If you’re ringing in the new year with the TV on, this one’s built for classic rock fans.
Nexstar Media Group has unveiled the lineup for its Coast-to-Coast Countdown 2026, a massive New Year’s Eve broadcast that will air live across the country and feature performances from some of the most enduring names in rock.
The nationwide special will air on Wednesday, December 31, from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. PT, which is 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. ET, spanning time zones so viewers on the East Coast can keep celebrating right through midnight on the West Coast.
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The lineup includes Styx, Foreigner, Cheap Trick, .38 Special, UB40, The Marshall Tucker Bandand the Kevin Cronin Band, led by former REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin, along with country and Americana standouts Mac McAnally and Bri Bagwell.
The Coast-to-Coast Countdown will be produced from four locations across the U.S., with performances, fireworks, and fanfare unfolding simultaneously in:
New York City, featuring the iconic midnight ball dropDallas, with a fireworks and drone show from Reunion TowerPhoenix, broadcasting live from Rawhide Western Town near Gila River Resorts and CasinosLas Vegas, capped by a 10-minute fireworks spectacular launched from the rooftops of nine Strip hotelsHosts will guide viewers through each time zone’s countdown, keeping the party rolling well past midnight for East and Central audiences.
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For artists like Cronin, whose songs have been part of American radio for decades, the appeal of nights like this is simple.
“The people that come to our shows want to hear the songs that are part of their lives,” Cronin has said previously. “The songs they can sing along to.”
That sentiment runs through the entire lineup, which leans heavily on catalog favorites and crowd-pleasers—exactly what New Year’s Eve calls for.
New Year’s Eve specials have increasingly leaned into classic rock for a reason. These are artists whose songs span generations—music that parents, adult kids, and even first-time listeners all recognize within seconds. Unlike pop-heavy countdowns that skew younger, classic rock offers familiarity and communal sing-along energy, making it especially well-suited for a national broadcast meant to keep viewers tuned in across multiple time zones.
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How to Watch
The Coast-to-Coast Countdown 2026 will air across 138 Nexstar-owned and partner stations in 116 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Tampa. The broadcast will also stream live online, with bonus content available for digital viewers.
For viewers at home, the Coast-to-Coast Countdown is designed to feel less like a single concert and more like a rolling celebration. Performances are staggered across multiple cities, with fireworks, drone shows, and live countdowns creating a sense of momentum as midnight approaches in each time zone. Even East Coast viewers can stay tuned as the broadcast continues westward, effectively extending New Year’s Eve well past midnight.
Check your local listings for exact channel information.
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