New Year's Eve 2026 in San Diego: fireworks, countdowns and getting home
On Thursday, Dec 31, 2026, SeaWorld's page lists fireworks at 9 p.m. and LEGOLAND and Sesame Place list early family countdowns; free late-night transit and Gaslamp details are not announced yet.
- Night
- Thu, Dec 31
- SeaWorld fireworks
- 9 p.m.
- MTS free after
- 6 p.m.
- Last year's late Trolley
- past 2 a.m.
Jan 1 is a Friday
Per SeaWorld's event page, year not stated on page
2025 pattern; 2026 not announced
NYE 2025
The short version
- SeaWorld's page lists a DJ from 5 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m. on Dec 31
- LEGOLAND's Kids' New Year's Eve is included with admission; in 2025 it ran 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with an early fireworks countdown at 6:45 p.m.
- MTS buses and Trolley were free after 6 p.m. on NYE 2025, with late Trolley trips past 2 a.m.; 2026 not announced as of Oct 28
- There is no big public bayfront fireworks show in the sources we found
New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday this year. As of Oct 28, most San Diego NYE plans for 2026 are not published, so this page separates what an organizer has posted from what happened last year. We will update it in early December.
Dec 31 from noon to midnight
- Noon
Noon Year's Eve events (2025 pattern)
Last year (2025), Mershops North County in Escondido ran a free Noon Year's Eve, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a balloon drop at 12. Per San Diego Family; 2026 not announced.
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
LEGOLAND early countdown
LEGOLAND Kids' New Year's Eve, included with admission. Hours and the early fireworks time were 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. in 2025; 2026 hours not posted.
- 6 p.m.
Sesame Place fireworks; free transit starts (2025)
Sesame Place lists fireworks at 6 p.m. 'subject to change'. MTS and Trolley rides were also free after 6 p.m. last year.
- 9 p.m.
SeaWorld fireworks
SeaWorld's page lists fireworks at 9 p.m. after a 5 p.m. DJ party.
- Midnight and after
Countdown, then the ride home (2025 pattern)
Last year Trolleys ran past 2 a.m. and the last COASTER left Santa Fe Depot at 1:20 a.m.
- Noon
Noon Year's Eve events (2025 pattern)
Last year (2025), Mershops North County in Escondido ran a free Noon Year's Eve, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a balloon drop at 12. Per San Diego Family; 2026 not announced.
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
LEGOLAND early countdown
LEGOLAND Kids' New Year's Eve, included with admission. Hours and the early fireworks time were 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. in 2025; 2026 hours not posted.
- 6 p.m.
Sesame Place fireworks; free transit starts (2025)
Sesame Place lists fireworks at 6 p.m. 'subject to change'. MTS and Trolley rides were also free after 6 p.m. last year.
- 9 p.m.
SeaWorld fireworks
SeaWorld's page lists fireworks at 9 p.m. after a 5 p.m. DJ party.
- Midnight and after
Countdown, then the ride home (2025 pattern)
Last year Trolleys ran past 2 a.m. and the last COASTER left Santa Fe Depot at 1:20 a.m.
Times marked 2025 are last year's schedules, shown as a pattern only. Times from park pages are as posted Oct 28, 2026.
Fireworks and family countdowns
What is posted for Dec 31
| Event | What the organizer lists | Year status | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaWorld San Diego | DJ at Sky Tower from 5 p.m. to park close; fireworks 9 p.m.; happy hour from 4 p.m. | Page does not state a year, but its Family Bash text refers to the 2026 NYE fireworks show | Included with park admission; Family Bash is $74.99 adults, $39.99 children, plus admission |
| LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad | Kids' New Year's Eve with rides, live music, a countdown and early fireworks | Page does not name the year; hours not posted | Included with tickets and select passes |
| Sesame Place San Diego, Chula Vista | Fireworks at 6 p.m., 'subject to change' | Page does not name the year and carries older-looking safety wording; treat as unconfirmed | Not listed on the page |
SeaWorld San Diego
- What the organizer lists
- DJ at Sky Tower from 5 p.m. to park close; fireworks 9 p.m.; happy hour from 4 p.m.
