New Year’s Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday, which means a short working day for some, a long weekend for others and a lot of people deciding late what to do. The hotels with ballrooms and the bigger party nights have already published their plans, and some tickets have started to go.
The guide covers hotel gala dinners, parties and club nights, pantomimes with shows on 31 December for families, a morning 10k and a New Year’s Day lunch. We found no public New Year’s Eve fireworks display announced anywhere in the county for 2026.
Details were accurate when we checked them on 7 November 2026. Prices, times and availability change, so please check each organiser’s website before you book.
Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire
The city has the county’s biggest choice on New Year’s Eve, with three hotels running black tie or gala evenings and two bars selling cheap early tickets. South of the city, village pubs take the night seriously too.
Gonville Hotel New Year’s Eve
Indoor activity
- A black tie gala dinner and party at the Gonville Hotel in the centre of Cambridge, seeing in 2027
- The evening starts with complimentary Champagne on arrival, followed by a five-course dinner in Gonville Kitchen
- The menu has meat, fish and vegetarian options, and dinner finishes with dessert, petit fours, tea and coffee
- Resident jazz singer and pianist Robin Phillips plays from 6:30pm to 9pm
- Drew Chamberlain, a Bermudan-born singer and pianist, takes over from 10pm to 12:30am
- Cocktails are served in The Long Bar, and there is a midnight toast with fizz
- The Gala Dinner and Party costs £159 per person
- A package adding an overnight stay and breakfast starts from £500 for two adults
Address: Gonville Hotel, Cambridge city centre
Website: gonvillehotel.co.uk/christmas/new-years-eve-in-cambridge
Phone: 01223 366611
How to book: Online through the hotel’s New Year’s Eve page, or by phone
The Gonville runs its night around live music, with two pianists sharing the evening rather than a DJ, which suits a table that wants to talk as well as dance. Black tie is the dress code, so this is one for the dinner jacket rather than the party shirt. The overnight package makes sense if you live outside the city, as taxis are hard to find in Cambridge after midnight on New Year’s Eve. Book soon if you want a room as well as a table.
University Arms New Year’s Gala
Indoor activity
- A black tie New Year’s gala at the University Arms on Regent Street, open to over 18s only
- The New Year’s Gala Package includes a sparkling reception with canapés, a five-course dinner, the Ballroom party and an overnight stay
- Package guests also get New Year’s Day breakfast in Parker’s Tavern and a 4pm late checkout
- The Dinner and Party Only ticket covers welcome drinks, a four-course gala dinner and the Ballroom party, without a room
- Live music and dancing in the Ballroom carry on into the early hours after the midnight toast
- The overnight package is booked through the Marriott website, and party-only tickets are booked through OpenTable
- The hotel’s New Year page does not list prices, so you see the cost when you go through to book
- The same page has a New Year waiting list sign-up
Address: University Arms, Regent Street, Cambridge CB2 1AD
Website: universityarms.com/new-years-at-university-arms
Phone: 01223 606066
How to book: Through the links on the hotel’s New Year page, or by phone
The University Arms is the grand option in the city, with a proper ballroom for the party after dinner. The split between the full package and the dinner and party ticket is useful: locals can book the party and go home, while visitors get the room and a slow breakfast on New Year’s Day. The four-course and five-course menus are different, so check which one your ticket includes. The waiting list is worth joining if your first choice has gone.
Graduate Cambridge New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and Casino
Indoor activity
- A New Year’s Eve gala dinner with a pop-up casino at Graduate by Hilton Cambridge on Mill Lane
- Guests arrive at 7pm to a glass of Prosecco and live music from a local singer and songwriter
- A four-course dinner is served at 8pm in Garden House, the hotel’s restaurant
- The pop-up casino opens at 10pm, and every guest is given casino money on arrival
- A DJ plays party hits from 10pm, and the night ends at 1am
- The ticket also covers a midnight toast, mince pies, tea, coffee and water
- Tickets cost £125 per person, and tables are shared
- Extra drinks are bought from the hotel’s Rhee Bar
Address: Graduate Cambridge, Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RT
Website: cambridgenetwork.co.uk/events/new-years-eve-party-31st-december
Phone: 01223 259950
How to book: Through the SevenRooms booking link on the hotel’s event listing, or by phone
The casino gives this night something to do between pudding and midnight, which helps if your group does not all dance. Shared tables mean couples and small groups will be sat with other guests, so it is a sociable evening rather than a private one. At £125 a head with a four-course dinner and the casino included, it is a clear, fixed price for the whole night. Drinks after the Prosecco are extra, so budget for the bar.
