How the Hamptons Ring In the New Year
New Year’s Eve in the Hamptons is not Times Square, and that is the point. The summer crowds are long gone, the ocean beaches are empty and the villages feel like small towns again. The celebrations are smaller and more personal: a champagne-and-casino party above the ocean in Montauk, prix fixe dinners by candlelight in East Hampton and Southampton, a comedy night in Sag Harbor, and then a New Year’s Day polar plunge or a winter hike out to the Montauk Point Lighthouse.
At Luxury Beach Getaway, we manage vacation homes across the Hamptons and the North Fork, the East End of Long Island. In 2026, New Year’s Eve falls on a Thursday and New Year’s Day on a Friday, which makes it an easy long weekend out east. Below are the New Year’s plans we could confirm, plus the homes that were still open for December 30, 2026, to January 2, 2027, when we checked. Coming out earlier in December? Our guide to Christmas in the Hamptons covers the tree lightings and holiday events.
New Year’s Eve in the Hamptons 2026: Parties and Events
We checked every event below on the venue’s or organizer’s own page in late October 2026. Where 2026 details are not out yet, we tell you what happened last year and where to watch for updates.
New Year’s Eve in Montauk: “Meet Me at Midnight” at Gurney’s
The biggest New Year’s Eve party in Montauk is at Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, right on the ocean. Its 2026 party, “Meet Me at Midnight,” turns the Dune Lounge into a casino night with table games, live entertainment and champagne, and the resort asks guests to wear “winter whites and silvers.”
- When: Thursday, December 31, 2026, 9 PM to 1 AM
- Tickets: $195 per person, prepaid through OpenTable; 21 and over
- Where: 290 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954
- Good to know: Gurney’s also lists a free supervised kids’ party (ages 5–12, 6 to 10 PM), but only for guests staying overnight at the resort
- See Gurney’s New Year’s page
New Year’s LAUGHIN’ Eve at Bay Street Theater, Sag Harbor
If you would rather laugh your way to midnight, Bay Street Theater on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor is hosting “New Year’s LAUGHIN’ Eve ’26” with the HA HA HAMPTONS Comedy Tour on Thursday, December 31, 2026, at 8 PM. The theater says it is the first time the show comes to Sag Harbor. Afterward, you are steps from the harbor and Main Street.
- Where: 1 Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
- Tickets: sold on the theater’s website
- See Bay Street Theater’s calendar
Live Music at the Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett
The Talkhouse is Amagansett’s live music bar, and ticket listings show a New Year’s Eve party with the band Hello Brooklyn on December 31, 2026, at 9:30 PM ($75, 21 and over). It was not on the club’s own website yet when we checked, so confirm on talkhouse.com before you buy.
New Year’s Eve Dinners in the Hamptons
Most restaurants post New Year’s Eve menus in December, and none below had 2026 details up yet. Here is what they offered for New Year’s Eve 2025, so you know what to expect. Reservations are the rule for the 31st.
Nick & Toni’s, East Hampton
This East Hampton favorite on North Main Street is a natural pick for a dressy New Year’s Eve dinner. For 2025, it served a prix fixe dinner at $165 per person plus tax and gratuity, with hats, noisemakers, balloons and a parting gift from the pastry team, plus a $50 “Bambini Menu” for children ten and under, according to Dan’s Papers.
- Rating: 4.4 stars on Google (390+ reviews)
- Address: 136 N Main St, East Hampton, NY 11937
- Phone: (631) 324-3550
- See Nick & Toni’s on Google Maps
Cowfish, Hampton Bays
For a waterfront New Year’s Eve in the western Hamptons, Cowfish in Hampton Bays promises 270-degree water views. For 2025, it ran its New Year’s Eve celebration from 4 PM to 12:30 AM with a three-course chef’s prix fixe, a live DJ, dancing and a midnight champagne toast, booked through Resy. Watch its events page for the 2026 version.
- Rating: 4.5 stars on Google (2,200+ reviews)
- Address: 258 E Montauk Hwy, Hampton Bays, NY 11946
- Phone: (631) 594-3868
More Dinner Options for New Year’s Eve 2026
These also hosted New Year’s Eve dinners in 2025, per Dan’s Papers. Expect 2026 menus in December.
