Chicago New Year 2027: Countdown & Fireworks

New Year 2027 arrives in Chicago at midnight CST (UTC−6) on Friday, January 1, 2027, which is 06:00 UTC on Friday, January 1, 2027.

-- days
-- hours
-- minutes
-- seconds

until midnight in Chicago (CST, UTC−6)

Fireworks 2027: Confirmed

2027 event

Chicago Fireworks 2027

Confirmed Navy Pier lists its free, 10-minute, music-synchronized fireworks show for 11:59 pm on Dec 31, and the City of Chicago has listed a free New Year's Eve Celebration for the same date, with details still to come. Last year's city celebration, on the Chicago Riverwalk, was billed as the first time Chicago's midnight countdown appeared live on ABC's Rockin' Eve.

Event
Navy Pier New Year's Eve Fireworks
Type
Fireworks
Where
Navy Pier
When
23:59 (CST), Thursday, December 31, 2026
Duration
About 10 minutes
Admission
Free
Organizer
Navy Pier
Watch live
ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest lists Chicago as a live location with co-host Druski (ABC announcement, 7 October 2026); the Chicago venue has not been announced.

Official event page

Where to watch in Chicago

  1. Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave — Home of the free show; Navy Pier advises arriving early for a prime spot. Its regular hours for Dec 31 are 11 am to 10 pm, so check access after that. Choose Chicago says the best views are from Navy Pier's official New Year's Eve parties, which are ticketed.
  2. The lakefront along Lake Michigan — Choose Chicago says the show can be seen along the lakefront, though the best views are from Navy Pier's official New Year's Eve parties.
  3. Chicago Riverwalk and Upper Wacker Drive — Last year the city's free celebration was on the Riverwalk at Wacker Drive between Wells and Lake Streets, with midnight fireworks from the river bridges; Upper Wacker Drive had the best views. This year's plans have not been announced.
  4. Ticketed rooftops, restaurants and cruises — Choose Chicago lists fireworks-viewing parties at a Navy Pier waterfront restaurant and on downtown hotel rooftops, plus dinner cruises on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Check each venue for tickets and prices.

Getting there

  • Take a CTA bus to Navy Pier. Routes #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago and #124 Navy Pier serve the Pier; Metra riders can transfer to the #124 from Union, Ogilvie and Millennium stations, or to the #29 from LaSalle Street and Millennium stations. Check transitchicago.com for New Year's Eve service.
  • Rideshare pick-up and drop-off areas are at the main (west) entrance, the Mid Parking Circle and the East Parking Circle, and taxis have three drop-off points.
  • For the city's riverfront celebration last year (New Year 2026), all CTA trains and buses were free from 10 pm to 4 am, Wacker Drive between Lake and Wells Streets closed from 10 am on Dec 31, and bags larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches were not allowed. This year's arrangements have not been announced.

Visiting from abroad? A travel eSIM from e-sim.onl works in 200+ countries, with instant QR delivery and no physical SIM.

AT A GLANCE

Timezone
Central Standard Time (CST)
UTC Offset
UTC−6
Midnight arrives
Friday, January 1, 2027 at 12:00 AM CST
Celebration order
34th of 37 cities to celebrate (same time as Mexico City)

How Chicago celebrates

Chicago celebrates New Year's Eve with Navy Pier's fireworks over Lake Michigan and a free city-hosted celebration (held on the Chicago Riverwalk for New Year 2026), set against the backdrop of one of America's most dramatic city skylines.

Navy Pier's fireworks display lights up the lakefront at midnight and can be seen along the shore, though Choose Chicago says the best views are from Navy Pier's official New Year's Eve parties, which sell tickets. For New Year 2026 the city's own celebration on the Chicago Riverwalk added live music and midnight fireworks launched from the river bridges.

Despite December temperatures that often dip well below freezing, Chicagoans are known for their hardiness in celebrating outdoors. The city's vibrant bar and restaurant scene means River North, Wicker Park, and Logan Square also host packed indoor and outdoor events throughout the night.

