How Do You Get Tickets for London's New Year's Eve Fireworks 2026, and How Much Do They Cost?

When tickets go on sale and where to buy them

The Mayor of London's office announced on 16 October 2026 that the first tickets go on sale at midday on Friday 23 October 2026. The only authorised seller is Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.co.uk). City Hall says tickets bought from any other website or by any other means are not valid and will be refused entry, so ignore resale listings on other platforms and social media.

A final, smaller batch goes on sale later in 2026. As of 21 October 2026 its date is not yet announced; the official event page says to keep checking it. For the last pattern: the 2025 final batch went on sale at midday on Monday 24 November 2025, and in earlier years it came out in late November or early December. Every year so far the event has sold out, so the first batch is the safer bet.

The event itself runs from 8pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 to 12:30am on Friday 1 January 2027, with fireworks, lights and music around the London Eye after Big Ben's bongs. City Hall expects about 100,000 people.

Ticket prices and viewing areas

There are six fenced viewing areas on both banks of the Thames, split into two price categories. Prices include VAT; the booking fee goes to Ticketmaster and is shown at checkout.

• Category A, £55 (£35 for Londoners): Blue (north bank on Victoria Embankment, head-on view opposite the London Eye, gates 1 or 2), Pink (Waterloo Bridge only, side view, gate 6) and White (Westminster Bridge only, side view, gate 8)

• Category B, £40 (£20 for Londoners): Red (north bank further down the river towards Temple, side view, gates 4 or 5), Green (south bank, up close behind the London Eye, gate 7) and Orange (Albert Embankment by St Thomas' Hospital, partial side view, gate 9; this is the accessible area)

The Londoner discount is £20 off each ticket. The postcode is checked against the billing address of the payment card, and you may be asked for proof of address on the night. You cannot move between areas once inside, so a group that wants to stand together must book the same area.

Only the Orange area has seating (you can bring a fold-up seat there), a hearing loop and a Changing Places toilet. The other five are standing only, can be crowded and may involve walking up to 2 km from public transport. City Hall says the event is not suitable for young children and strongly advises against bringing them; under-16s must be with an adult.

Ticket limit, ID, transfers and resale

• Limit: one buyer can purchase up to 4 tickets. Another adult in a larger group can buy up to the same number, and the group must travel to the event together.

• ID: the main ticket buyer may be asked for photo ID matching the name on the group's tickets: a passport or photo driving licence, or a good-quality photocopy of one. Gift recipients can be asked for ID too.

• Gifts and transfers: if a ticket is for someone else, change the name to theirs through Ticketmaster's transfer process before the event, after your purchase confirmation arrives.

• Refunds and resale: there are no refunds. If you cannot go, you can resell at face value only through Ticketmaster's Fan-to-Fan Resale in your account.

• Entry times: each area admits people from 8pm to 10:30pm, through its listed gates only.

What happens if you don't have a ticket

Without a ticket you will not be let into any of the viewing areas. Vehicle access around the site is restricted from 2pm on 31 December until about 6am on 1 January, and City Hall says the bridges around the site (Westminster, Golden Jubilee, Lambeth, Blackfriars and Waterloo) cannot be used to cross the river before or after the event.

Last year TfL advised people without tickets not to travel to the Victoria Embankment area and to celebrate at a local pub, bar or restaurant or watch the fireworks live on BBC One instead. City Hall's own message to people who missed out was the same. If you are visiting London over New Year without tickets, plan the evening somewhere away from the river around Westminster.

Getting there and home: Tube and transport on the night

As of 21 October 2026, TfL has not yet announced its 2026 New Year's Eve service plan. The last official pattern, from TfL's December 2025 release: services ran all night on New Year's Eve apart from planned closures, and some central stations may close at short notice or at busy times to manage crowds. TfL did not announce free travel, so budget for normal fares.

City Hall's advice is to plan the route in advance, use only your area's gates and decide which side of the river you will go home from, because the bridges stay closed after the event and stations near the site are very busy around 12:30am. Holborn station, suggested for the Red area, has no step-free access. Contactless cards and Oyster work as on any other night; our Oyster vs contactless guide covers the fare caps.

If you are building a longer stay around New Year, our 3 days in London itinerary and how many days in London guide cover what to see in the days either side.

Frequently asked questions