- Calissa, Water Mill: two seatings of a four-course Mediterranean prix fixe ($85 early, $115 late), then a DJ and dancing in the lounge from 9 PM.
- R.AIRE at The Hampton Maid, Hampton Bays: a three-course prix fixe with a champagne toast and live music from 6 to 10 PM, plus a children’s menu.
New Year’s Eve on the North Fork
If you want a slower New Year’s Eve, cross Peconic Bay. The North Fork is wine country, and its villages are quieter in winter than the South Fork’s.
North Fork Table & Inn, Southold
North Fork Table & Inn has already posted its 2026 New Year’s Eve dinner: a festive prix fixe on Thursday, December 31, 2026, from 5 to 11 PM, to “ring in 2027 on the North Fork.” Prices were not posted yet. For 2025, it offered an early four-course seating ($110) and a later five-course seating with caviar and a midnight celebration ($145), according to Spark Hamptons.
- Rating: 4.5 stars on Google (420+ reviews)
- Address: 57225 Main Rd, Southold, NY 11971
- Phone: (631) 765-0177
- See the New Year’s Eve dinner page
For more ideas across the bay, see our best restaurants on the North Fork.
New Year’s Day in the Hamptons
January 1, 2027, is a Friday. Out here, the first day of the year is usually spent outside.
Polar Bear Plunge at Main Beach, East Hampton
East Hampton’s New Year’s Day plunge at Main Beach draws a big local crowd every year, and it raises money for the East Hampton Food Pantry. For January 1, 2026, the plunge was at 1 PM, with same-day registration from 11:30 AM and a $40 donation requested, according to The East Hampton Star. The YMCA Hurricanes swim team and East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue host it, and the Star advises arriving 30 minutes to an hour early because of traffic. 2027 registration is usually posted on the East Hampton Food Pantry website.
There is a second plunge the same afternoon: the Wainscott plunge at Beach Lane, at 2:30 PM in 2026 ($35 cash), which benefits the Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry and starts with an optional 1.6-mile run.
First Day Hike at Montauk Point State Park
New York State Parks hosts First Day Hikes every January 1. For 2026, the East End hosts included Montauk Point State Park, Orient Beach State Park on the North Fork and Hallock State Park Preserve in Riverhead, and the state waived the normal parking fee at state parks on New Year’s Day, according to the Governor’s announcement. At Montauk Point, park staff led an approximately 2-mile walk to the seal haul-out viewing area (seals are not guaranteed). The 2027 list is usually announced in early December; dress for wind and cold.
New Year’s Day Brunch
- Gigi’s at Gurney’s, Montauk: Gurney’s holiday page lists a New Year’s Day brunch buffet with chef stations and a Bloody Mary bar. Confirm the 2027 date and price when you book.
- Claude’s at the Southampton Inn, Southampton: served breakfast and brunch from 7 AM to 2 PM on January 1 and 2 last year, according to Spark Hamptons (91 Hill St; 631-283-6500).
What Is New Year’s Eve in the Hamptons Like?
New Year’s Eve in the Hamptons is quieter and more intimate than a city countdown. Most celebrations are dressy prix fixe dinners and a few ticketed parties, led by Gurney’s in Montauk, followed by New Year’s Day traditions like the Main Beach polar plunge and First Day Hikes. Many visitors rent a house and host their own countdown.
- Dinner is the main event: prix fixe menus at places like Nick & Toni’s and Calissa are how most people ring in the year, so reserve as soon as menus post.
- One big party: Gurney’s casino night in Montauk is the closest thing to a classic New Year’s Eve bash on the East End.
- Something different: a comedy show at Bay Street Theater or live music at the Talkhouse.
- Winter hours: many East End restaurants keep shorter off-season hours, so confirm before you drive over.
- Plan the ride home: a car is recommended out here, and ride-share availability can be limited. A house near your dinner spot keeps it simple.
- A house for the countdown: a fireplace and a hot tub that runs all winter make it easy to celebrate at home.
- An outdoor start to 2027: the polar plunges and a First Day Hike fill New Year’s Day.