Monte Carlo on the Cam at The Tivoli
Indoor activity
- A casino-themed New Year’s Eve party at The Tivoli, the restored former cinema on Chesterton Road
- It runs from 6pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 to 2am
- The Flutter By ticket includes entry, a glass of Prosecco on arrival, and access to the casino games, mini golf, canapés and live music
- Flutter By tickets are listed at £13.20 on the official ticket page
- The High Roller ticket adds a half bottle of Prosecco and is listed at £27.50
- High Roller ticket holders must arrive by 9pm
- Tickets are sold through DesignMyNight
Address: The Tivoli, 16 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 3AX
Website: designmynight.com, search “Monte Carlo on the Cam”
How to book: Online through DesignMyNight
The Tivoli is one of the cheapest ways to spend a full New Year’s Eve in Cambridge, with eight hours of party for the price of a couple of drinks. The building is a former cinema that was badly damaged by fire in 2015 and reopened as a pub in 2022. Mini golf and casino tables give groups something to do early in the evening before the music takes over. Chesterton Road is just across the Cam from the city centre, so for many people in Cambridge it is a walk home rather than a taxi.
We Fix Disco on NYE at Hidden Rooms
Indoor activity
- A daytime-to-late disco party at Hidden Rooms on Jesus Lane, running from 1pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 until 1am
- Local DJs play house, party mash-ups and retro classics all the way through
- Hidden Rooms is a cocktail lounge and bar rather than a nightclub, and the event is ticket only
- Door proceeds go to Addenbrooke’s and the Teenage Cancer Trust
- Daytime Arrival tickets cost £5.50 for entry before 5pm, and all of that money goes to charity
- Limited Early Bird tickets cost £13.20 for entry before 9pm and include one drink on arrival
- Standard tickets cost £16.50 for entry before 10pm, and Door and Late Arrival tickets cost £33 for entry before 11pm
- No one is admitted after 11pm, and the event is for over 18s, so bring ID
Address: Hidden Rooms, 7b Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BA
Website: designmynight.com, search “We Fix Disco on NYE”
How to book: Online through DesignMyNight
This is the one for people who want to start early and pace themselves, or who would rather be home by midnight than out until three. The pricing rewards arriving early, so a daytime ticket is a cheap way to get through the door and support two local causes. The organisers warn that the standard tickets will sell out quickly, and the late tickets are limited. If you are planning to arrive late, buy the late ticket in advance rather than turning up at the door.
New Year’s Eve Party at The Tickell Arms, Whittlesford
Indoor activity
- A New Year’s Eve party with dinner and a live band at The Tickell Arms on North Road in Whittlesford, about five miles south of Cambridge
- The evening runs from 7pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 to 1am
- The Full Experience ticket costs £95 and includes a glass of fizz on arrival, a three-course meal and live music and entertainment
- A cheaper late entry ticket lets you in from 9pm for the music and dancing
- The live band, Small Talk, starts at 9:30pm, and carriages are at 1am
- The party is for over 18s, and the dress code is smart casual
- Dietary requirements should be noted when you book
Address: The Tickell Arms, North Road, Whittlesford CB22 4NZ
Website: designmynight.com, search “New Year’s Eve Party at The Tickell”
How to book: Online through DesignMyNight
A village pub with a band and a set dinner is the classic New Year’s Eve for a lot of people in the south of the county, and the Tickell is a good example. The late entry ticket lets neighbours who have eaten at home come along for the band, which keeps the room full after dinner. Trains are thin on the ground after midnight, so book a taxi or nominate a driver before the night. Spaces are limited, according to the organisers.
Huntingdonshire and Peterborough
West and north of Cambridge, New Year’s Eve is quieter and better value. The Old Bridge in Huntingdon puts on a dinner dance, Buckden does the morning after, and Peterborough’s two big stages both have pantomimes playing on 31 December.
The Old Bridge, Huntingdon: New Year’s Eve Party
Indoor activity
- A New Year’s Eve dinner and party at The Old Bridge Hotel at the start of Huntingdon High Street
- Doors open at 7pm with a welcome drink, and dinner starts at 8pm
- Dinner is five courses, and the menu can be downloaded from the hotel’s event page
- Lawrence Hill plays live acoustic music during dinner
- After dinner the Midnight Socials take over the dance floor with music through the decades
- Bubbles are served at midnight
- Tickets cost £130 per guest and cover the welcome drink, dinner, entertainment and midnight bubbles
- The dress code is simply “dress to celebrate”
Address: The Old Bridge Hotel, 1 High Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TQ
Website: theoldbridgehuntingdon.com/events/new-years-eve-party
Phone: 01480 424300
How to book: Online through the Book Now link on the hotel’s event page, or by phone
The Old Bridge’s New Year’s Eve is a dressed-up dinner without the black tie. The night is built in two halves: a long dinner with acoustic music, then the dance floor. It suits couples and groups who want a proper meal first and a dance later, without travelling into Cambridge.
