Ottawa's big midnight countdown happens at Lansdowne, not on Parliament Hill, and the 2026 plan is already posted: a drone show at 9 p.m. and fireworks over TD Place at midnight.
New Year's Eve in Ottawa falls on a Thursday this year, and the main public party is the Ottawa Christmas Market's New Year's Eve Bash at Lansdowne, running from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on December 31, 2026. The Senators also play at home at 2 p.m. that day, and if last year is a guide you can add noon countdowns at library branches, casino parties in the south end and in Gatineau, prix fixe dinners, outdoor skating and a Scottish Hogmanay. Below is what is confirmed, what ran last year, and how to get home after the fireworks.
Key Highlights
TL;DR: The confirmed public countdown for December 31, 2026 is the Ottawa Christmas Market's New Year's Eve Bash at Lansdowne: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., a 10-minute drone show at 9 p.m. and fireworks at midnight. Most casino parties, galas and the free OC Transpo offer are announced later in the season (last year the transit notice came out on December 22), so check the official links below in December.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Date | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| 📍 Main public party | Ottawa Christmas Market at Lansdowne (TD Place), the Glebe |
| ⏰ Times | 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.; drone show 9 p.m.; fireworks at midnight |
| 🎟️ Cost | Entry was free in 2025; the 2026 page lists no price yet |
| Afternoon option | Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 2 p.m., Canadian Tire Centre |
| Getting home | OC Transpo was free after 6 p.m. in 2025; 2026 not announced yet |
Fireworks and the New Year's Eve Bash at Lansdowne
The Ottawa Christmas Market, run by the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, closes its season with a New Year's Eve Bash on Thursday, December 31, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Local vendors open for one final night, and live acts play the Casino Lac-Leamy Stage from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. before a DJ takes over at Gate 3. At 9 p.m. a 10-minute show by Capital Drone Show lights up the sky above TD Place, which makes it an easy early finale for families who will not last until midnight.
The headline moment comes at midnight, when fireworks go up over TD Place and the crowd counts down to 2027; the market suggests grabbing a glass at Blitzen's Bar first. The 2026 page does not list an admission price yet. Last year's New Year's Eve edition at Aberdeen Square was free to enter, with kids' crafts at noon, a DJ skate from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and fireworks at midnight, so expect a similar format and confirm before you go.
If you want to see the market before the big night, it opens on Friday, November 20, 2026 and runs Fridays (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), Saturdays (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Sundays (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) until December 20. Our Ottawa Christmas markets guide compares it with the city's other holiday markets, and the Lansdowne Park guide covers food, parking and the stadium area.
What about Parliament Hill?
Many older guides promise fireworks over the Peace Tower, but the federal government's winter program on the Hill is a light display, not a countdown. Winter Lights Across Canada illuminates Parliament Hill, national museums and other sites along Confederation Boulevard, and Canadian Heritage says it returns in December 2026. It is free and makes a good walk before dinner; our Winter Lights on Parliament Hill guide has a route. Last year, the only midnight fireworks Ottawa Tourism listed were the ones at the Christmas Market, and it suggested arriving early or watching from around Lansdowne and the Rideau Canal paths.
Family-Friendly New Year's Eve and Early Countdowns
Ottawa families have a real choice of early countdowns. Last year six Ottawa Public Library branches ran free "Noon Year's Eve" parties on December 31, most of them drop-in: the Main Library downtown (11 a.m. to noon), Blackburn Hamlet (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), Ruth E. Dickinson (10:30 a.m. to noon), Centennial (10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), Sunnyside (11 a.m. to noon, with a balloon drop) and Nepean Centrepointe (11:15 a.m. to noon, with face painting and a parade). Watch the Ottawa Public Library program calendar in December for this year's branch countdowns.
