‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ Rang in 2026 With 30M Viewers

Millions of people around the country rang in 2026 with Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

ABC released preliminary ratings for the broadcast on Jan. 2, showing 30 million total viewers tuned in at midnight to watch the ball drop in Times Square, marking a four-year high for the broadcast.

Between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., the broadcast averaged 18.8 million total viewers.

Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora hosted the celebration live from in New York City. Chance the Rapper led the show’s first-ever live Central Time Zone countdown from Chicago. Roselyn Sánchez hosted from Puerto Rico, and Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough co-hosted from Last Vegas.

The long list of performers included Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, 6lack, Busta Rhymes, Chappell Roan, Charlie Puth, Ciara, Demi Lovato, Goo Goo Dolls, Leon Thomas, Lil Jon, Little Big Town, New Kids on the Block, OneRepublic, Pitbull, Post Malone, Rick Springfield, EJae, Audrey Nuna & Rei Ami, and many more.

ABC bragged that its star-studded broadcast crushed the competition, beating CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash by 255 percent.

Citing early Nielsen figures, The Hollywood Reporter said the CBS broadcast drew 5.3 million viewers from 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

CNN averaged 2.6 million viewers from 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. for its live NYE special hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

NBC brought in 2.1 million viewers from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. for its A Toast to 2025 hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.

The viewing numbers for all of the broadcasts are expected to climb when final figures come in.

Don Lemon’s inaugural NYE livestream titled Lemon Live New Year’s Eve Special from New Orleans ran for over six hours on YouTube and currently clocks in at 334,000 views.

Lemon was joined by New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, local musician Big Freedia, comedians D.L. Hughley and Dulcé Sloan, the Treme Brass Band, and other special guests.

CNN’s broadcast continues to make headlines after Andy Cohen went on a political rant. While holding up a shot glass, the Bravo star slammed outgoing NYC Mayor Eric Adams and called his term “chaotic” and “horrible.”

Adams fired back with a post on X saying Cohen should sign up for Alcoholics Anonymous.

“My response to @Andy: AA. Another sloppy drunken rant. If anyone actually cares about him, they’ll tell him to get help. New Yorkers aren’t laughing with him. They are concerned about him. Public intoxication is a disease,” Adams wrote.