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If you want to swap the usual squeeze into your local pub or standing in the cold at a large-scale fireworks display on NYE, then keep on reading. We’ve pulled together a selection of the most theatrical, cinematic and memorable ways to see in 2026 in southeast England.
New Year’s Eve at Leeds Castle
Broomfield Road, Maidstone ME17 1PL
Fancy something spectacular? How about partying inside a moat-ringed castle in Kent as a glam-packed, fairy-tale way to enter the new year? Combining fine dining, live music and dancing, and the chance to watch fireworks amongst the atmospheric grounds, this is a distinct step up from a hotel ballroom. Expect formal dress codes and a range of different options (private tables, dinner-only and party-only), and if you want a quieter evening, there are late stays in their celebrated on-site accommodation.
New Year’s Eve at Komedia
Gardner Street, Brighton BN1 1UN
Whether you’re looking for a night of laughs, a disco dance party, alternative 80s hits or something for the whole family, Komedia has it all this New Year’s Eve. Kidz With Attitude, the daytime club for kids and families, is back for a New Year’s Eve special running 1.30pm – 4pm. DJs will play the best (non-explicit) hip-hop, funk, and soul, and host dance-offs for the kids, plus a fully stocked bar selling snacks and drinks for the whole family, giveaways, games and face painting. If you’re bringing tiny ones, there’s a buggy park too.
Laugh your way into the New Year at the Komedia Comedy Club New Year’s Eve Special. Enjoy top comedy from Komedia favourites Aideen McQueen, Muhsin Yesilada, Dana Alexander, and MC Robyn Perkins. Make a night of it by treating yourself to something tasty from the in-house food menu and even a glass of bubbly!
Expect to hear nothing but good rhythms from the 1970s at the Boogie Wonderland – 70s Disco NYE party. Get your body moving on the dance floor to sounds of Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac, Abba, Donna Summer, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush and many more. Plus, grab a joint comedy + meal + club night ticket for the Komedia Comedy Club NYE Special and Boogie Wonderland NYE Disco and save up to £16!
Firmly established as one of Brighton's best-loved monthly clubs, Spellbound - The Alternative 80s Night rings in the New Year with its Alternative 80s New Year's Eve Party. DJs Simon Price (Stay Beautiful) and Jayney BlamBlam (Total Blam Blam) play Goth, Post-Punk, New Romantic, Alternative Rock, Indie, New Wave, Synth Pop and Ska. Think Siouxsie, Cure, Smiths, Bunnymen, PiL, Soft Cell, New Order, Sisters, Depeche Mode, Specials etc. Delight in 80s-style smoke machines, period-relevant projections and, of course, cheap snakebite & black!
New Year’s Eve Party at Sky Garden
1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
See in the New Year up in the clouds. London’s Sky Garden is a soaring indoor garden with panoramic views of the Thames and the City. This December, it’ll be turned into one of London’s most aspirational parties. Expect a full evening programme: food, DJs and live music across stylishly staged levels; food and drink packages; and sweeping views of the skyline to watch the fireworks downriver at midnight. There are few better spaces than this in London, where high glamour mingles beneath lemon trees and palms. If you’re after a skyline countdown without the crush of street-level fireworks zones and the benefit of a restaurant-quality kitchen, this is your best bet.
Thames New Year’s Eve Cruises
Tower Pier, Lower Thames St, London EC3N 4DT
Arguably the best seat in the house to watch the capital;s world-famous fireworks is out on the river itself. City Cruises are running dinner-plus-cruise packages, which include three-course dining, a glass of bubbly on arrival and another at midnight, DJs or live music, and (most importantly) an unobstructed vantage point for the official fireworks. There’s a selection of different experiences on offer, from family-friendly affairs to build those special memories or adults-only events where you can dance the night away.
TECH-NOIR New Year's Eve Party
Artista, Brighton Square, Brighton BN1 1HD
Some people want to go out and throw some serious shapes on the dancefloor, while avoiding dodgy crowds and bland music. Fortunately, Tech Noir has you covered, with a genuinely friendly, no-nonsense party pedigree and some of the best dance music mankind can provide.
Featuring some of Brighton's finest DJs playing at an amazing underground venue, the lineup includes local legends like Nick Hook, Lee Davey Brown, Bruno Numero Uno, Mysd, and Paul Hilditch. Last year’s event was legendary, and this year promises to be even better. Expect the best underground house music, at a great venue with blissed-out vibes.