In Barrhaven, the Walter Baker Centre hosted a free all-ages New Year's Eve party from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. last year, with swimming, skating, wagon rides and costumed characters; organizers recommended an RSVP. For an afternoon outing with older kids, the Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2026 at the Canadian Tire Centre; our Canadian Tire Centre guide explains parking and transit to the arena in Kanata.
Evening options work for kids too. The 9 p.m. drone show at Lansdowne is a natural "midnight" for younger children, and the Scottish Society of Ottawa's 2023 Hogmanay held its balloon drop at 7 p.m. Ottawa time, which is midnight in Scotland (more on that below).
New Year's Eve Parties, Galas and Dinners
The details below come from last year's editions. Use them to judge price and style, then check each official page for this year's party before you buy.
Casino parties in Ottawa and Gatineau
At the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa (4837 Albion Road), last year's party was called All that Glitters: the party band Alter Ego took the stage at 10:30 p.m., 1,000 balloons filled with prizes dropped at midnight, and a $1,000 cash prize was up for grabs. Tickets started at $25 and guests had to be 19 or older with photo ID. Our Hard Rock Casino Ottawa guide covers dining, parking and the hotel if you want to stay over.
Across the river, the Casino du Lac-Leamy (1 boulevard du Casino, Gatineau) turned its whole floor into a private party, with a performance by Sugar Cake and a countdown to 2026. Only ticket holders were admitted from 4 p.m., the ticket with meal included an all-you-can-eat buffet, party entry and one drink at any casino bar, and the party ran until 5 a.m. Entry was 18+, one year younger than Hard Rock's 19+ rule.
Hotel and restaurant dinners
Ottawa Tourism's list of last year's New Year's Eve menus gives a good sense of prices. Zoe's at the Fairmont Château Laurier served a three-course dinner from $140 per person, and the hotel's 1912 holiday pop-up on Yuletide Lane poured themed cocktails until 11 p.m. In Kanata, Perspectives at the Brookstreet Hotel offered a five-course dinner for $189 per person, with a room discount for diners that night. e18hteen served a five-course tasting menu from $145 (wagyu, oysters and venison were among the dishes), while NeXT in Stittsville paired a $165 prix fixe with dancing to a live DJ.
Budget for 13% HST and a tip on top of menu prices like these, and book early, since the prime evening seatings go first. For more ideas, see our holiday restaurants guide, the fine dining in Ottawa guide and our picks for date night restaurants in Ottawa.
Live Music, Comedy and Hogmanay
If you would rather spend the night in a bar or a small venue, last year's line-up from Ottawa Tourism shows the range. The Rainbow Bistro threw a Disco Bash with doors at 8 p.m., the Hintonburg Public House ran karaoke from 9 p.m. with $8 Beyond the Pale beers, Nan's Parlour hosted a Peelers burlesque party from 9 p.m., the Fred Barrett Arena held a masquerade ball from 8:30 p.m., and Tomo, a newly opened omakase restaurant in the ByWard Market, threw a New Year's Eve dance party. Check each venue's own listings from late November for this year's plans and prices.
Comedy is a strong second option. Last year Yuk Yuk's Ottawa West (at Biagio's) sold dinner-and-show packages with early and late seatings, Absolute Comedy in Little Italy offered dinner, drinks and a show at 7:30 p.m. or 10 p.m., and the Shenkman Arts Centre in the east end staged its 14th annual New Year's Eve Comedy Night. Browse our Ottawa nightlife guide, the best cocktail bars in Ottawa, comedy clubs in Ottawa and karaoke in Ottawa to plan a night out, or the ByWard Market guide if you want to hop between venues on foot.
Hogmanay with the Scottish Society of Ottawa
The volunteer-run Scottish Society of Ottawa, founded in 2012, held its Hogman-Eh! New Year's Eve party at the Aberdeen Pavilion in 2023, the most recent edition we could confirm. It ran from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., cost $40 at the door with children 12 and under free, and opened with a Kids Zone from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Children and Clans parade led by the RCMP Pipes and Drums ended with a balloon drop at 7 p.m., midnight in Scotland. Venues and prices change from year to year and the 2026 details are not posted yet, so check ottscot.ca in December. Our Hogmanay in Ottawa guide explains first footing, ceilidh dancing and how to sing Auld Lang Syne properly.
