New Year's Eve 2026 near Panama City: the free Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park, 8 p.m. and midnight drops with fireworks, a 5K and New Year's Day closures.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Visit Panama City Beach’s New Year’s Eve page and Dec. 16, 2025, release, the 5K registration page, the City of Panama City’s solid waste page and Bayway.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. Panama City itself had no public New Year’s Eve event on the city or Destination Panama City calendars when we checked. The big celebration in Bay County is across the Hathaway Bridge: Visit Panama City Beach’s New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park. Its 2026 schedule was not out yet; below is how the free event ran last year, and we will update this page when the new lineup is posted.

Good to know

  • Beach Ball Drop: Visit Panama City Beach, 850-233-5070
  • New Year’s Day trash: no garbage or yard trash Friday, Jan. 1, 2027
  • Bayway: no buses on New Year’s Day
  • Fireworks at home: see the rules below before you light anything

The Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park

Visit Panama City Beach’s release for Dec. 31, 2025, set out this schedule. Admission was free.

Time (2025) What happened Where
4 p.m. Gates open; free Kids FUN Zone with slides, obstacle courses and bungee trampolines Aaron Bessant Park and Pier Park Drive
4:30 to 10 p.m. Live music on two stages Aaron Bessant Park and Celebration Tower stages
8 p.m. Kids’ beach ball drop, 15,000 beach balls and fireworks Aaron Bessant Park and Pier Park Drive
11:57 p.m. Countdown Pier Park Drive
Midnight LED beach ball lowered on the 80-foot Celebration Tower; fireworks over the Gulf Celebration Tower and Russell-Fields City Pier

The early drop at 8 p.m. is aimed at families with young children. The event has been ranked among the country’s best beach ball drops by USA TODAY 10Best, the tourism agency says. Check the New Year’s Eve page in December for the 2026 bands, parking and road closures.

Start the day with a 5K

The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop 5K Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. Dec. 31 at Frank Brown Park, 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway, with a 1-mile family fun run and fitness walk at about 9:15 a.m. Registration and packet pickup open at 6:30 a.m. race morning. Adults pay $30 early and $35 late; children 16 and under, $25 early and $30 late. Part of the proceeds goes to WWII Honor Flights. Register by Dec. 1 to be sure of a shirt size. Registration page.

Dinner and parties

Restaurants and bars in downtown Panama City and St. Andrews usually announce New Year’s Eve dinners and parties in December. None had posted 2026 plans on their own websites when we checked; we will add them here as they do. For ideas, see date night in Panama City and live music and nightlife.

Fireworks at home and getting home safely

  • Florida Statute 791.08 allows fireworks on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July. It does not override local rules, and a homeowners association’s recorded covenants can still ban them. Questions: the Panama City Police Department’s non-emergency line, 850-872-3112.
  • Plan a ride home. Bayway does not run on New Year’s Day.

New Year’s Day: Friday, Jan. 1, 2027

  • Trash: no garbage or yard trash collection, under the city’s holiday schedule; homes are served on their next scheduled day. See trash and recycling.
  • Bayway: closed for fixed-route and demand-response service, according to its holiday list.
  • Schools: Bay District Schools students are on winter break until Tuesday, Jan. 5. See our schools guide.

Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, Christmas parade and tree lighting and Fourth of July fireworks.

Frequently asked questions

Where are New Year’s Eve fireworks near Panama City?

The closest big show is Visit Panama City Beach’s New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park, with fireworks after an 8 p.m. family ball drop and again at midnight. On Dec. 31, 2025, it was free.

Is there a family-friendly New Year’s Eve event near Panama City?

Yes. At the 2025 Beach Ball Drop, a free Kids FUN Zone opened at 4 p.m. at Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach, and an early ball drop with fireworks and 15,000 beach balls followed at 8 p.m.

Is there trash pickup in Panama City on New Year’s Day?

No. The city collects no garbage or yard trash on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. Homes whose pickup falls on the holiday are served on their next scheduled day.

Does Bayway run on New Year’s Day?

No. Bayway lists New Year’s Day as closed for both fixed-route and demand-response service.