You’ve probably already seen the memes. It’s that time when the ball drops, the confetti flies, and half the country is frantically switching channels because they can’t find the one show with the person they actually like. Honestly, the New Year's Eve TV specials 2025 lineup—which actually rings in 2026—is a bit of a chaotic mess if you don’t have a map.
Networks aren't just doing the standard "guy in a suit in Times Square" thing anymore. They’re branching out to Chicago, Nashville, and Las Vegas.
The ABC Powerhouse: Rockin' Eve's New Frontiers
Ryan Seacrest is basically the human equivalent of a tuxedo at this point. He's back for his 21st year at the helm of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
But here is the thing: the show is stretching way beyond New York this time. For the first time ever, they’re doing a live Central Time Zone countdown from Chicago. They’ve got Chance the Rapper hosting that segment. It’s a smart move. People in the Midwest usually feel like an afterthought during these broadcasts, so giving them their own hometown hero to lead the countdown is a vibe.
In Times Square, Seacrest is joined by Rita Ora. If you’re watching for the music, the lineup is kind of absurdly packed. We're talking:
- Mariah Carey (the queen herself)
- Chappell Roan (the breakout star of the year)
- Post Malone
- 50 Cent
- Demi Lovato
They even have a K-pop moment with a group called HUNTR/X. It's a massive five-hour marathon. If you’re looking for that classic, high-energy spectacle, this is usually where everyone ends up.
Why CNN’s Duo Still Wins the Internet
If ABC is the polished pageant, CNN is the messy dinner party you actually want to be invited to. Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen are back for their ninth year.
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Basically, people watch this for the chance that someone says something they shouldn't. Last year, they had a segment called "Do! Lesbians! Give a damn?!" featuring Brandi Carlile. It was exactly as chaotic as it sounds. For 2025, they’ve pulled in a weirdly great mix of guests like Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and B.J. Novak.
The musical performances for CNN are actually pretty high-brow this year. They’ve got Robyn in Times Square and Shakira performing from Florida. It’s less "pop-chart-toppers" and more "indie-legend-meets-global-superstar."
Nashville’s Big Bash: The CBS Alternative
If you don't care about the ball drop in New York, CBS is betting you'll care about the Music Note Drop in Nashville.
They’ve gone in a completely different direction with their hosts: comedian Bert Kreischer and country star HARDY. It’s a bold choice. Bert is known for being... well, loud and often shirtless. He even joked in a press release that he hopes he keeps his shirt on and won't start drinking until midnight unless the audience wants him to.
The music here is pure country-rock gold:
- Lainey Wilson
- Jason Aldean
- Keith Urban
- Megan Moroney
It’s a five-hour party that feels a lot more like a festival than a TV taping. They also have Haley Baylee reporting from New York, just so you don't totally miss the East Coast countdown.
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The NBC Hiatus and the Retrospective Pivot
Here is where most people get confused. Remember Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party? The one with Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton that everyone loved a couple of years ago?
It’s not happening.
NBC has put their live specials on hiatus. There was a rumor that Snoop Dogg was going to host something this year, but apparently, there were "availability issues." Instead, NBC and Peacock are doing a retrospective called A Toast to 2025! hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.
It’s basically a two-hour clip show of the year’s best pop-culture moments. If you want live music and a countdown, you’ll have to look elsewhere, but if you want to see Ethan Slater and Jim Gaffigan talk about the year's memes, this is your spot.
The Fox News Vibe
Fox isn't doing a traditional musical variety show. They’re sticking to their personalities. Jimmy Failla is headlining the All-American New Year's Bash.
It’s more of a talk-heavy recap of the "wildest news" of the year. They’ve got Kat Timpf and Tyrus doing their own hour at 9 PM ET too. It’s very much geared toward their existing audience rather than someone looking for a Taylor Swift-level performance.
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How to actually watch these without a cable bill
Streaming has finally caught up to live events.
- ABC/Rockin' Eve: You can catch it on Hulu + Live TV or Fubo. If you wait until the next day, the highlights are usually on the regular Hulu app.
- CBS/Nashville: This is the easiest one if you have Paramount+. It streams live for Premium subscribers.
- CNN: They launched a subscription service in late 2025, so you can stream it through the CNN app or via Max.
- NBC: A Toast to 2025! will be live on Peacock.
Actionable Insights for Your NYE Viewing
Don't just channel flip and get frustrated.
If you want Pure Energy/Pop Culture, stick with ABC. The addition of a Chicago countdown makes it the most "national" feeling show this year.
If you want Comedy/Chaos, go to CNN. The chemistry between Anderson and Andy is still the best thing on television that night, even if they aren't allowed to get as drunk as they used to be.
If you want Music/Festival Vibes, CBS is the winner. The Nashville production quality has skyrocketed over the last three years, and the lineup of country stars is actually better than most summer festivals.
Check your local listings for the 10 PM ET slot. Almost every network takes a 30-minute break for local news right before the final countdown push. That’s your window to go refill the snack bowl.