Ring in 2027 with an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in Chicago, home to one of the nation’s largest New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Celebrate the New Year with waterfront fireworks, boat cruises, lavish parties at historic hotels, bucket-list meals at Michelin-starred restaurants, and so much more.
NYE 2027 in Chicago
Chicago is pulling out all the stops for New Year’s Eve, with highlights including:
- The annual Navy Pier fireworks at the city’s iconic lakefront attraction.
- Jaw-dropping dinner cruises and boat tours to see the midnight fireworks.
- Special menus at award-winning Chicago restaurants.
- Swanky hotel parties featuring live DJs, confetti countdowns, and champagne toasts.
- Tons of live shows and performances at theatres, music venues, and nightlife spots.
Here are just a few of our favorite NYE celebrations this year in Chicago.
NYE 2027 in Chicago
Where to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks in Chicago
New Year’s Eve fireworks at Navy Pier
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026
Navy Pier
The annual midnight fireworks at Navy Pier are an iconic Chicago tradition. The dazzling display will light up the sky over Lake Michigan, lasting for more than 10 minutes and synchronized to music.
The show can be seen along the nearby lakefront, but the best views are from Navy Pier’s official New Year’s Eve events.
The best spots to watch the Navy Pier fireworks:
- Watch for free from any of the pedestrian areas on Navy Pier. Make sure to get there early for a prime spot.
- See the show from the water with a New Year’s Eve dinner cruise, featuring dinner, dancing, DJs, and champagne toasts on Lake Michigan.
- Grab a table at one of Navy Pier’s waterfront restaurants, like Lirica or Bar Sol.
How to get there: There are multiple CTA bus lines that connect to Navy Pier: #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, #124 Navy Pier (serving Metra lines from Millennium Station, Ogilvie and Union Stations). Learn more about getting to Navy Pier.
Tip: Skip the ride home after the fireworks end. Find hotels near Navy Pier or book a room at the Sable at Navy Pier.
Where to eat on New Year’s Eve in Chicago
New Year’s Eve dinner cruises
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026
Cruises depart from Navy Pier and Chicago Riverwalk
Make it an only-in-Chicago New Year’s Eve with an scenic cruise on the Chicago River or Lake Michigan.
Choose from luxurious dinner cruises that offer stunning skyline views, an elegant atmosphere, and the perfect vantage point of the midnight fireworks.
Check out the best New Year’s Eve dinner cruises in Chicago:
- Dinner cruises on Lake Michigan from City Cruises: Watch the dazzling fireworks light up the Chicago skyline along the lakefront, while enjoying a dinner buffet, live DJ, and dancing.
- Dinner cruise on the Chicago River from City Cruises: Step aboard a stunning glass-enclosed vessel, offering unobstructed views of the lit-up cityscape and riverfront fireworks.
Tip: Start your year off right with a New Year’s Day Brunch Cruise on Lake Michigan, featuring music, dancing, and a brunch buffet.
Chicago restaurants for New Year’s Eve dinner
Say goodbye to 2026 with an unforgettable meal courtesy of Chicago’s award-winning dining scene. The city’s restaurants are going all out for New Year’s Eve dinner, with special menus, champagne toasts, luxe add-ons, and more.
A few of the top Chicago restaurants on New Year’s Eve include:
- Alinea: Celebrate with an immersive, multi‑sensory tasting menu that spotlights unexpected ingredients, tableside theatrics, and a midnight champagne toast.
- Feld: This Michelin-starred restaurant is offering its classic multi-course menu paired with a special New Year’s Eve wine pairing.
- Virtue: In Hyde Park, this James Beard Award-winning restaurant will be serving up classic Southern American flavors in dishes like blackened catfish and buttered grits.
Check back for our full NYE dining guide for more restaurants in Chicago with New Year’s Eve specials.
What to do on New Year’s Eve in Chicago
New Year’s events at Chicago hotels
Sip champagne in historic ballrooms, marvel at a midnight confetti drop, and dance the night away to live DJs and bands. And don’t forget to reserve a room for an all-in-one NYE getaway at these Chicago hotels hosting New Year’s Eve soirées.
Book your tickets for New Year’s Eve parties at Chicago hotels:
- Congress Plaza Hotel: The historic Congress Plaza Hotel will host a multi-ballroom all-inclusive New Year’s Eve soiree. Party the night away on multiple dance floors featuring Chicago’s hottest DJs.
- Palmer House: One of the city’s most historic hotels, the Palmer House is hosting a glamorous New Year’s bash. Enjoy access to two ballrooms, specialty drinks, an appetizer buffet, and more.
- LondonHouse Chicago: Ring in the New Year with a breathtaking view of the Chicago River fireworks display, plus a live DJ, open bar, and champagne toasts at the stunning indoor-outdoor LH Rooftop.
- theWit Chicago: The Phantom on the ROOF party will be a masquerade soiree, with dramatic decor, a live DJ and dancing, and skyline views from the 27th floor.
Check out more hotels around Chicago for your New Year’s Eve getaway.
New Year’s Eve parties in Chicago
Go back in time with a retro-themed evening, sip cocktails in a candlelit bar, dance the night away on a packed dance floor, and so much more.
Check out these unique parties and events ringing in the New Year in Chicago.
- The Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve Party: Morgan Manufacturing is hosting a Prohibition-era bash, with the city’s best DJs, top-shelf drinks, and a Roaring ’20s theme.
Explore more New Year’s Eve events and parties happening in Chicago.
New Year’s Eve concerts and shows in Chicago
Start the year off on a high note with these exciting Chicago events, including live music, comedy, magic, and so much more.
Check out some of thetop live events happening this New Year’s Eve in Chicago:
- Whethan at Navy Pier: Dance your way into the new year with immersive visuals and genre-bending electronic music at Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom.
- New Year’s Eve Bash at Chicago Magic Lounge: Grab tickets to the special New Year’s Eve edition of the Signature Show at the speakeasy-style Chicago Magic Lounge.
- Greensky Bluegrass at The Salt Shed: Greensky Bluegrass will wrap up the year with two back-to-back shows at The Salt Shed on Dec. 30 and 31.
- Pandemonium, Please Hold at The Second City: The 114th Mainstage Revue is one of three New Year’s Eve shows at The Second City, known as the birthplace of improv.
- D.O.D. at Radius: Close out the year with a house music dance party, featuring hitmaker D.O.D. at the warehouse-style Radius venue.
Explore more New Year’s Eve events and shows happening in Chicago.
New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise in Chicago
The best place to see the Chicago New Year’s Eve fireworks? From the water.
A Chicago River cruise lets you soak in the stunning sights of a lit-up skyline, followed by a breathtaking view of the midnight fireworks.
The New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise with Wendella Boats offers both climate-controlled indoor seating and an open-air deck, perfect for fireworks viewing. The 90-minute evening cruise departs near the bridge on Michigan Avenue.
Looking for an memorable NYE dinner? Check out New Year’s Eve dinner cruises on the river and lake.
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve in Chicago
Enjoy a memorable New Year’s Eve in Chicago with the whole family — even if the kids won’t make it to midnight.
- New Year’s Eve at ZooLights: Enjoy the mesmerizing light display at the historic Lincoln Park Zoo during this all-age New Year’s Eve event, featuring an hourly countdown for little ones.
- Wintrust Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier: Navy Pier is transformed into an indoor winter wonderland, complete with an ice rink, light displays, rides and games, and so much more.
New Year’s Eve At Noon Party: A kid-friendly daytime celebration, New Year’s Eve at Noon includes music, crafts, and a balloon drop countdown at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center.
