Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates New Year’s Eve with a large ticketed event with live music, fireworks, dancing, and extended hours. New Year’s Eve is a popular event to celebrate and many locals love to ring in the New Year at Universal Studios Hollywood. The extended hours for the theme park are especially a great hit for those who like to stay up late.
We visit Southern California for the holidays every year whether we are spending time at Disneyland’s Christmas celebration or enjoying the festivities at Universal Studios Hollywood’s holiday celebration in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas! I love the holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood especially the addition of all the Grinch-themed food and characters. The Grinch is one of the best Universal characters to meet! This is a popular time of the year so make sure to read our Universal Studios Hollywood Express Guide which has the best overview on how to beat the lines!
Keep reading for all the information on the Universal Studios Hollywood New Year’s Party called EVE, entertainment options, and the best tips. This article is now updated for the 2026 New Year celebration at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Does Universal Studios Hollywood Do Anything For New Year’s Eve?
Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates New Year’s Eve with live music celebrations throughout the park, fireworks, extended hours, and more. Rides and attractions also operate throughout the day. The best part? All of the Universal Studios Hollywood New Year’s Eve offerings are part of the theme park ticket.
EVE 2026 Event Hours & Price
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EVE is included in the price of your admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, there is no separate ticket purchased required to stay for the duration of the event which lasts until 2 AM. For comparison, most nights Universal Studios Hollywood closes by 7 PM or 10 PM on busy weeks like Christmas week. The only other time of the year we see such extended hours is Universal Halloween Horror Nights.
This is a great way to maximize your time at Universal Studios Hollywood since the party does not cost extra.
Read our guide on how to get discount Universal Studios Hollywood tickets.
Universal Studios Hollywood New Year Party
EVE starts at 9 PM as Universal Studios Hollywood transforms into a New Year’s Eve celebration.
The event includes designated dance party zones with live DJs spinning a variety of music from pop, rock, hip-hop, EDM, and Latin music.
There are also a variety of unique photo ops around the theme park.
Universal Studios Hollywood New Year’s Eve Fireworks
The main event is the Universal Studios Hollywood New Year’s Eve fireworks display. The countdown to the new year also includes winter snowfall and confetti within certain areas of the theme park.
EVE 2025 Food, Beverages Specials
There will be a wide variety of special New Year’s Eve food plus beverages like champagne, beer, wine, and cocktails. Guests must be 21+ and have a valid photo ID to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Be sure to also check out our guide to the best Universal Studios Hollywood foods and restaurants you should try year-round!
New Year’s Eve Holiday Activities
The holiday celebration at Universal Studios Hollywood includes Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is one of my favorite parts of the holidays at Universal! The nighttime show, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, features iconic imagery and music that focus on the moments in the films that celebrate Christmas. This show will take place as usual during the New Year’s Eve event.
Another must-see event is the Grinchas celebration which features The Grinch, Max, plus an assortment of Who characters and Who-Ville decorations.
Plan Your Universal Studios Hollywood Vacation!
Now that you know how to make your Universal Studios Hollywood trip a memorable one, it’s the perfect time to book your tickets. Don’t forget to sign up for our Universal Studios discount newsletter so you have access to deals from our travel partners offered exclusively to our subscribers!
Dive deeper into our other Southern California travel articles:
- Find Discount Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets
- Ultimate Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood
- When to Visit Disneyland
- 7 Best Hotels Near Disneyland + Discounts
- Universal Studios Hollywood Express Guide
Universal Studios Hollywood does a big New Year’s Eve celebration with live DJs, drinks, fireworks, and extended park hours.
New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest days of the year for all the theme parks including Universal Studios. The extended evening hours of the parks being open until 2 AM greatly helps reduce some of the crowds though!
Universal Studios Hollywood does fireworks to celebrate New Year’s Eve along with snowfall and confetti.
The entire park of Universal Studios is decorated for Christmas plus there is a holiday show on Hogwarts Castle and a celebration of The Grinch.
