Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve 2026: Hosts & Where to Watch
Few traditions feel as reliably American as flipping on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve while the Times Square ball makes its descent, but for 2026 the script flips: for the first time, the entire broadcast is simulcasting on Disney+, meaning you can stream the countdown without a cable cord, according to ABC’s official announcement. Whether you’re a loyal ABC viewer or a streaming-first cord-cutter, here’s what to expect.
Special: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest ·
Current host: Ryan Seacrest ·
US network: ABC ·
Live stream: Disney+ ·
Airtime: Dec 31 at 8/7c ·
First aired: December 31, 1971
Quick snapshot
- The 2026 edition is scheduled for Thursday, December 31, 2026 (DocumentaryTube’s Roku guide)
- The show will simulcast live on Disney+ alongside ABC for the first time (ABC’s official announcement)
- Ryan Seacrest is scheduled to host from Times Square (Entertainment Now’s report)
- The broadcast is reported to be eight hours long, the longest in show history (Variety’s report)
- Rita Ora is reported as a co-host for New York, but ABC has not confirmed the hosting lineup (Entertainment Now) (Disney Food Blog’s report)
- Julianne Hough and Rob Gronkowski are reported as Las Vegas co-hosts (Disney Food Blog’s report)
- Druski is reported as Chicago co-host (Disney Food Blog) (Disney Food Blog’s report)
- The full performer lineup has not been officially announced (Variety) (Disney Food Blog’s report)
- First aired December 31, 1971, on NBC (Wikipedia’s entry)
- First three editions hosted by Three Dog Night and George Carlin (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia’s entry)
- 2026 edition set for December 31, 2026 (DocumentaryTube) (Wikipedia’s entry)
- 2026 edition to simulcast on Disney+ for first time (ABC) (Wikipedia’s entry)
- Watch the show on ABC via antenna, cable, or live TV service (ABC) (Roku’s listing)
- Stream live on Disney+ with an active subscription (Variety) (Roku’s listing)
- Roku users can access via the Disney+ app (Roku’s listing)
- The show will feature four live countdown celebrations (Disney Food Blog) (Roku’s listing)
Six facts that define the franchise at a glance.
| Special | Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest |
|---|---|
| Current host | Ryan Seacrest |
| US broadcaster | ABC |
| Streaming | Disney+ (advertised live option) |
| Premiere | December 31, 1971 |
| Original broadcaster | NBC (first three editions) |
Who is hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve?
Who is the main host of ABC’s New Year’s Eve special?
- Ryan Seacrest is the host, as indicated by the official title “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” (ABC)
- Dick Clark created the show and hosted it for decades; Seacrest took over the primary role (Wikipedia)
Seacrest has been the face of the franchise since the mid-2000s, and the 2026 edition marks his continued tenure. According to Entertainment Now, he will emcee from Times Square again this year.
What role does Ryan Seacrest have in the show?
Seacrest is the anchor host named in the official title. Dick Clark is the namesake and the original face of the franchise; Seacrest became the primary host in 2005, according to Wikipedia.
The implication: Ryan Seacrest remains the anchor, but the expanded co-host roster for 2026 hints at a broader geographic reach.
Who is performing at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve?
Who is performing on New Year’s Eve 2026?
- ABC and Disney+ have not announced a specific performer lineup for the 2026 broadcast as of this writing (Variety)
- The show is reported to include 42 performers and nearly 100 songs across the evening (Disney Food Blog)
According to Disney Food Blog, the 2026 edition will feature four live countdown celebrations, which likely means performers across multiple cities. Performer names usually arrive closer to the broadcast.
Who is performing at New Year’s Eve in Times Square 2026?
- The Times Square stage performer roster has not been released by ABC or the Times Square Alliance (ABC)
- Rita Ora is reported in a hosting capacity for New York, but ABC has not confirmed the hosting lineup (Entertainment Now)
- Julianne Hough, Rob Gronkowski, and Druski are reported in hosting capacities for Las Vegas and Chicago (Disney Food Blog)
The consequence: Without an official lineup, viewers hoping for specific talent may want to wait before choosing a viewing method.
Who is broadcasting New Year’s Eve 2026?
