Las Vegas New Year’s Eve fireworks to include first-ever LED drone light show

A record 340,000 people are expected to be in Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve, and many of them will attend “America’s Party 2026” on the Strip, which will include eight minutes of fireworks and a first-ever LED drone light show.

Show organizers on Wednesday gathered atop the Rio’s Masquerade Tower at the outdoor terrace of the VooDoo Lounge to give details of the event, being celebrated for the 25th time with Bellport, New York-based Fireworks by Grucci coordinating the event for the 21st time.

The event’s theme is “Rockin’ into 2026 — Vegas Style,” and the fireworks and drones will have a coordinated soundtrack of rock songs broadcast on KOMP 92.3 and 97.1 The Point. Organizers recommended downloading the station’s app for listening on personal digital devices.

Fireworks will be launched from the rooftops of 10 different properties, including, for the first time, from the off-Strip Palms. Other resorts that will launch pyrotechnics include MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood Resort, Caesars Palace, TI, The Venetian, Resorts World Las Vegas, Fontainebleau and The Strat, with the Rio serving as the command center for the event.

The Sphere also is getting in on the act and not only will broadcast live images of New Year’s celebrations from across the globe as they occur but provide the final countdown clock for the Las Vegas event.

Once the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, the soundtrack lineup will include “Auld Lang Syne” by Knights to Remember followed by “Rock You Like a Hurricane” by the Scorpions; “Rock of Ages” by Def Leppard; “Life in the Fast Lane” by the Eagles; “Life’s Been Comin’ Too Fast” by Blake Shelton; “Feels Like the First Time” by Foreigner; “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie; “New Year’s Day” by U2; “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez; concluding with “Wherever I May Roam” by Metallica.

Downtown celebration

Downtown Las Vegas will have a separate event called “Fremont Street Experience’s Countdown Under the Canopy” with fireworks launched from the Plaza. Live performances by Robin Thicke, CeeLo Green, Common Kings, Pertinence and Sammy Johnson are scheduled on Fremont Street Experience stages leading up to the midnight finale.

Tickets for the downtown event are on sale online for $60 each for the event starting Dec. 31 at 7 p.m., which gives ticket-holders access to all three stages and for space for the countdown.

“I came to Las Vegas for New Year’s about 30 years ago, and I didn’t realize what I was getting into,” said Derek Stevens, chairman of organizer Las Vegas Events and also owner of downtown’s Circa, the D and Golden Gate properties. “I had a great night, and I didn’t realize how I was just going to continue to grow and grow. Vegas has really become synonymous with throwing the greatest parties in the world, and what’s more appropriate than a great party on New Year’s Eve? People love getting dressed up, people are in a festive atmosphere, with great weather, great fireworks. There’s no better place in the world than fabulous Las Vegas.”

Scott Cooper, director of business development for Fireworks by Grucci, said the best viewing location for the 600-unit drone show would be announced Dec. 30.

“It’ll appear three-dimensional, and it’ll rotate so people can see it up and down and above the Strip,” Cooper said.

He said preparing for the show will take five days of installations on rooftops with 74 pyrotechnicians and more than 100 additional security personnel, engineers and hotel staff.

Cooper said the end of the fireworks show would include an America 250 patriotic tribute as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, provided the attendance estimate.

“I think that 340,000 visitors this year may be a record,” Hill said. “When we’re full, we’re in the 330,000-335,000 range. For New Year’s Eve, we get a little more full. We get a few more people per room.

“It’s the place to be to celebrate the New Year and it’s really great to be able to bring all of those people to Las Vegas for that party.”

Worth the $1 million pricetag

The celebration will cost just over $1 million.

“The check is written by the LVCVA, but it’s obviously the room tax that is collected that funds that effort,” Hill said. “It’s a little over $1 million for the events this year between the fireworks themselves and we reimburse the cost of the public services to the fire departments and Metro for keeping us safe. It’s well worth it.”

Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson, who also chairs the LVCVA board of directors, thanked the partners who make America’s Party work.

“Closing down Las Vegas Boulevard is no small task,” Gibson said, “so I want to thank the Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, and all the participating hotel properties in addition to the LVCVA, Las Vegas Events and Fireworks by Grucci.”

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.