Happy (almost) New Year, DC!
Ring in 2026 at a number of New Year’s Eve celebrations around town. From a daytime balloon drop for kids, to an electronic music jam with DJ Mau P at Echostage, there’s a variety of ways to mark the end of the year in style.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
December 29–January 4
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- Mau P at Echostage. Echostage is known for bringing top EDM DJs to town. Electronic music listeners can experience one final rave at the Langdon venue on New Year’s Eve headlined by Dutch tech house DJ Mau P ($215+).
- First Night Alexandria. One of the area’s beloved New Year’s Eve traditions is Alexandria’s family-friendly fireworks show. Leading up to the illuminations, Old Town museums, churches, hotels, and other institutions will host performing arts, live music, and dance parties ($10+ for adults, free for ages under 2).
- Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club. Now in its 15th year, the Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club returns to the DC area to uphold this bizarre local tradition. Theater-goers will see Elvis-themed burlesque and staged fights at Gala Hispanic Theater and Baltimore’s Creative Alliance; tickets are selling fast (Thurs-Sat, January 9-10, $35+, Columbia Heights, Baltimore).
- Noon Yards. Families are welcome to celebrate the close of 2025 together at Noon Yards Eve. Kids can enjoy a sparkling balloon drop, trackless train rides, bounce houses, glitter tattoos, carnival games, and a magic show at the Sundeck at The Yards DC (free, but registration encouraged).
- New Year’s Eve Swing Ball. Flash back to the era of swing dance at Black Cat’s lively big band soiree. Peaches O’Dell leads their big band—an 11-piece orchestra—through a holiday performance of finger-snapping tunes, a conga line, and giveaways for the best slow dancers and red lipstick (Wed, $41, Shaw).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- Wellness instructors Alex Elle and Libby DeLana lead a discussion on tracking joy in the New Year (Fri, free, Northwest DC).
- Attend the closing reception of “A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, D.C., 1900–2000” at Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (Sun, free, Anacostia).
- Check out Rhizome’s new literary and art magazine (Sun, free, Takoma).
Sports:
- The Caps have two home games this week. Root on our beloved hockey team as they face off against the Rangers and Blackhawks (Wed, $94+, Capital One Arena).
- The first 10,000 basketball fans to attend this weekend’s Washington Wizards game will score a Kyshawn George bobblehead (Fri, $20+, Capital One Arena).
Theater and shows:
- The Christmas spirit continues at National Theatre this week with the opening of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Tues-Sun, $75+, Penn Quarter).
- A reality dating show and standup set blend together at DC Dating Live! (Sat, $33, Howard Theatre).
Music and concerts:
- Sparkle, glitter, and groovy songs from the ’70s and ’80s make up the Gimme Gimme Disco party at The Atlantis (Wed, $68, Shaw).
- DC-area R&B vocalist Raheem DeVaughn takes center stage at Bethesda Theater hours before the New Year’s ball drops (Wed, $115+, Bethesda).
- Bluegrass band Seldom Scene is live in concert at The Birchmere (Wed, $49.50, Alexandria).
- Rapper Moneybagg Yo performs at tropical-themed gaming and party venue THRōW Social DC (Wed, $49+, Ivy City).
- Confetti, flashing neon lights, and psychedelic sounds will fill The Anthem as the venue headlines experimental rock group The Flaming Lips (Wed, $90+, Wharf).
- There’s a hidden speakeasy and live set by DJ Shindig Ebb and King Spinrillo Civix at SOST’s cozy cafe and bar (Wed, $28+, U Street Corridor).
- Legendary jazz pianist Monty Alexander graces the Blues Alley stage to ring in 2026 (Tues-Wed, $50, Georgetown).
- Flash’s Brand New Day jam is never-ending: partiers can dance to the tunes of 24 live DJs for more than 30 hours (Wed-Fri, $45+, Shaw).
- Dance to bluegrass tunes, and sip cheap beer at Union Stage (Fri, free, Wharf).
Bites and beverages:
- Savor Lebanese-inspired bites and martinis from Vera Cocina in between Culture DJ sets at Desert Disco (Wed, $73+, Ivy City).
- This Honky Tonk party includes an open bar, passed eats, and live country music (Wed, $100+, Union Market).
- Dunk confit and cranberry Swiss rolls are highlights of Willowsong’s five-course New Year’s Eve menu that leads up to a midnight champagne toast (Wed, $135, Wharf).
Things to do with kids:
- Glide around the National Building Museum’s glowing skating rink with family (through February 8, $20 for adults, $17 for youth and seniors, Penn Quarter).
If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
