London’s New Year fireworks: check the price, the postcode and the riverbank before booking

It may still be October, but London’s biggest midnight countdown is already asking for a little attention. The first ticket release for the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks opened on Friday 23 October. City Hall’s event page says the first batch is on sale, with a second release to follow on a date that has not yet been announced. That is a reason to check the official booking route, not a guarantee that every viewing area has tickets left.

The celebration takes place on Thursday 31 December 2026, welcoming 2027. The advertised event window runs from 8pm to 12.30am; the fireworks accompany the midnight countdown. Before anyone in the group chat presses the payment button, agree three things: the budget, who is coming and which side of the river will make the journey home manageable.

What the tickets cost

The Mayor’s announcement puts Category A tickets at £55, or £35 for London residents. This category covers Blue, Pink and White viewing areas. Category B costs £40, or £20 for Londoners, and covers Red, Green and Orange. A booking fee is additional. The headline £20 price is therefore a resident price in a particular category, rather than the price everyone will pay.

For four people paying the standard Category A rate, the ticket subtotal is £220 before fees. Four eligible London-resident Category B tickets total £80 before fees. Those are simple comparisons, not promises of availability. Add your own transport, food and any earlier entertainment to the calculation before deciding whether the riverside is the right plan for your household.

Use the official route

Ticketmaster is the authorised seller identified by City Hall. The Mayor’s announcement says tickets from other outlets will not be valid for entry. Around 100,000 people are expected to attend the celebration, which combines fireworks, lighting and music around the London Eye. This is an organised ticketed event, so a plan to turn up and join friends inside the viewing area will not work without the right ticket.

Start at the City Hall event page and follow its booking link. Avoid treating a social-media screenshot, a seller’s reassuring message or a familiar-looking logo as proof that a ticket is genuine. Keep the booking confirmation somewhere you can retrieve easily, and make sure everyone knows which member of the group holds the details. A little organisation now beats trying to untangle the booking while standing outside on a December evening.

Agree the viewing area together

City Hall limits purchases to four tickets per buyer and says groups cannot move between viewing areas. Its London discount is checked against the billing address of the payment card, and proof of address may be requested. Do not select a resident rate simply because one person in your party knows London well: read the eligibility instructions and use accurate booking information.

The organiser lists entry between 8pm and 10.30pm, with specific gates for each area. Orange is the accessible viewing area, with additional facilities described on the official page. Read the access information before choosing a zone; a map’s short straight line is not necessarily the route you will be able to walk on the night. Check the latest travel advice again nearer the event.

Make a plan that works without a ticket, too

Visit London advises people without tickets to avoid the designated viewing areas. Its alternatives include theatre, restaurants, rooftop venues, clubs and river cruises. Treat each as a separate booking decision: a venue being in central London does not automatically promise a fireworks view, and a cruise description should make clear what is included.

If your preferred allocation has gone, keep an eye on City Hall for the second release rather than guessing its date from previous years. You can also choose an evening that does not depend on standing beside the Thames. Agree a maximum spend and a fallback with your friends now, then book only when the details suit you. The best New Year plan is one everyone understands before the countdown begins.

Official sources

City Hall event and booking guide · Mayor’s ticket announcement · Visit London guide