- Year status
- Page does not state a year, but its Family Bash text refers to the 2026 NYE fireworks show
- Cost
- Included with park admission; Family Bash is $74.99 adults, $39.99 children, plus admission
LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad
- What the organizer lists
- Kids' New Year's Eve with rides, live music, a countdown and early fireworks
- Year status
- Page does not name the year; hours not posted
- Cost
- Included with tickets and select passes
Sesame Place San Diego, Chula Vista
- What the organizer lists
- Fireworks at 6 p.m., 'subject to change'
- Year status
- Page does not name the year and carries older-looking safety wording; treat as unconfirmed
- Cost
- Not listed on the page
SeaWorld, LEGOLAND and Sesame Place event pages, checked October 28, 2026.
For comparison, San Diego Magazine's 2025 guide listed LEGOLAND's event as 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with early fireworks at 6:45 p.m., and Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista held a 6 to 9 p.m. party at $25 (free for under 2). SeaWorld's fireworks were listed at 6 p.m. in NBC 7's 2024 roundup and at 9 p.m. in 2025, so the time moves from year to year. Confirm on the park's page before you go.
Gaslamp and adult parties
No 2026 Gaslamp or hotel party pricing was posted on the pages we checked. As a sense of cost, San Diego Magazine's 2025 list had the Pendry party from $50, Andaz rooftop from $100 (21+), Hard Rock Hotel 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. from $80, and a Hotel del Coronado party at $201. These are 2025 prices; 2026 tickets are likely to be priced differently.
Getting home
Transit and enforcement: what happened last year
| Item | NYE 2025 (last year) | 2026 status |
|---|---|---|
| MTS bus and Trolley | Free after 6 p.m., sponsored by BriceHouse Inc.; extra Trolley trips past 2 a.m. | Not announced |
| NCTD | Free COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE and NCTD+ after 6 p.m.; last COASTER from Santa Fe Depot 1:20 a.m. | Not announced |
| San Diego Police DUI patrols | Extra patrols Dec 12 through New Year's Day, under the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign | Not announced |
| CHP | In 2024 it ran a maximum enforcement period from 6 p.m. on NYE | Not announced |
MTS bus and Trolley
- NYE 2025 (last year)
- Free after 6 p.m., sponsored by BriceHouse Inc.; extra Trolley trips past 2 a.m.
- 2026 status
- Not announced
NCTD
- NYE 2025 (last year)
- Free COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE and NCTD+ after 6 p.m.; last COASTER from Santa Fe Depot 1:20 a.m.
- 2026 status
- Not announced
San Diego Police DUI patrols
- NYE 2025 (last year)
- Extra patrols Dec 12 through New Year's Day, under the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign
- 2026 status
- Not announced
CHP
- NYE 2025 (last year)
- In 2024 it ran a maximum enforcement period from 6 p.m. on NYE
- 2026 status
- Not announced
MTS and NCTD news release (Dec 16, 2025), MTS NYE page, City of San Diego release (Dec 2025), NBC 7 (Dec 31, 2024). Checked October 28, 2026.
If MTS repeats last year, you can leave the car at home and ride free after 6 p.m. In 2025, some transit stations also offered free Park & Ride parking, per MTS. In 2024, NBC 7 reported SDPD added measures especially around the Gaslamp, where thousands gather. We have no 2026 parking information; check the venue's page.
Related: December events in San Diego, getting to Petco Park without driving and Hotel del Coronado without staying.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 28, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Event dates, times and prices are set by the organizers and can change or sell out. Confirm with the organizer's own page before you plan around them.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryNew Year's Eve Event
SeaWorld San Diego · Checked October 28, 2026
Dec 31 DJ, 9 p.m. fireworks, Family Bash prices
- PrimaryKids' New Year's Eve
LEGOLAND California · Checked October 28, 2026
Included with tickets; countdown and early fireworks
- PrimaryNew Year's Eve Fireworks
Sesame Place San Diego · Checked October 28, 2026
Dec 31 fireworks at 6 p.m.
MTS / NCTD · December 16, 2025
NYE 2025 free rides and late service
- PrimaryMTS New Year's Eve
MTS · Checked October 28, 2026 (page shows NYE 2025)
Free after 6 p.m., Trolley past 2 a.m.
City of San Diego · December 9, 2025
SDPD DUI patrols Dec 12 to Jan 1
San Diego Magazine · December 22, 2025
2025 LEGOLAND hours and party prices
NBC 7 San Diego · December 31, 2024
CHP maximum enforcement period from 6 p.m.