PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WDNews) — With no local fireworks displays planned for New Year’s Eve in the Wiregrass, families looking for a nearby, family-friendly way to ring in the new year may find an option just a short drive away along the Gulf Coast.
Panama City Beach will welcome 2026 with its annual New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop, a large-scale celebration presented by Coca-Cola and recognized by USA TODAY 10Best as the “Best New Year’s Eve Drop” in the nation.
The event, which spans multiple venues around Pier Park, features live music, fireworks and activities for all ages. Organizers say new additions this year extend the celebration beyond Pier Park, giving attendees more room to enjoy the festivities.
Gates open at 4 p.m. at Aaron Bessant Park and along Pier Park Drive. Music begins at 4:30 p.m. with DJ DT on the Aaron Bessant Park stage, followed by live performances throughout the evening on two main stages.
A Kids FUN Zone will open at 4 p.m. at Aaron Bessant Park, offering free activities such as slides, obstacle courses, bungee trampolines, friendship bracelet stations and video games. Live performances at the park stage are open to both children and adults.
Families with younger children or those not planning to stay out until midnight can attend the Kids’ Beach Ball Drop at 8 p.m. The early celebration includes fireworks and the release of 15,000 beach balls between Aaron Bessant Park and Pier Park Drive.
As midnight approaches, Celebration Tower becomes the focal point of the event. The 2016 landmark is topped with a nearly 10-foot-diameter beach ball that descends during the final countdown to signal the start of the new year.
The midnight Beach Ball Drop is followed by a second fireworks show launched from Russell-Fields City Pier, which extends more than a quarter-mile into the Gulf of Mexico, providing a backdrop for the celebration over the water.
Live music continues throughout the night, with performances scheduled at both the Aaron Bessant Park stage and the Celebration Tower stage until the new year begins.
Event organizers encourage attendees to arrive early and plan ahead, as tens of thousands of visitors are expected to attend the annual celebration.