New Year’s Eve at The Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
What better way to welcome the new year than by fifilling your Night at the Museum fantasies (Or, if you’re a certain age, One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing)? Prepare your moves to get the earth quaking, get ready to heat up the dancefloor and make meteoric waves into an unforgettable 2026. Stellar entertainment and activities will be back by popular demand. Enjoy live music, a silent disco and the chance to explore many of this national treasure’s galleries after dark. Meet some fabulous creatures with ethical animal handlers ZooLab and countdown to next year in true party style.
Murder Mystery at Woodlands Park Hotel
Woodlands Lane, Stoke D'Abernon, Cobham KT11 3QB
For those who’d rather solve a whodunnit than stand on a frigid pavement, the Woodlands Park Hotel in Surrey is teaming up with The Killing Game for a theatrical, interactive delight on New Year’s Eve. This is not a dinner-and-watch performance; you and your table are cast as characters, clues are fed into the evening between courses, the plot thickens over the meal, and the disco follows the curtain call. Period costumes and improvisation-ready staff will transform this venue into a living board game, as strangers become conspirators for the evening. For anyone who dislikes generic party playlists and wants an experience they’ll be talking about for months, options include food, wine and accommodation. The only problem is if you can outsmart a criminal…
New Year’s Eve at The Pantiles
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
How about celebrating the arrival of 2026 amongst a thriving community? Tunbridge Wells’ historic Pantiles is a collonaded arcade of independent shops, bars and cafés. This 31st Dec, they’re staging a lively NYE celebration that’s delightfully local and unlike usual town centre options. Expect a mix of outdoor and covered festivities: DJs, bands, late-night bars, and a communal countdown that feels like a village fête with big-city energy. You can float between live acoustic sets, pop-up street stalls and restaurant dinner options without being committed to a single ticketed venue. It’s great for groups who want atmosphere without the hassle of a formal seating plan, and for visitors craving something sociable but not overwhelming.
Moonlight Sonata by Candlelight
St James’s Church, Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL
Not everyone wants snogging or a massive DJ drop at midnight (no judgment). For a quieter, almost ritualistic way to see in the New Year, St James’s Church in Piccadilly is offering a candlelit classical recital. Think Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and other favourites, turning the celebrations into a meditative, music-first farewell to the year. The atmosphere will be unparalleled - a warm, flickering hall, a single pianist and an enraptured audience listening in near-silence as the evening shifts toward midnight. This unusual choice is for people who prefer listening and reflection to shouting to be heard at boisterous parties, or who just want a cultured hinge between December’s overstimulation and the coming renewal. Although it’s an early affair, so there’s still plenty of time to go out raving, if you feel the need!
Gatsby Ball at voco Lythe Hill Hotel
Petworth Road, Haslemere GU27 3BQ
If you want a themed NYE with certain glamorous flourishes, the Gatsby Ball at voco Lythe Hill will provide a joyful, slightly eccentric throwback to the razzmatazz of yesteryear. There’ll be acres of flapper dresses, swing bands, champagne towers and a dancefloor full of Charleston. Bringing a splash of fantasy into your NYE, this Surrey Hills landmark will transport guests back to the Roaring Twenties. You can even make a mini-break out of it, enjoying the luxurious onsite spa or just taking in the glorious countryside. It’s ideal for groups who enjoy making a bit of effort and dressing up.
QuartersNYE
Kings Rd Arches, BrightonBN1 1NB
Website
The newest addition to the South Coast’s cultural scene has revealed details for its mega New Year’s Eve party. House music heroes, Fleur Shore, L.P. Rhythm and Jansons, plus support and club residents, are confirmed to ring in 2026 over an extended night of innovative and classic beats with guaranteed party vibes from start to finish.
New Year’s at Quarters promises no restrictions or VIP upgrades. Every raver get full access to the venue,including the balcony for best views of the dancefloor, and the 360-degree DJ booth. This approach reflects Quarters’ commitment to an inclusive, crowd-first dancefloor culture. Revelers can expect long-form sets celebrating the art of DJing, allowing artists to delve deeper into their sound.
NYE Silent Disco at The Refinery
Citypoint, Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9HT
A silent disco on NYE is the kind of blissful contradiction you didn’t know you needed. Boogie through to the countdown on a dancefloor where everyone’s musical preferences are catered for with three channels on their headphone set. The Refinery’s NYE Silent Disco blends a lively rooftop/bar setting in the City with a choice of club bangers, chart hits and retro grooves. Here you can be surrounded by wild party energy, yet still have relative quiet if you want to chat and catch up. It’s ideal for mixed groups and special Insta-worthy moments.
Main image by Pasanheco
SALT Staff Writer
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