New Year’s Day at The George, Buckden
Indoor activity
- The George is an independent ten-bedroom hotel on the High Street in Buckden, between Huntingdon and St Neots
- On Friday 1 January 2027 it serves a New Year’s Day menu of three courses for £60 per guest, with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival
- Full payment is taken when you book and is non-refundable
- Food choices must be pre-ordered one week before your booking
- Before New Year, the Festive Menu runs from 1 to 31 December 2026 at £45 for three courses, though not on Boxing Day
- Tables of eight or more on the Festive Menu need a pre-order and a £10 per guest deposit
- Weekday lunchtime specials run until 31 December 2026, at £18.95 for two courses or £24.95 for three
- Bookings are taken by phone
Address: The George, High Street, Buckden PE19 5XA
Website: thegeorgebuckden.com
Phone: 01480 812300
How to book: By phone
Not everyone wants to be out at midnight, and a long lunch on New Year’s Day is a good way to start the year with the family. Buckden is a short hop off the A1, so it works for groups coming from Peterborough, St Neots or Huntingdon. Because payment is non-refundable and the menu is pre-ordered, settle numbers and choices early. The weekday lunch deal on New Year’s Eve itself is a cheap way to have a festive meal before a quiet night in.
Peter Pan at The Cresset, Bretton
Indoor activity
- The Cresset’s 2026 family pantomime is Peter Pan, presented with Stuart Morrison’s Second Star Productions
- The run is from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Thursday 31 December 2026, so New Year’s Eve is the closing day
- Tickets cost £21 per person, plus a £2 booking fee
- The 6pm performance on Monday 28 December 2026 is BSL interpreted and relaxed
- Local children aged 9 to 11 auditioned in September 2026 for the Lost Kids roles, alongside a senior ensemble of over 12s
- The show is listed in the Cresset’s family shows
- Times for each day are shown on the Cresset’s booking page
Address: The Cresset, Rightwell, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 8DX
Website: cresset.co.uk/shows/peter-pan-pantomime-2026
Phone: 01733 265705
How to book: Online through the Cresset’s booking page, or by phone
A pantomime on the last day of the year is an easy way to give younger children their own New Year’s Eve, home in time for tea. The Cresset’s panto has a strong local feel, with Peterborough children in the ensemble, which means a lot of proud families in the audience. At £21 a ticket with no price bands to work out, it is also one of the simpler pantos to budget for.
Cinderella at New Theatre, Peterborough
Indoor activity
- New Theatre’s pantomime is Cinderella, running from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027
- Both New Year’s Eve performances, at 11am and 3pm on Thursday 31 December, are sold out
- Tickets for other dates start at £12, and the age guidance is five and over
- A relaxed performance runs on Saturday 2 January 2027, with tickets from £16.50
- The Fairy Godmother is played by the pantomime dame
- Icon members get 20 per cent off, Legend members get two free tickets, groups of ten or more get 10 per cent off, and only one offer can be used per booking
- The theatre is on Broadway in Peterborough city centre and is run by Landmark Theatres
Address: New Theatre, 46 Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1RS
Website: newtheatre-peterborough.com/events/cinderella
Phone: 01733 852992
How to book: Online through the theatre’s website, or through the box office
New Theatre’s New Year’s Eve shows have already gone. That still leaves the days either side, including 2 and 3 January, when the holiday is winding down and a trip to the theatre breaks up the wait for school to start. The relaxed performance on 2 January suits children who find a full theatre too much. If New Year’s Eve itself matters, the Cresset’s Peter Pan and the Angles in Wisbech both have shows on 31 December.
Ely and the Fens
In the north and east of the county New Year’s Eve is about a party at a country house, a run along Fen lanes in the morning and a matinee in Wisbech. Book early, as there are fewer choices up here and they fill up.
New Year’s Eve Party at The Old Hall, Ely
Indoor activity
- A New Year’s Eve dinner and party at The Old Hall, a Jacobean manor house events venue on Soham Road just outside Ely
- It runs from 6:30pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 until 1am
- Guests start with a glass of fizz in The Orangery, then sit down to a three-course dinner in The Marquee
- After dinner there is coffee with mince pies and a cheese table with biscuits, chutney, celery and seasonal fruit
- A live disco with a professional DJ, a photobooth with props and a midnight fizz station run through the night
- Tickets cost £140 per person, and parties may share a table depending on numbers
- The event is for adults aged 18 and over
- Drinks packages and drinks tokens can be bought in advance, starting at £46.65 for the beer package including fees
- Bedrooms can be booked for the night, and the Classic Room option has sold out
Address: The Old Hall, Soham Road, Ely CB7 5TR
Website: theoldhallely.co.uk/festive/new-years-eve-party
How to book: Online through the Old Hall’s event page, which links to its ticket site
The Old Hall is the Ely answer to a city hotel gala, with lake views and glimpses of the cathedral across the fields. A three-course dinner, a cheese table and a disco make it more of a party than a formal dinner. Staying over is the easy option, as the venue is outside the city and taxis will be busy, and one room type has already sold out. Pre-paying for a drinks package saves queuing at the bar during the countdown.
