Nashville's Big Bash on Dec. 31 drops the Music Note at midnight with fireworks at Bicentennial Mall. 2026 details are not out yet; here is how last year worked.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. Visit Music City runs the city’s celebration and had posted only 2025 details when we checked (“Stay tuned for more details on Nashville’s Big Bash 2026”). Every time and road below is from the 2025 schedule, 2025 road closures and 2025 parking and transportation pages, and is marked as last year’s. We will update this page when 2026 plans are announced.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. Nashville’s official celebration, Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, was held last year on the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park campus north of downtown, with the Music Note drop and fireworks at midnight. The 2026 lineup, venue and times have not been announced. Metro information: 311 (615-862-5000); police non-emergency 615-862-8600.

At a glance

  • 2026 Big Bash: not announced yet. Watch visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve.
  • Last year: gates 5:30 p.m.; Music Note drop 11:55 p.m. to 12:01 a.m.; 90-second fireworks at midnight.
  • Trash: Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, routes move to Monday, Jan. 4.

How Nashville’s Big Bash worked in 2025

From Visit Music City’s 2025 schedule:

  • Gates: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025, with a DJ set from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
  • CBS broadcast: 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Central, with a break from 9 to 9:30 p.m. for East Coast news.
  • 2025 headliners: Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean, Bailey Zimmerman, CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
  • Midnight: countdown and Music Note drop from 11:55 p.m. to 12:01 a.m., with pyrotechnics, confetti and a 90-second fireworks show.

Getting there (2025 plan)

From Visit Music City’s 2025 transportation page:

  • Rideshare and taxi drop-off and pickup zones were on James Robertson Parkway, Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street.
  • ADA loading was on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard near the Tennessee State Museum.
  • Shuttle: a WeGo shuttle ran between Broadway and Bicentennial Mall, and a dedicated bus looped between 7th Avenue North and the mall about every 10 minutes from 6:15 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
  • WeGo buses ran weekday service with downtown detours; major corridors ran until 1:15 a.m., with late departures from WeGo Central at 12:15, 12:45 and 1:15 a.m.
  • New Year’s Eve train: a limited number of round-trip tickets on the WeGo Star to Riverfront Station, with buses to the mall.
  • Parking: Visit Music City pointed drivers to the Nashville Downtown Partnership parking finder.

Road closures (2025 plan)

Set-up closures around Bicentennial Mall started Dec. 14 last year, on parts of 6th and 7th avenues North, Jackson Street and Junior Gilliam Way. On Dec. 31 more streets closed around the State Capitol and the mall, and James Robertson Parkway closed during the fireworks at the Metro Nashville Police Department’s discretion. All roads reopened by 6 p.m. Jan. 6. The full street-by-street list is on the 2025 road closures page; our road construction and closures page will carry the 2026 list when it is published.

Other ways to spend New Year’s Eve

Holiday light shows still running that week (check each organizer’s calendar for Dec. 31 hours):

Restaurants and venues that announce New Year’s Eve dinners or shows will be added here, from their own pages only. More on the season: holiday lights and Christmas events.

What is open and closed

  • Trash (Metro Waste Services): Thursday, Dec. 31, collected as normal; Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, routes move to Monday, Jan. 4. Convenience centers are closed on Metro holidays.
  • Opry Mills (hours): 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 1.

What this means for you

  • Going downtown? Plan on rideshare zones or the shuttle; last year’s closures ringed the State Capitol and Bicentennial Mall from mid-December.
  • Fireworks noise: the show is short, about 90 seconds at midnight last year.
  • Friday trash route? Put your cart out Monday, Jan. 4.

Related guides: holiday lights and Christmas events, Fourth of July fireworks, trash and recycling and getting around.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Nashville’s New Year’s Eve celebration?

Last year’s Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash was on the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park campus north of downtown. Visit Music City has not announced 2026 details yet.

What time does the Music Note drop in Nashville?

At midnight. In 2025 the countdown and Music Note drop ran from 11:55 p.m. to 12:01 a.m., followed by a 90-second fireworks show.

What time do gates open for Nashville’s Big Bash?

Gates opened at 5:30 p.m. for the 2025 event. The 2026 schedule has not been posted.

Do WeGo buses run late on New Year’s Eve?

For 2025, WeGo ran weekday service with major routes until 1:15 a.m., a shuttle between Broadway and Bicentennial Mall, and a special New Year’s Eve train. 2026 plans are not out yet.

Is trash picked up on New Year’s Day in Nashville?

No. Metro moves Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, routes to Monday, Jan. 4. Thursday, Dec. 31, is collected as normal.