Chance the Rapper and Julianne Hough are joining the hosting lineup for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026, ABC announced Monday (Nov. 24).
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The annual broadcast, returning Dec. 31 beginning at 8 p.m. ET, sees Ryan Seacrest return to lead the Times Square broadcast alongside Rita Ora, who is back for her second consecutive year helping count down the iconic New York ball drop.
This year’s telecast will once again span several U.S. cities. Chance the Rapper will host from his hometown of Chicago, where he’ll guide the Central Time Zone countdown from the city’s live celebration.
In Las Vegas, the show pairs NFL legend Rob Gronkowski with performer and presenter Julianne Hough, who makes her Rockin’ Eve co-hosting debut. Details for the Puerto Rico broadcast are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The multi-city structure has become a hallmark of the franchise, allowing the special to cross between stages, countdowns and performances across multiple time zones. It’s also one of ABC’s most durable draws: last year’s edition drew more than 29 million total viewers at midnight, buoyed by performances from Carrie Underwood, Sabrina Carpenter, Lenny Kravitz, Alanis Morissette, Duran Duran, and Jonas Brothers across the various locations.
The show has also delivered some of the most memorable New Year’s Eve TV moments of the past decade, including Taylor Swift’s “1989” medley, Jennifer Lopez’s rooftop performance, and Miley Cyrus’ Times Square set.
The special airs live Dec. 31 on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. ET, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026 is produced by Dick Clark Productions, with Ryan Seacrest, Michael Dempsey and Barry Adelman serving as executive producers.
Disclaimer: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