What shows are on TV for New Year’s Eve?
- The flagship special is Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest on ABC (ABC)
- CNN, Fox, and NBC also air competing New Year’s Eve coverage, but the Dick Clark franchise is the longest-running (Wikipedia)
ABC’s special is the broadcast market leader. For 2026, it will also be available entirely on Disney+, marking a first (Variety).
Who is hosting the New Year’s Eve show on CNN?
- CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage is a separate program; its host details are outside the scope of the Dick Clark franchise.
CNN usually anchors its own coverage with a different team. Viewers interested in the ABC/Disney+ special should tune to ABC or Disney+ at 8/7c.
The takeaway: ABC and Disney+ are the only destinations for the Dick Clark brand; other networks run separate shows.
Where can I watch New Year’s Eve?
How can I watch Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve on Roku?
- Roku devices can stream the show through the Disney+ app, provided you have an active Disney+ subscription (Roku)
- Alternatively, Roku users can watch via the ABC app or through live TV streaming services that include ABC (like Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV) (DocumentaryTube)
The Roku platform lists the show as a searchable title, but for the live stream specifically, you’ll need a subscription to a service that carries ABC live or a Disney+ account. Over-the-air antenna users can also receive ABC locally and use a Roku to stream other content.
Where can I watch ABC’s New Year’s Eve special if I don’t have cable?
- Watch over the air with an antenna if you’re in range of an ABC affiliate (DocumentaryTube)
- Stream live on Disney+ (requires subscription) (Variety)
- Use a live TV streaming service that carries ABC, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or Directv Stream (ABC)
The cable-free path that works for most cord-cutters: pair an antenna for the main ABC broadcast with a Disney+ subscription for the live simulcast.
The pattern: Each viewing method has a catch — antenna requires location, Disney+ a subscription, and live-TV streaming a monthly fee.
How much is Ryan Seacrest paid for New Year’s Eve?
Is Ryan Seacrest’s New Year’s Eve salary confirmed?
- ABC and Dick Clark Productions have not publicly disclosed Seacrest’s compensation for the special (ABC)
The official announcement of the 2026 show includes budget and production details but no contract figures. Entertainment Now’s report on the hosting line-up also does not mention salary, reinforcing that the figure remains off-the-record.
Why do reports about Ryan Seacrest’s New Year’s Eve pay vary?
- Industry publications have published estimates ranging from millions per year to per-show fees, but none are confirmed by the network (Variety)
Because the contract is private, any salary number in circulation is based on unnamed sources or past leaks. The safest conclusion: ABC pays Seacrest well, but the exact figure has no official tag.
The bottom line: Seacrest’s salary is a black box; reported figures should be treated as estimates.
When did Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve start?
What was the original network for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve?
- The special first aired on December 31, 1971, and its first three editions were broadcast by NBC (Wikipedia)
It later moved to ABC, where it has remained ever since. NBC’s original involvement is less known, but the Wikipedia entry confirms the early years.
Who hosted the first editions of Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve?
- Three Dog Night and George Carlin were among the early hosts (Wikipedia)
Dick Clark himself hosted most years until 2005, when Ryan Seacrest began to take over. The franchise has never missed a New Year’s Eve since that 1971 debut.
Why this matters: The 1971 debut created a franchise that has never missed a year, and the 2026 edition continues that streak with a modern streaming twist.
How to Watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve 2026
Whether you plan to watch via antenna, cable, or streaming, here’s a step-by-step guide based on your setup.
- Confirm your local ABC affiliate — Check ABC’s site for your local channel number. If you have an antenna, scan for ABC over the air.
- Sign up for Disney+ if you want the live simulcast — The special streams on Disney+ at the same time as ABC (Variety). You’ll need an active subscription before December 31.
- Set up your Roku or other streaming device — Install the Disney+ app and log in. The Roku channel listing confirms the show is searchable, though the live stream requires a Disney+ subscription.
- For cable subscribers — Tune to ABC live at 8/7c. No extra steps needed.
- For cord-cutters without antenna or Disney+ — Use a live TV streaming service that carries ABC (e.g., Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV) and make sure your subscription is active.
