3 VA 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, Virginians don't have to travel too far.

Nearby Washington, D.C., was ranked No. 8 in the nation for the 100 best cities for New Year's Eve celebrations, a recent study says. And, three Virginia towns also made the party list.

The WalletHub survey named Orlando, Florida, as the perfect town for New Year's Eve celebrants.

Experts gave D.C. a rank of 11 for entertainment and food; a score of 88 for costs; and a score of 32 for safety and accessibility.

Virginia Beach was rated No. 27 in the nation for best cities to ring in 2026. The city had a score of 66 for entertainment and food; a score of 17 for costs; and a score of 12 for safety and accessibility.

Norfolk ranked No. 64 nationally on the list. The city had a score of 77 for entertainment and food; a score of 14 for costs; and a score of 42 for safety and accessibility.

Chesapeake ranked 68th nationally on the New Year's Eve list. The city had a score of 92 for entertainment and food; a score of 10 for costs; and a score of 25 for safety and accessibility.

Also, Baltimore ranked No. 29 overall on the list. Its entertainment and food availability ranked 39th on the list, while cost ranked 29th, and the city's safety and accessibility earned a score of 48.

“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.