Skating on New Year's Eve in Ottawa
A skate is one of the cheapest ways to see the old year out. The Christmas Market at Lansdowne has its own rink inside the market, and last year it ran a DJ skate from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on December 31. Downtown, the free Sens Rink of Dreams on Marion Dewar Plaza outside City Hall has a refrigerated surface; the City's holiday notice reminds skaters that its outdoor rinks open weather permitting, so check the outdoor rink status on ottawa.ca before you head out.
The Rideau Canal Skateway is a long shot this early in the season, but not impossible. On December 31, 2025 the National Capital Commission opened a 3.4-kilometre stretch between Somerset Street and the Bank Street Bridge at 8 a.m., the first December opening since 2018. Our Rideau Canal skating guide explains how openings work, and the ice skating rinks in Ottawa guide lists free backup rinks across the city.
Getting Home Safely on New Year's Eve
OC Transpo waived fares on New Year's Eve last year: rides were free after 6 p.m. on December 31, 2025, courtesy of Safer Roads Ottawa and MADD Ottawa and Area. Fare gates stayed open at every O-Train station and riders boarded buses without tapping. The City's notice for that night was published on December 22, 2025, so look for the 2026 announcement on octranspo.com around the same time.
Last year's late service is a useful guide to planning your trip home. O-Train Line 1 ran until 2 a.m., with night buses through downtown after that; Line 2 ran until 1 a.m. and Line 4 to the airport until midnight; and Para Transpo operated until 3 a.m. If you are coming from Gatineau, note that STO's free day last season was January 1, not New Year's Eve; on December 31 it ran a special week schedule with regular fares. Our OC Transpo guide and O-Train guide explain fares, PRESTO and the lines.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps get busy right after midnight, so book ahead where you can and agree on a pickup spot a few blocks from the crowds. Do not count on Operation Red Nose: its 2025 campaign ran from November 28 to December 31 in about 60 host communities, roughly 40 of them in Quebec, but a 2021 report noted that Ottawa had not taken part since 2016. Check the Operation Red Nose app on the night to see whether a team serves your address, and if you plan to drive, read our winter driving safety tips for Ottawa first.
Weather, What to Wear and Budget Ideas
Plan for real cold. Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1981 to 2010 normals for the Ottawa airport put the average December low at -10.1°C and the average January low at -14.8°C, with daytime highs of -2.3°C and -5.8°C, and a midnight countdown sits near the bottom of that range before the wind is factored in. Wear a thermal base layer, an insulated parka, warm boots with good grip, mitts, a toque and a neck warmer, and slip a couple of hand warmers into your pockets. Our December weather in Ottawa guide describes typical conditions for the month.
You do not need a big budget to enjoy the night. Last year's market party at Lansdowne was free to enter, the Winter Lights displays on Parliament Hill and Confederation Boulevard cost nothing, skating at the Rink of Dreams is free, the library countdowns were free, and the transit ride home was free after 6 p.m. Pair a light-display walk with a stop from our list of the best hot chocolate in Ottawa, and see our roundup of things to do in Ottawa for more low-cost ideas.
New Year's Day in Ottawa
The bravest way to start the year is the polar dip at Britannia Beach, where hundreds of people plunged into the Ottawa River on January 1, 2026 to raise awareness for people living with mental health issues and addictions. Bring a towel, a warm robe and dry clothes, and keep the plunge short.
For a gentler start, book a table from our best brunch in Ottawa list and call ahead, since holiday hours vary. If the ice is in, a skate on the canal or at the Rink of Dreams is a classic first outing of the year, and our winter activities in Ottawa guide has more ideas for the long weekend. If you are heading to Gatineau, remember that STO buses were free on January 1 last year.
