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As the calendar flips and viewers once again choose between braving the cold or celebrating from the couch, television networks are rolling out their annual New Year’s Eve spectacles. This year’s lineup includes a mix of musical performances, celebrity hosts and live countdowns designed to carry audiences into the new year. From “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” to Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen’s more PG-13 CNN special, here’s a look at the biggest New Year’s Eve broadcasts airing this year and how to stream them live at home.
‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
ABC once again anchors the night with “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” the most watched New Year’s Eve program on television. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the long-running special kicks off in primetime and stretches through midnight, offering a steady parade of chart-topping performances and live check-ins from Times Square and other U.S. cities before culminating in the iconic ball drop. Cable-cutters can watch the broadcast live via streaming TV services that carry ABC, including DirecTV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.
‘CNN New Year’s Eve Live’
Over on cable, CNN continues to position itself as the looser, adult-leaning alternative with “CNN New Year’s Eve Live,” hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. Broadcasting live from Times Square, this year’s special promises special guests such as Brandi Carlisle, Sarah Squirm, Leanne Morgan and Patti LaBelle. The broadcast will air live on CNN and is also available to stream through live-TV streaming bundles such as DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV (with the news add-on).
‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’
CBS offers a different flavor of celebration with New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, which broadcasts from downtown Nashville and leans heavily into country music and live performances. Airing in primetime on CBS, the concert-style special doubles as a showcase for the network’s music-event programming strategy and has become a reliable alternative for viewers less interested in Times Square spectacle. The show streams live for subscribers to Paramount+ with Showtime, while CBS affiliates also carry the broadcast over the air.
‘A Toast to the New Year’
NBC rounds out the major-network offerings with “A Toast to the New Year,” which this year reunites former “Today” co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush. The dynamic duo will take a look back at the year’s most memorable moments, with special guest appearances from Howie Mandel, Kristin Chenowethm Ethan Slater, Jim Gaffigan and more. The broadcast airs live on NBC and is available to stream in real time on Peacock for subscribers.
