Sailing Into 2026: Where To Drop Anchor on New Year’s Eve

If you haven’t made your plans for New Year’s Eve, it’s time to start. Ringing in the new year from a luxurious yacht where you can sip champagne while watching fireworks fill the sky may be the very best way to celebrate. You’ll have an exclusive view from the water, and more privacy away from crowded streets. You might even arrange for live music or other entertainment to transform the vessel into your own festive venue, with the fireworks providing a grand finale. 

Either way, dropping anchor on New Year’s Eve at any one of these destinations is sure to be a celebration you won’t forget.

Seattle, Washington

While it won’t be a balmy evening in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle’s fireworks display is often named the best in the U.S. for ringing in the new year. If you anchor in Lake Union, you can catch the show right from your yacht. It’s only allowed two nights a year: the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. The captain will need to drop early in the day as far south as possible to avoid the heaviest boat traffic, in addition to staying highly alert, but it’s worth it for this once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. Watching the Space Needle light up while toasting with your favorite drink on deck is truly magical. 

Miami, Florida

In the southeast, you can anchor off Miami Beach for a prime spot to watch fireworks burst into the sky along the coast. The Bayfront show is Florida‘s version of Times Square on New Year’s Eve, filled with superyachts while offering stunning water views. Afterward, you can disembark and hit some of the hottest clubs in the country for dancing to world-class DJs until dawn. Some of the most popular include LIV Nightclub, known for hosting one of the best New Year’s parties in Miami Beach, as well as being ranked among the world’s top nightlife venues. E11EVEN, Club Space, Nikki Beach, and Mynt Lounge are just a few of the many other options.

Marina del Rey, California

Back on the West Coast, Marina del Ray is one of the most popular places to be in the Los Angeles area. The Marina del Rey Marina, nestled between Venice Beach and Playa del Rey, is just 20 minutes from LAX. Anchoring North America’s largest man-made harbor, it’s surrounded by upscale retail venues, dining, and options for recreation. You’ll be in a prime spot to watch the fireworks that are shot from the South Jetty, with the shows starting at 9 p.m. and midnight. Just be sure to get positioned early, especially around the popular viewing spots. 

If you want to stick around for a while, this is a popular hub for all sorts of activities, from paddleboarding to spa treatments. There are many attractions nearby too, including famous Venice Beach with its long stretch of soft sands and vibrant boardwalk, and the Santa Monica Pier, featuring an iconic Ferris wheel and other amusement rides. 

Hawaii

For a tropical New Year’s Eve in the U.S., the Hawaiian Islands are ideal. There will be fireworks shows throughout the islands, but you’ll find the most spectacular display in Oahu. To prepare for the new year, locals engage in customs to ward off negativity and usher in more positive energy for renewed optimism. Storytelling, music, and dance are integral to the celebrations. Today’s festivities have blended the old and new traditions with lots of hula dancing, parties, and delicious food, followed by fireworks. 

Yachters can drop anchor near the Ala Wai Harbor off Duke Kahanamoku Beach for a close-up view of the show, with fireworks launched from the Hilton Hawaiian Village area. Of course, you’ll probably want to stick around awhile with so much to do in the area, from spending time on beautiful beaches to swimming, snorkeling, and whale watching, with New Year’s Eve part of the peak time for humpbacks.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo is renowned for its parties, and Medano, its most popular swimmable beach, is the place to be on New Year’s Eve. For yachters, anchoring in Medano Bay guarantees the best views of the fireworks. Spend the day swimming in the clear cobalt sea or taking part in water sports like paddleboarding or parasailing, soaking up the sun while listening to music in between. Afterward, you might indulge in a special dinner prepared by your own private chef and then enjoy the unobstructed view of the display while avoiding the crowds on the sand. You can always join in the lively atmosphere on the beach after the show. Famous venues like Mango Deck and The Office offer cocktails, live music, and DJs for all sorts of beachside fun. 

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is Spain’s party capital, and some of the very best is saved for New Year’s Eve. Anchor at Marina Port Vell, a prime spot for viewing the fireworks show near the Gothic Quarter while avoiding the large crowds in the main viewing area, Placa Espanya. This is a city where it may be worth delving into them, however. There will be massive parties in the hours that lead up to midnight, taking over many areas like Las Ramblas, the wide boulevard that runs through Barcelona’s heart. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs will be hosting special events to celebrate before fireworks light up the sky. If you plan to stick around throughout the first week of the new year, you can also watch the vibrant 3 Kings Parade with torchlight processions, marching bands, and painted chariots.

Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is the capital and largest island in the Madeira archipelago, located in the North Atlantic about 600 miles from the Portugal mainland, approximately 300 miles north of the Canary Islands. It’s renowned for its wine, stunning natural beauty with a rugged coastline backed by forested mountains, and its New Year’s Eve celebration. It’s worth exploring more of the island chain, but you’ll want to time your visit to take in one of the world’s best fireworks displays, an extravaganza that even made it into the Guinness World Records. 

Anchor in Funchal Bay for the best fireworks view, or in the sea just outside the harbor walls. You’ll be perfectly positioned for exploring Funchal and the island later. Highlights include the panoramic view of Europe’s highest sea cliffs at the Pico da Torre viewpoint, the cable car ride to Monte village, dozens of waterfalls, and volcanic rock pools for swimming. 

Sydney, Australia

If you want to enjoy the warmth of summer and a celebration in one of the world’s first capitals to begin the countdown, Sydney is your spot. You’ll need to follow the strict rules by anchoring in one of the anchor zones in Sydney Harbour that are set up to provide an optimal view of the fireworks, but it’s worth the minor hassle to experience the colorful display here. The zones are typically near the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, although the exact locations change yearly and will be marked by yellow buoys. These landmarks are where the pyrotechnics are launched, along with several barges along the harbor. With celebrations continuing long after the show is over, you might leave the vessel for a bit to party at the Ivy Pool Club, which has a trendy rooftop pool bar.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio is another great spot for a warm New Year’s Eve, with iconic Copacabana Beach the center of the celebrations. More than two million arrive every year, many wearing white for good luck, so you won’t avoid the crowds unless you’re on your yacht. You can anchor in the area right off the beach, where you’ll see rafts with fireworks and plenty of other vessels gathering to watch the show with thousands of pyrotechnics launched here. If you join the party along the waterfront, you can look forward to traditional dance performances and extravagant Carnival-style costumes, along with stages hosting live music. 

St. Barths

For one of the most chic and sophisticated celebrations of the new year, it’s hard to beat St. Barths. This Caribbean island offers all sorts of festivities in an elegant atmosphere. New Year’s Eve begins with the annual sailing regatta that’s open to visiting crewed yachts, a 24-mile course around the island organized by the St. Barth Yacht Club. The festivities continue at popular beach hangouts across the island and in ultra-luxe hotels like Eden Rock. 

Late in the evening, yachts gather in Gustavia Harbour for the spectacular fireworks display that’s followed by dancing ’til dawn in exclusive yacht clubs and nightlife venues like Nikki Beach and Gyp Sea Beach Club, renowned for its glamorous parties with DJs. Keep an eye out for celebrities, with many spotted here in the recent past, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, Drake, Lenny Kravitz, and Dua Lipa. 

Nassau, Bahamas

The capital of the Bahamas is one of the most popular and exciting places to spend New Year’s Eve. Before or after, you can enjoy island-hopping to some of the most breathtaking islands, with around 700 to choose from. The Atlantis Marina provides the most luxurious spot to anchor, and you’ll be well-positioned for viewing the large fireworks display over the resort on Paradise Island. Plus, Atlantis Resort will be hosting its annual New Year’s Eve party, a large-scale televised event with live music. It also features multiple restaurants and bars that will be offering special drinks and menus for the occasion.

Nassau Harbour is another option for yachters with its own events and a great vantage point to see the city’s fireworks, often set off from the cruise ship docks or nearby. But if you plan on anchoring here, consider arriving a day or two early to secure a good spot.

Grenada

For an alternative to some of the most popular spots, consider Grenada. The “Spice Island” is north of Trinidad and Tobago, and is a leading producer of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice. You’ll notice an aroma throughout the island, which also boasts fantastic dive sites, postcard-perfect beaches, waterfalls, and sheltered anchorages. 

Port Louis Marina is the prime location for New Year’s Eve, however. It’s where the biggest celebration will be, with a gala dinner, live music, DJ sets, and a fireworks display over the marina. Enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere from afar or join the party that runs through the wee hours of the morning.