FAQ
Q: Are there fireworks in Ottawa on New Year's Eve?
Yes. The Ottawa Christmas Market's New Year's Eve Bash at Lansdowne ends with fireworks over TD Place at midnight on December 31, 2026, after a 10-minute drone show at 9 p.m. The party runs from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Parliament Hill hosts the Winter Lights display rather than a fireworks countdown.
Q: Is OC Transpo free on New Year's Eve?
It was free after 6 p.m. on December 31, 2025, sponsored by Safer Roads Ottawa and MADD Ottawa and Area, with O-Train fare gates left open and Line 1 running until 2 a.m. The 2026 offer had not been announced by mid-October; last year's notice came out on December 22.
Q: What can families do on New Year's Eve in Ottawa?
Try a Noon Year's Eve at an Ottawa Public Library branch (six branches ran free countdowns last year), the 2 p.m. Senators game against Pittsburgh on December 31, 2026, or the 9 p.m. drone show at Lansdowne. The Scottish Society's 2023 Hogmanay dropped its balloons at 7 p.m., which is midnight in Scotland.
Q: How much do New Year's Eve parties in Ottawa cost?
Prices vary widely. Last year the Hard Rock Casino Ottawa party started at $25 (19+), the Casino du Lac-Leamy sold ticket-only entry with an optional buffet package (18+), and New Year's Eve dinners ran from about $140 to $189 per person before HST and tip. The Lansdowne market party was free to enter.
Q: Can you skate on the Rideau Canal on New Year's Eve?
Sometimes. On December 31, 2025 a 3.4-kilometre section opened between Somerset Street and the Bank Street Bridge, but that was the first December opening since 2018, so in most recent seasons the Skateway opened in January or later. The Sens Rink of Dreams at City Hall and the rink at the Christmas Market are safer bets.
Q: How cold is New Year's Eve in Ottawa?
Expect it to be well below freezing. Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1981 to 2010 normals for the Ottawa airport put the average December low at -10.1°C and January's at -14.8°C, and wind makes midnight feel colder. Dress in layers with an insulated parka, warm boots, mitts, a toque and a neck warmer.
Final Thoughts
New Year's Eve in Ottawa is easiest to plan around one fixed point: the market party at Lansdowne, with its 9 p.m. drone show and midnight fireworks over TD Place. Build the rest of the night around your crowd, whether that is a noon countdown at the library, a Senators matinee, a prix fixe dinner, a casino party or a ceilidh. Book dinners and tickets as soon as they go on sale, check for the OC Transpo announcement in December, and dress for -15°C. For the weeks before, see our December events in Ottawa guide. This guide is updated as each 2026 event is confirmed. Happy New Year, Ottawa.
Source: Ottawa Christmas Market, New Year's Eve Bash 2026
Source: Ottawa Tourism, What to do in Ottawa on New Year's Eve
Source: In The Glebe, 2025 Ottawa Christmas Market NYE edition
Source: City of Ottawa notice via Coun. Glen Gower, Free transit after 6 pm on New Year's Eve
Source: City of Ottawa notice via Coun. Glen Gower, Holiday season schedule changes 2025
Source: STO, Holiday period service
Source: NHL.com, Senators announce 2026-27 regular-season schedule
Source: Canadian Heritage, Winter Lights Across Canada
Source: CP24, Rideau Canal Skateway section opens December 31, 2025
Source: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, New Year's Eve and To Do Canada, All that Glitters: NYE 2025
Source: To Do Canada, Casino du Lac-Leamy New Year's Eve Party
Source: Scottish Society of Ottawa, Hogman-Eh! New Year's Eve
Source: Mayhem Ottawa, family listings for December 27 to 31, 2025
Source: CTV News, New Year's Day polar bear dip in Ottawa
Source: Operation Red Nose, 2025 campaign and Le Régional (2021)
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, climate normals for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Int'l A
