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New Year’s Eve in Atlanta and Georgia (2026)

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The downtown and Midtown Atlanta skyline lit up at night, seen from Buckhead

Photo: Chuck Koehler from Cartersville, GA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Atlanta rang in 2026 without its famous Peach Drop. The city replaced it with a drone show and fireworks, and as of October 22, 2026, it has not announced plans for this New Year’s Eve. The good news: there are plenty of confirmed ways to celebrate, from Stone Mountain’s drone show and the big holiday light shows to small-town toasts in the mountains and a New Year’s Day hike. Here is what we know for New Year’s Eve 2026 in Atlanta and across Georgia, and where official announcements will appear.

Atlanta’s Countdown: What Happened to the Peach Drop?

For decades, Atlanta’s big New Year’s Eve party was the Peach Drop downtown. For the end of 2025, the city replaced it with “Countdown Over ATL”: a drone-show peach starting at 11:45 p.m. and about 12 minutes of synchronized fireworks, with drone shows on both sides of the city. City officials said spreading the show out would disperse the crowds that usually packed Underground Atlanta and make the night safer.

The city has not announced its plans for December 31, 2026. Watch the City of Atlanta’s announcements in December. Downtown hotels, rooftop bars and restaurants usually sell New Year’s Eve packages, so book early if you want a skyline view at midnight.

Downtown Atlanta towers lit up at night, seen from a high hotel window Downtown AtlantaSkyline views at midnight The bare granite face of Stone Mountain above the lawn Stone MountainDrone show at 8 p.m. on NYE Shops on the public square in downtown Dahlonega with mountains behind DahlonegaLights still up on the square

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Yoshyoshyoshyosh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0; BullDawg2021, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Light Shows Open on New Year’s Eve

Georgia’s biggest holiday light shows run past New Year’s, so they make an easy, family-friendly early celebration. These are the 2026-27 dates.

Stone Mountain Christmas

Weekends and holidays through January 3, 2027, with more than two million lights and a nightly parade. On New Year’s Eve the drone and light show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets required.

Garden Lights, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Nightly through January 10, 2027, with timed tickets. Walk-through displays across the Garden.

Magical Nights of Lights, Lake Lanier Islands

A six-mile drive-through show nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. through January 3, 2027.

Fantasy in Lights, Callaway Gardens

A drive-through display and Jolly Trolley ride through January 3, 2027, about 1 hour 40 minutes southwest of Atlanta.

More shows by region are in the best Christmas lights in metro Atlanta and the best Christmas lights in Georgia.

New Year’s Eve With Kids: Noon Countdowns

Midnight is late for little ones, so several Atlanta attractions hold daytime “Noon Year’s Eve” countdowns. Last year the Children’s Museum of Atlanta held a ticketed New Year’s Bubble Bash in three daytime sessions (advance tickets only), Zoo Atlanta hosted a morning Zoo Year’s Eve, and the LEGO Discovery Center held a LEGO ball drop at noon included with admission. Dates and tickets for this year are usually posted in December, so check each attraction’s site. For more ideas, see kid-friendly things to do in Atlanta.

New Year’s Eve in the Mountains

For a quieter night, the North Georgia mountain towns keep their Christmas lights up through New Year’s. In Dahlonega, the square stays lit into the first week of January, and in past years wineries, restaurants and music venues on and near the square have hosted New Year’s Eve dinners, live music and champagne toasts; check with each one for tickets. Helen’s village lights are up too. Many businesses close on New Year’s Day, which makes it a good day for a waterfall hike instead.

Book a cabin early; New Year’s weekend is one of the busiest of the winter. See cabins in the Georgia mountains and Georgia state park cabins.

New Year’s Day, January 1, 2027

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

A College Football Playoff quarterfinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday, January 1, 2027. Game time and TV network are announced after the playoff field is set.

First Day Hikes

Georgia State Parks rangers lead guided New Year’s Day hikes across the state. See our First Day Hikes in Georgia guide.

Last nights of the lights

Stone Mountain Christmas, Lanier Islands and Callaway Gardens all run through January 3, 2027.

Getting Home Safe

Plan your ride

Rideshare prices surge after midnight. Book a hotel within walking distance, or set a pickup time in advance.

Pick a driver

Choose a designated driver before the first toast, or plan to stay the night where you celebrate.

Mountain roads

In the mountains, stay where you celebrate. Dark, winding roads and possible ice make late-night driving risky.

Check the weather

A cold snap can bring ice to North Georgia. Check road conditions before you drive on New Year’s Day.

For the full winter calendar, see things to do in Georgia in winter and Georgia holiday events by season.

Common Questions

Is Atlanta doing the Peach Drop in 2026?

Atlanta replaced the Peach Drop for the end of 2025 with a drone show and fireworks called Countdown Over ATL. As of October 22, 2026, the city has not announced plans for December 31, 2026.

What can you do on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta with kids?

Go early: Stone Mountain’s drone and light show is at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the big light shows are open, and several attractions usually hold daytime Noon Year’s Eve countdowns.

Where can I see fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta?

Atlanta ended 2025 with midnight fireworks after a drone-show peach. Plans for December 31, 2026 had not been announced as of October 22, 2026, so check the city’s announcements in December.

What is there to do in Atlanta on New Year’s Day?

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, is on January 1, 2027, and Georgia State Parks hold guided First Day Hikes.

Sources we checked

Facts were checked on October 22, 2026. New Year’s Eve plans are often announced in December, so confirm before you go:

Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.