For similar event streaming guides, see our Chiefs Game Streaming: How to Watch Live for Free or on TV and How to Watch Lions Game on Thanksgiving: Channel, Stream.
The Disney+ simulcast eliminates the biggest barrier for cord-cutters: needing a live-TV subscription to watch the ball drop. For the first time, a single streaming subscription covers the full broadcast.
The verdict: The Disney+ simulcast is the single biggest change for viewers, but each method requires its own prep.
Timeline of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
- December 31, 1971 — The special first aired on NBC, hosted by Three Dog Night and George Carlin (Wikipedia).
- December 31, 2026 — The next edition is scheduled to air on ABC and stream live on Disney+, with the longest runtime in the franchise’s history (Variety).
With four countdown celebrations and more than 40 performers, the 2026 show is being billed as the largest in franchise history — yet the official performer list remains under wraps, creating a gap between hype and certainty.
The arc: From a 1971 NBC experiment to a 2026 streaming-first simulcast, the franchise has adapted without abandoning its traditional broadcast.
What’s Clear and What’s Uncertain
What’s clear
- The 2026 special will air live on ABC and Disney+ on December 31, 2026 (ABC).
- Ryan Seacrest is the host. Dick Clark is the namesake (ABC).
- The first episode aired on December 31, 1971, on NBC (Wikipedia).
- Disney+ simulcast is a franchise first (Variety).
What’s uncertain
- The full performer lineup is not yet confirmed by ABC or Disney+ (Variety).
- Ryan Seacrest’s exact salary has not been disclosed (ABC).
- Roku-specific live-stream support is not explicitly confirmed for the special, though Disney+ app works (Roku).
- CNN’s 2026 host details are outside this special’s scope.
The practical takeaway: Lock in a viewing method before December 31 so the countdown doesn’t start with a login scramble.
From the Producers, Host, and History
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve has been the most popular way for American viewers to ring in the New Year for more than five decades.”
ABC / Dick Clark Productions (official show site)
“Tune in live on December 31 at 8/7c on ABC and stream it live on Disney+ — the first time the special is available on the streaming service.”
ABC and Disney+ promotional materials, via Variety
“The special debuted on December 31, 1971, on NBC, and was originally hosted by Three Dog Night and George Carlin.”
Wikipedia
The core: The show’s legacy is built on consistency — a reliable countdown on ABC every year — now expanding to streaming.
The 2026 edition of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve breaks new ground by putting the entire broadcast on Disney+ at the same time as ABC. For the growing number of streaming-only households, that makes the tradition accessible without a cable login. The trade-off is that the lineup remains under wraps, so the full scope of the show can’t be known until closer to the date. For cord-cutters who have been waiting for a reliable live New Year’s Eve stream, this year is a turning point: the choice is no longer between expensive live-TV subscriptions and missing the ball drop, but between watching over the air and streaming through Disney+.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve start?
The special airs live starting at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+ on December 31, 2026 (ABC).
Does Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve include the Times Square ball drop?
Yes, the broadcast centers on the Times Square ball drop at midnight, and includes live performances and segments leading up to it (Wikipedia).
How long has Ryan Seacrest been the host?
Ryan Seacrest became the primary host of the special in 2005, taking over from Dick Clark (Wikipedia).
Will the 2026 show be available to stream on Disney+?
Yes, for the first time, the full broadcast will be simulcast live on Disney+ simultaneously with ABC (Variety).
Are there other New Year’s Eve TV specials besides Dick Clark’s?
Yes, CNN, Fox, and NBC all have their own New Year’s Eve programming. ABC’s special is the most-watched (Wikipedia).
Can I watch New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on Hulu?
Hulu does not typically carry live ABC broadcasts unless you have Hulu + Live TV. The live stream is available on Disney+ and over-the-air ABC (ABC).
Do I need a cable subscription to watch ABC’s New Year’s Eve special?
No. You can watch with an antenna for free (if within range), through a live TV streaming service, or via the Disney+ stream (DocumentaryTube).
Viewers should check ABC’s official announcement and the Disney+ app closer to the broadcast for performer reveals and any schedule changes.
More related posts
