New Year's Rockin' Eve Will Stream on Disney+

ABC plans a dual simulcast on Disney+ for the upcoming 2027 New Year's Eve broadcast.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Gambling

Bold vector editorial illustration featuring a stylized champagne flute and abstract geometric starbursts representing a festive digital simulcast event. — Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest will be simulcast on Disney+ for the first time during the 2027 celebration, spanning performances in Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest will be simulcast on ABC and Disney+ for the first time during the New Year's 2027 celebration. The broadcast will feature performances across multiple cities including Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas.

Why it matters

The inclusion of a streaming simulcast on Disney+ is a strategic effort to expand reach beyond traditional network television. This shift aims to capitalize on digital consumption habits following last year's strong viewership numbers.

The previous broadcast spanned eight hours and featured 42 performers. The 2026 event reached a total audience of 34 million people.

The players

Ryan Seacrest

He is a prominent television host and producer who serves as the primary face of the New Year's Rockin' Eve franchise.

Druski

He is a comedian and social media personality who will join the production as a co-host for the Chicago location.

Rita Ora

She is a singer and actress who is returning to serve as a co-host for the broadcast in New York.

Julianne Hough

She is a dancer, choreographer, and television personality who returns as a co-host for the Las Vegas segment.

Rob Gronkowski

He is a former professional football player who is returning as a co-host for the festivities in Las Vegas.

The details

Dick Clark Productions has assembled a co-host roster that includes Druski in Chicago, Rita Ora in New York, and the returning duo of Julianne Hough and Rob Gronkowski in Las Vegas. The special will leverage the combined infrastructure of ABC and Disney+ to reach a wider audience for the 2027 celebration.

The program will air on December 31, 2026, for the New Year's 2027 celebration.

Culture Shift

This transition aligns with the industry-wide trend of hybrid linear and streaming simulcasts for major live events. By incorporating Disney+, the production follows a broader shift to retain viewers who are increasingly migrating away from traditional broadcast television.

Viewers can now watch the celebration on Disney+ in addition to the traditional ABC television broadcast. This change allows users without cable or antenna access to stream the event live using their existing Disney+ subscriptions.

The takeaway

The move to simulcast on Disney+ marks a significant change in how major holiday events are distributed to reach modern audiences. Viewers should ensure their streaming applications are updated ahead of December 31 to avoid potential technical delays during the broadcast.