Ely Runners New Year’s Eve 10k, Little Downham
Outdoor activity
- A road race organised by Ely Runners, starting at 11am on Thursday 31 December 2026
- Race headquarters are at the Village Hall and Cricket Club in Little Downham, a village a few miles north west of Ely
- The course is a fast, fairly level, single rural lap
- Entry costs £22 for runners affiliated to an athletics club and £24 for unaffiliated runners
- Entrants must be at least 15 years old on race day
- Entries for 2026 are open and are taken online through Sublime Timing
- Transfers are accepted until the end of 29 December 2026, using the link in your confirmation email
Address: Village Hall and Cricket Club, Little Downham, Ely CB6 2ST
Website: elyrunners.co.uk/newyearseve10k
How to book: Online through the entry link on the Ely Runners race page
A New Year’s Eve 10k is a good way to earn the evening ahead, and an 11am start leaves plenty of time to recover. The course is flat and quick, which makes it a good end of year chance at a personal best. The roads out of Little Downham are exposed, so a cold wind across the open fields can make the last few kilometres harder than the profile suggests. Bring warm layers for before and after, as there is not much shelter while you wait.
Cinderella at the Angles Theatre, Wisbech
Indoor activity
- The Angles Theatre’s own pantomime production of Cinderella runs from Friday 11 December to Thursday 31 December 2026
- The final performance is a 2:30pm matinee on New Year’s Eve
- Tickets start at £11.50, and the theatre’s prices rise with demand and never go down, so booking early is cheaper
- You choose your seat first and the ticket band follows from that seat
- The show runs for about 140 minutes
- Two December evening performances have already sold out
- Box office calls are answered by message and callback, and access performance details are on the theatre’s Your Visit page
Address: Angles Theatre, Alexandra Road, Wisbech PE13 1HQ
Website: anglestheatre.co.uk
Phone: 01945 474447
How to book: Online through the theatre’s website, or by phone
The Angles makes its own pantomime rather than buying in a touring show, which gives it a local feel. The New Year’s Eve matinee is the last show of the run, and the cheapest seats will be gone first because prices only go up. A 2:30pm start and a running time of a little over two hours means the show finishes before 5pm, leaving the evening free. It is a good choice for families in Wisbech, March and the north of the county who do not want to drive to Peterborough.
Seasonal Highlights
Winter: Peter Pan at the Cresset and Cinderella at the Angles Theatre close on 31 December 2026, the Ely Runners New Year’s Eve 10k starts at 11am on the same day, New Theatre’s Cinderella runs until 3 January 2027, and the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival follows from 15 to 17 January 2027.
Spring: The Cambridge Festival from 10 to 25 March 2027 and Duxford’s VE Day flying day on Saturday 8 May 2027.
Summer: Strawberry Fair on Saturday 5 June 2027, Ely Folk Festival from 9 to 11 July 2027 and the Cambridge Folk Festival at Cherry Hinton Hall from 30 July to 1 August 2027.
Autumn: The Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show on 11 and 12 September 2027 and fireworks displays across the county around 5 November.
A Note From Inside Cambridge
New Year’s Eve plans tend to get made late, so we will keep this guide updated as more Cambridgeshire venues publish their 2026 nights.
If you run a New Year’s Eve event in the county, or you spot something here that has changed or sold out, please let us know and we will update the guide.
Before You Go
- Book early, as several New Year’s Eve shows and room options had already sold out by early November
- Arrange your journey home before the night, as taxis are scarce after midnight and late trains are limited
- Most of the hotel and bar events are for over 18s only, so the pantomimes are the main family option on 31 December
- Several Cambridge parties sell tickets only through DesignMyNight, so book there rather than expecting to pay on the door
- Check dress codes: the Gonville and the University Arms ask for black tie, while the Tickell Arms asks for smart casual
- Read the payment terms before you book, as some venues take full non-refundable payment up front
- Cambridge Corn Exchange has published no events for January 2027 or later, and Full Council decides on 26 November 2026 whether to close it from the end of December 2026 for redevelopment
- We found no public New Year’s Eve fireworks display announced in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough for 2026