Frequently asked questions

Will there be fireworks in Chicago for New Year 2027?

Yes. Navy Pier has scheduled a free, 10-minute, music-synchronized fireworks show over the lakefront for 11:59 pm on Dec 31. The City of Chicago has also listed a free New Year's Eve Celebration for the same date, with details still to come; last year's included midnight fireworks from the Chicago River bridges.

Are the Navy Pier New Year's Eve fireworks free?

Yes. Navy Pier lists the show as a free event, and there is no admission fee to enter the Pier, though its attractions, parties and cruises have their own prices. The Pier's regular hours for Dec 31 are 11 am to 10 pm, so check whether the grounds stay open to the public for the 11:59 pm show. Choose Chicago says the show can be seen along the lakefront, but the best views are from Navy Pier's official New Year's Eve parties, which sell tickets.

Will Chicago's New Year's Eve countdown be on TV?

ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest lists Chicago as a live location with co-host Druski (ABC announcement, 7 October 2026), but the Chicago venue has not been announced. Last year the city's riverfront celebration was billed as the first time Chicago's midnight countdown appeared live in the special.

What time is New Year in Chicago?

New Year arrives in Chicago at midnight Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6). In 2027, that is 06:00 UTC on January 1, 2027.

How does Chicago celebrate New Year's Eve?

Chicago hosts Navy Pier's free fireworks over Lake Michigan at midnight and a free city-hosted celebration (held on the Chicago Riverwalk for New Year 2026), plus parties, dinner cruises and events across downtown venues and bars on New Year's Eve.

What time zone is Chicago on New Year's Eve?

Chicago observes Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) on New Year's Eve. Illinois returns to CST from CDT in early November.

How do I get to Navy Pier by public transport?

By CTA bus: routes #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago and #124 Navy Pier serve the Pier daily, according to Navy Pier. From Metra, take the #124 from Union, Ogilvie or Millennium stations, or the #29 from LaSalle Street or Millennium stations.

Is Chicago one of the first or last cities to celebrate New Year?

Among the 37 cities on this site, Chicago is the 34th to reach midnight, at the same time as Mexico City. At UTC−6, it celebrates relatively late in the global celebration window.

Where do people celebrate New Year's Eve in Chicago?

A focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations in Chicago: Navy Pier. See the where-to-watch list above for more places.

What time should I tune in to watch Chicago's New Year celebration?

Midnight arrives in Chicago at 12:00 AM CST (UTC−6) on Friday, January 1, 2027. The main moment of Navy Pier New Year's Eve Fireworks is scheduled for 11:59 PM (23:59 CST) on Thursday, December 31, 2026. ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest lists Chicago as a live location with co-host Druski (ABC announcement, 7 October 2026); the Chicago venue has not been announced.

What is the City of Chicago's New Year's Eve celebration?

A free celebration hosted by the City of Chicago, separate from the Navy Pier fireworks. For New Year 2026 it was held on the Chicago Riverwalk at Wacker Drive, with live music, an ART on THE MART projection and midnight fireworks launched from the river bridges.

Embed this countdown

Show the live countdown to New Year 2027 in Chicago on your own site. Copy the code and paste it into your page. It includes a link to newyear.onl; please leave it in.

<iframe
src="https://newyear.onl/embed/chicago/"
width="320" height="200"
style="border:0;max-width:100%"
loading="lazy"
title="Chicago New Year 2027 countdown"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://newyear.onl/chicago/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">newyear.onl</a></p>

Set width and height to fit your page. It stays readable from 250 × 150 pixels.

Sources

Last checked

This page provides a live countdown to New Year 2027 in Chicago (Central Standard Time, UTC−6). New Year's Day 2027 in Chicago falls on Friday, January 1, 2027 at midnight CST. Chicago celebrates with free Navy Pier fireworks over Lake Michigan at midnight, and the city also hosts its own free New Year's Eve celebration, held on the Chicago Riverwalk for New Year 2026. The city's iconic skyline provides a dramatic backdrop for the midnight celebration.