Tacobaby, and Yapa Artisan Empanadas.  
 

Leave No Trace

Please follow the Leave No Trace principles. Plan ahead and prepare. Dispose of waste properly. Be considerate of other visitors.
 
No outside alcohol, glass, fireworks, or sparklers will be allowed at Auditorium Shores. Additional allowed and prohibited items and activities can be found at austintexas.gov/ANY. 
 

Getting to Austin’s New Year 

  • Hike-and-Bike Trail — Bring a light and remember, motorized vehicles are not permitted.
  • Bike to the event — The park is open, and you can ride directly to Auditorium Shores. 
  • CapMetro — Free rides are available Dec. 31 after 5 p.m. on all services except for CapMetro Bikeshare. Bus routes will operate regular service and rail service is extended until 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 1.  Use the Transit app to ride, plan and track your trip.
  • Shared Mobility / Dockless Devices — The southwest corner of Riverside Drive and South First Street will be available for drop-off. 
     

Parking for Austin’s New Year 

Expect congestion in and around the downtown area, South Lamar Boulevard, Barton Springs Road, and Riverside Drive. There is no parking in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood. Attendee parking options include: 

ADA-accessible parking will be available at the Palmer Event Center Garage and One Texas Center. 
 

Road and Lake Closure Information  

For Austin’s New Year on Dec. 31:

  • West Riverside Drive from Lee Barton Drive to South First Street will be closed from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
  • South First Street from Cesar Chavez Street to Riverside Drive will be closed from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

A detailed road closure map shows parking options and closures for Austin’s New Year. 

For safety reasons, Lady Bird Lake between the railroad trestle bridge and the South First Street bridge will be closed to all watercraft from 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1, 2026.  
 

Additional Safety Tips for Austin’s New Year 

Austin Police, Austin Fire, and Austin-Travis County EMS work in partnership to create a safe environment in which everyone can enjoy the New Year celebration and encourage attendees to: 

  • Remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to 9-1-1. 
  • Plan for the weather forecast as temperatures may be cold. 
  • Stay with your group and have a pre-planned meeting location in case of separation. 
  • Be mindful of pedestrians, scooter riders, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users when traveling. 
  • Keep your phone fully charged. 
  • Plan ahead to have a safe ride home.
  • Download the what3words app to pinpoint and share your location. 

Austin Public Health recommends attendees get vaccinated, use hand sanitizer, wash hands often and stay home if you feel sick. Vaccines are available at doctor's offices, pharmacies and Austin Public Health.
 

About Visit Austin 

Visit Austin is the official destination marketing and sales organization for the City of Austin. An accredited member of Destinations International, Visit Austin is charged with marketing Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination, thus enriching our community's overall quality of life. 
 

About Austin Center for Events

The Austin Center for Events (ACE) is a collaborative assembly of City of Austin departments and agencies designed to streamline special event permitting on public and private property. ACE is anchored by teams from Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment, Austin Transportation and Public Works, Austin Parks and Recreation, Austin Police, Austin Fire, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Public Health, Austin Resource Recovery, and partner agencies, and works closely with event organizers to guide them through the special event permitting process.

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