It’s not too early to think about celebrating the arrival of 2026 at Ocean City’s family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve celebration. All-inclusive admission buttons are on sale now.
Tickets are available:
- Online: firstnightocnj.com
- By phone: 609-399-6111.
- At the City Hall Welcome Center at 861 Asbury Avenue (9th Street entrance): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- At the Roy Gillian Welcome Center (9th Street causeway): 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- At the 46th Street Welcome Center (4500 block of West Avenue): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday.
First Night offers more than 70 entertain programs at 20 different venues throughout town on Dec. 31. One $20 button is good for all programs. Don’t wait, because button sales are limited at the price goes up to $25 on Dec. 1.
Headline entertainment at the Ocean City Music Pier this year will include a tribute to the music of the Journey and “Motor City: the Motown Revue.” The return of perennial favorites like outdoor ice-skating, a magic show, a mentalist, the Harlem Wizards, and a variety of other shows also highlight the entertainment lineup. Ocean City will reunite Elton John and Billy Joel at the Ocean City High School auditorium with separate tributes.
A drone light show in the sky over Carey Stadium synced to music is scheduled. As always, the festivities will end with a fireworks display to ring in the new year at midnight.
First Night’s 2026 sponsors include the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Cape May County Division of Culture and Heritage, McMahon Insurance Agency, Ocean City Free Public Library, Pete Madden of Goldcoast Sotheby’s International Realty, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House and Atlantic City Electric.
Complete information on First Night is available at firstnightocnj.com.
