As the final hours of 2025 tick away, Edmonton is preparing to welcome 2026 with a spectacular array of free, family-friendly celebrations in the heart of downtown. The city is inviting residents and visitors to bundle up and join the festivities centered around City Hall and Sir Winston Churchill Square.
Downtown Festivities and Twin Fireworks Displays
The main event is the free New Year's Eve celebration at City Hall, running from 6 p.m. until midnight. The highlight will be two separate fireworks shows launched over the Stanley A. Milner Library. A family-oriented display will light up the sky at 8 p.m., followed by the traditional midnight spectacle. Each show is scheduled to last approximately ten minutes.
Before and between the pyrotechnics, attendees can enjoy a host of activities. Outdoors on Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza, options will include skating on the ice rink, with free skate rentals and skate aids available on a first-come, first-served basis. The area will also feature cultural performances, warming fire pits, and food trucks.
For those seeking warmth, Edmonton City Hall will open its doors for craft stations, family activities, and a lineup of musical performances. Scheduled artists include Next Stop, Otago!, Robyn Ashley, Brianna Lizotte, Zack Moostoos-Willier, Kevin Flesher, and headliners The Royal Foundry. The evening will be part of CBC Edmonton's Live Cross-Canada Countdown broadcast from Churchill Square.
Transportation Changes and Free Transit
Navigating the city core on December 31 will require some planning due to road closures and service adjustments. To encourage safe travel, Edmonton Transit Service will provide free rides on buses and the LRT starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 until about 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026.
Several roads and pathways around the event zone will be closed to vehicles from 10:30 p.m. on December 30 until 2 a.m. on January 1. Key closures include:
- 99 Street from 102 Avenue to 102A Avenue (including the bike lane)
- Rice Howard Way, between 100 Street and 100A Street
- 100 Street, from Rice Howard Way to 102A Avenue
- 102 Avenue, from 99 Street to 100A Street, including the south sidewalk
Additionally, 100 Street South at 103A Avenue will be restricted to one lane with a forced right turn at 102A Avenue.
Additional Family Activities Across the City
Beyond the main square, other city venues are offering early and alternative ways to celebrate. The Stanley A. Milner Library will host free activities, storytelling, interactive games, and a movie showing until 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
At the Royal Alberta Museum, special programming for children under eight begins at 10:30 a.m. on December 31. Kids can create noisemakers, participate in hands-on activities, and explore exhibits. The museum will host an early "bubble wrap countdown dance party" at noon for families wanting to ring in the new year early.
For sports fans, the ICE District Plaza will host a free outdoor watch party for the Edmonton Oilers game against the Boston Bruins at Rogers Place, which starts at 7:30 p.m. This gathering will also feature a midnight fireworks display to cap off the evening.
With free events, entertainment, and transit, Edmonton offers numerous ways for the community to come together and safely usher in the year 2026.
