6 FL Cities Among The Best Places To Celebrate New Year’s Eve, Analysts Say

If you want to welcome the new year in style with great dining and nightspots, Floridians have plenty of options.

A WalletHub survey named Orlando was ranked No. 1 in the nation for the 100 best cities for New Year's Eve celebrations. Five other Florida cities also made the party list.

Experts ranked Orlando No. 1 for entertainment and food; a score of 55 for costs; and a score of 53 for safety and accessibility.

"Whether you want to experience the holiday at a breathtaking destination like Disney World or just at a house or hotel, Orlando has you covered," the editors at WalletHub said. "Of course, you can’t talk about New Year’s Eve without mentioning fireworks. Orlando offers a great fireworks display with a solid, enjoyable duration, and consumer fireworks are legal, so people can set up their own shows."

"For those who like to celebrate New Year’s Eve by going shopping, or who want to give someone a special gift on the occasion, Orlando has the second-most jewelry shops and the third-most gourmet food stores per capita," the study said. "It also can be a surprisingly affordable place to stay for tourists. The lowest price of a 3-star hotel room on New Year’s Eve is just $66, the 24th-cheapest in the country."

Miami was rated No. 10 in the nation for best cities to ring in 2026. The city ranked second for entertainment and food; a score of 87 for costs; and a score of 85 for safety and accessibility.

Tampa ranks 12th nationally on the list. The city had a score of 26 for entertainment and food; a score of 49 for costs; and a score of 31 for safety and accessibility.

Jacksonville ranked 45th nationally on the New Year's Eve list. The city had a score of 35 for entertainment and food; a score of 28 for costs; and a score of 74 for safety and accessibility.

Also, St. Petersburg ranked No. 63 overall for top party places. Its entertainment and food availability ranked 42nd, while cost ranked 83rd, and the city's safety and accessibility earned a score of 59.

The final Sunshine State city on the list is Hialeah at No. 70.

“Celebrating New Year’s Eve in the right city can turn the holiday into a truly magical experience," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report. "The best cities for New Year’s celebrations have clear skies and some of the best fireworks displays around. The top cities also offer an abundance of highly-rated, affordable dining options, along with a vibrant nightlife and plenty of activities to make your transition into the new year a memorable one.”

The top 10 places to celebrate New Year's Eve are:

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
3. New York, New York
4. Seattle, Washington
5. Los Angeles, California
6. San Diego, California
7. Chicago, Illinois
8. Washington, D.C.
9. San Francisco, California
10. Miami, Florida

Source: WalletHub

Towns in the bottom 10 of the national list included Newark, New Jersey; Jersey City, New Jersey; Memphis, Tennessee; Fresno, California; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

See WalletHub's full methodology.