New Year’s Eve is arguably the biggest and most iconic party night in the world —and even people who don’t go out often somehow find the energy to stay up until midnight, raise a glass, and welcome the new year with friends and family. For dance music fans though, NYE is more than just a countdown: it’s a full-on celebration complete with massive production, nonstop sets, and the kind of shared adrenaline you only get in a packed crowd when the clock hits 12.
Whether you’re chasing bass-heavy drops, melodic house grooves, cutting-edge techno, or big-room festival anthems, the U.S. offers plenty of ways to close out the year in style. From multi-night festivals to citywide takeovers, these events deliver unforgettable lineups, immersive visuals, and that once-a-year energy. Here’s my roundup of the 6 best NYE electronic music festivals to ring in the new year!
1. Proper NYE
When: December 31, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Where: Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Proper NYE is a high-energy New Year’s Eve celebration in San Diego famous for its world-class production, stacked lineups, and nonstop dance-floor vibes. Taking place on New Years Eve and January 1st, it’s one of the best parties you’ll find in the country to kickstart your year!
Offering 5 stages each with their own vibe, Proper NYE always delivers electronic music fans a party they’ll never forget. Expect big visuals, booming sound, and a so-cal crowd that’s there to celebrate hard and ring in the new year together!
And when the festival lights come up around the festival, the San Diego club scene comes alive with a stacked offering of after-parties with some of the line-ups biggest acts! I had the pleasure of attending myself this year and it was outstanding from start to finish, and will definitely be back in the future!
Read my article on 6 Reasons Proper NYE Is the Perfect Festival to Kickstart Your Year for an in depth look at this amazing party!
2. Lights All Night
Credit: Alive Coverage
When: December 30–31, 2026
Where: Dallas, Texas
One of the longest-running EDM festivals in the U.S., Lights All Night celebrates its 15th anniversary with a diverse, high-impact lineup featuring major artists across bass, house, and techno. Held as a two-night New Year’s celebration, it has become a staple for ravers in Texas and around the country looking to close out the year with unforgettable energy and nonstop music.
Lights All Night is especially known for its dazzling light shows, immersive stage design, and massive sound that makes every drop feel larger than life. Beyond the headling acts, the festival’s variety of styles keeps the experience fresh, whether you’re chasing heavy bass sets, groovy house rhythms, or darker techno vibes. If you’re in Texas and looking for a solid way to ring in the new year, look no further than Lights All Night!
3. Countdown NYE
When: December 31, 2025
Where: Southern California
Produced by the electronic festival beast, Insomniac Events, Countdown NYE is a flagship West Coast party featuring multiple massive stages, creative themes, and a signature midnight countdown that you’ll be talking about all year. Expect a lineup packed with top EDM artists and immersive visuals that make this a must-attend festival once in your lfife.
With 4 different stages going til 5AM, it’s a Los Angeles raver’s dream to satisfy those PLUR needs until your next springtime festival. While it may only be one day on NYE, you can easily party til the sun comes up on January 1st.
![John Summit @ Countdown NYE 2025/2026 - LA Convention Center [4k Full Set High Quality Audio]](https://www.jonesaroundtheworld.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FwP9dVhJ7icU%2F0.jpg)
4. Decadence NYE
When: December 30–31, 2026
Where: Denver, CO & Avondale (Phoenix), AZ
One of America’s largest and most iconic New Years Eve EDM festivals, Decadence pulls out all the stops with immersive visuals, multiple stages, and world-class lineups spanning house, dubstep, trance, and more. This massively popular celebration offers two nights of explosive music and a high-energy midnight countdown. With nonstop production, larger-than-life stage design, and a crowd that brings serious festival energy, it’s the kind of event that feels like a full-scale rave experience to close out the year. Whether you’re chasing big drops, euphoric melodies, or deep grooves, Decadence delivers a little bit of everything in one place.
For travelers coming from other states, Denver makes the perfect NYE festival getaway thanks to its easy airport access, strong public transit and rideshare options, and tons of hotels near the venue. It’s also an ideal spot to extend the trip into a winter vacation—spend the day exploring downtown, checking out breweries, or even heading to the mountains before returning for two unforgettable nights of music.
5. TRANSITIONS
When: December 31, 2026 – January 7, 2027
Where: Grayslake/Lake County (near Chicago), IL
TRANSITIONS is Chicago New Year’s experience built more like a citywide takeover than a single festival. Instead of packing everything into one festival venue, it spreads across multiple nights and multiple locations, letting you choose the vibe you want—whether that’s a late-night club set, a bigger warehouse-style show, or something in between.
What makes TRANSITIONS stand out is the “build-up” feeling: you can treat it as one big NYE week with different stops, or just drop in for the main New Year’s Eve party and catch the midnight moment in a high-energy crowd. It’s a great option for locals and travelers who want to explore Chicago nightlife while still getting a full-scale NYE dance experience.
6. Pier 80 NYE
When: Late December 29–31, 2025
Where: San Francisco, CA
While not always a recurring branded festival, Pier 80 has hosted multiple major New Year’s electronic shows with world-class DJs headlining across December 30 and Dec 31 events.
This past 2025 year offered one of the most talked about line-up with two Swedish House Mafia shows with support from Disclosure & Boys Noize, as well as a Skrillex B2B Four Tet. I had a ton of friends attend these shows and everyone had such an epic time (especially at the afterparties in San Fransisco).
Looking for more epic festivals?
My travel blog is filled with articles just like this that will help you find some of the most fun, magical, and awesome music festivals and parties around the United States. Check out a few of my favorite below, and feel free to reach out to me and let me know about any that I’m missing!
- 37 California Music Festivals That’ll Keep You Dancing All Year Long
- Top 20 San Diego Music Festivals | The Ultimate SD Festival Bucket List
- The Best 25 Music Festivals in Texas To Experience Before You Die
- The Top 25 Music Festivals in ARIZONA To Experience Before You Die
- The Best 25 Music Festivals in FLORIDA To Experience Before You Die
- 37 California Music Festivals That’ll Keep You Dancing All Year Long
- The 13 Best Music Festivals in New York to Experience Before You Die
- The Top 10 Music Festivals in Colorado To Experience Before You Die
- Top 21 Music Festivals in LAS VEGAS To Experience Before You Die
- 15 Epic Music Festivals in MICHIGAN To Experience Before You Die
- 20 Vancouver Music Festivals To Add To Your BUcket List
- Top 20 South American Music Festivals
- The 7 Best Music Festivals in Central America
Thanks so much for reading! See you on the dancefloor in 2026!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!