Where to Stay for New Year’s Eve in the Hamptons
These Luxury Beach Getaway homes showed open dates for December 30, 2026, to January 2, 2027, when we checked our booking calendar in late October. Holiday stays have minimum nights and availability changes daily, so check the live calendar on each home’s page.
The Whole Group Rings It In Together
When the plan is ten friends or two families under one roof, the house is the party. You need enough bedrooms that no one is on the couch, a living room big enough for the whole group at midnight and a kitchen that can handle a long New Year’s Eve dinner.
Southampton 5BR · 4 Kings, Pool & Private Yard
This five-bedroom Southampton home sleeps 10 across two levels, with four king bedrooms and three full bathrooms. The main living space has vaulted ceilings with skylights and a large sectional facing a smart TV, and the dining table seats 10, so the whole group sits down together for dinner. The island kitchen opens straight to the deck through sliding doors.
After the toast, the covered hot tub tucked beneath the upper deck is available year-round, and an indoor fireplace is listed among the home’s amenities. Southampton Village is about 1.5 miles away (around 3 minutes by car), and the driveway fits four cars, so the group can split up for dinner and meet back at the house.
- Sleeps: 10 (5 bedrooms, 4 king beds, 3 full bathrooms)
- New Year’s highlights: dining table for 10, year-round covered hot tub ($95 cleaning fee), indoor fireplace
- Location: Southampton, about 1.5 miles from Southampton Village
- Good to know: the pool is open Memorial Day to Labor Day only; driveway parking for up to 4 cars
See Southampton 5BR · 4 Kings, Pool & Private Yard
Champagne by the Fire, Hot Tub at Midnight
For a couple or a small group, the best New Year’s Eve can be a long dinner at home, a fire going and a soak under the stars when the clock strikes twelve.
Southampton / Shinnecock Retreat | Heated Pool & Hot Tub
This single-level, three-bedroom home on Shinnecock Hills Road is built for exactly that. The living room has a wood-burning fireplace, with sliders to the deck, and the saltwater hot tub runs year-round. The fully equipped kitchen has full-size appliances for cooking your own New Year’s Eve dinner, and the home is set back from the road in a quiet, leafy setting.
The king primary bedroom has its own bath, and two more bedrooms share the second bathroom, so it also works for two couples. Dogs are welcome with approval, and the yard is fully fenced. Coopers Beach is about 3.4 miles away for a cold, bright New Year’s Day walk.
- Sleeps: 6 (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, single level)
- New Year’s highlights: wood-burning fireplace, year-round saltwater hot tub ($95 per cleaning), fenced yard
- Location: Southampton, about 3.5 miles from Southampton Village
- Good to know: the heated pool is seasonal; dogs by approval ($218 per dog)
See Southampton / Shinnecock Retreat
Dinner in the Village, Home Before Midnight
Some groups split the night: an early dinner seating in town, then back to the house for the countdown with the people who skipped the restaurant. That works best from a home a few minutes from the village.
Southampton Pool Home Near Village
This Southampton home sits on a quiet street minutes from Southampton Village, with all four bedrooms and both living rooms on one level. It sleeps 8 (10 with the sleeper sofa), with two kings, two queens and two full bathrooms, including the ensuite primary.
The two separate living rooms are the New Year’s Eve advantage: one can host the midnight toast while the other, with the fireplace, stays quiet for anyone turning in early. The kitchen has an island and an eat-in table for six, and the hot tub out back is available year-round.
- Sleeps: 8 (10 with the sleeper sofa); 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, all on one level
- New Year’s highlights: two living rooms, fireplace, year-round hot tub ($95 cleaning fee)
- Location: Southampton, minutes from Southampton Village and 3.6 miles from Shinnecock Hills
- Good to know: the heated pool runs Memorial Day to Labor Day only
See Southampton Pool Home Near Village
Arrive by Train, Stay Through New Year’s Day
Not everyone wants to drive out from the city the day before New Year’s Eve. If part of your group is coming on the Long Island Rail Road, stay close to a station.
Poppy’s Hampton House | 3BR + Bonus | Near Beach
Poppy’s is in Hampton Bays, about a 15-minute walk (0.7 miles) from the Hampton Bays LIRR station. The home was renovated in 2022 and has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, so two couples or a small family each get a bathroom on New Year’s morning. The open living and dining areas give everyone a place to gather for the countdown, and the bonus room is a second spot to hang out.
An indoor fireplace is listed among the home’s amenities, and the house is pet friendly. For New Year’s Eve dinner, Cowfish and R.AIRE at The Hampton Maid are both in Hampton Bays, and Ponquogue Beach is about 3.3 miles away for a New Year’s Day walk.
- Sleeps: 6 (3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, plus a bonus room)
- New Year’s highlights: about a 15-minute walk to the LIRR, indoor fireplace, bonus room
- Location: Hampton Bays, near Ponquogue Beach
- Good to know: pet friendly ($218 per pet); outdoor furniture and grill are stored from Columbus Day to Memorial Day
For a Quieter Countdown on the North Fork
If the ideal New Year’s Eve is a bottle of local wine, a fire and an early dinner in Southold or Greenport, look across the bay.
East Marion 3BR | Fireplace, Deck, Beach Access
This single-level East Marion home is built around its living room: vaulted wood-plank ceilings, a brick wood-burning fireplace and large windows on three sides, open to the dining area and kitchen. The eat-in kitchen seats six at the table, with granite counters and stainless appliances for a New Year’s Day brunch at home.
There are three bedrooms (two queens, plus a bunk bed and a separate twin bed) and two full bathrooms. Greenport Village is a 5-minute drive, North Fork Table & Inn in Southold is a short drive west, and Orient Beach State Park, a 2026 First Day Hike host, is about 10 minutes east.
- Bedrooms: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, single level
- New Year’s highlights: brick wood-burning fireplace, vaulted wood ceilings, dining for six
- Location: East Marion, about 3 miles from Greenport Village and the Greenport LIRR station
- Good to know: outdoor furniture and grills are stored from Columbus Day to Memorial Day; primary renter must be 25 or older
Book Your Hamptons New Year’s Home With Luxury Beach Getaway
New Year’s Eve in the Hamptons is at its best when the night ends somewhere warm: a fire in the fireplace, the hot tub on, and everyone you came with under one roof. Browse all of our Hamptons rentals or our Hamptons hot tub rentals, or look across the bay at our North Fork rentals. Bringing the dog? Start with our pet-friendly Hamptons rentals.
Staying for the whole holiday season? See where to stay in the Hamptons for Christmas and our Hamptons Christmas rentals. Questions about minimum nights, hot tubs or the right house for your group? Contact our team and we will help you plan New Year’s 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there fireworks in the Hamptons on New Year’s Eve?
We could not find a public New Year’s Eve fireworks show anywhere in the Hamptons or on the North Fork for recent years; fireworks on the East End are a Fourth of July tradition. Expect champagne toasts at midnight instead, at parties like Gurney’s in Montauk and at restaurant dinners.
Where can you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Montauk?
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa hosts “Meet Me at Midnight,” a casino party with live entertainment and champagne in its Dune Lounge on December 31, 2026, from 9 PM to 1 AM. Tickets are $195 per person, 21 and over. Gurney’s also lists a New Year’s Day brunch at Gigi’s.
What time is the East Hampton polar bear plunge on New Year’s Day?
On January 1, 2026, the Main Beach plunge in East Hampton started at 1 PM, with same-day registration from 11:30 AM and a $40 suggested donation for the East Hampton Food Pantry. The Wainscott plunge followed at 2:30 PM. Check easthamptonfoodpantry.org for the 2027 details.
Are pools open at Hamptons rentals over New Year’s?
No. Pools on the East End are a summer amenity, usually open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. For a winter stay, look for a hot tub that runs year-round and a fireplace instead.
Is the North Fork a good alternative for New Year’s Eve?
Yes, if you want a quieter night. North Fork Table & Inn in Southold has already announced a New Year’s Eve prix fixe for 2026, Greenport is a walkable village and Orient Beach State Park hosted a First Day Hike in 2026. Browse our North Fork rentals.
Can you bring a dog to a Hamptons New Year’s rental?
At some homes. Poppy’s Hampton House is pet friendly and the Southampton / Shinnecock Retreat accepts dogs with approval, both with a fee of $218 per pet. See all of our pet-friendly Hamptons rentals.
