Following several years of spectacular midweek New Year’s Eve parties, Dance-music organizer Insomniac confirmed earlier today that the upcoming edition of Southern California’s Countdown NYE festival will once again be a 2-day event. Unlike the most-recent Countdown at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the 12th edition of the alien-themed festival returns to its usual home – the NOS Events Center – on December 31, 2026 and January 1, 2027, promising an expanded and immersive celebration of the New Year.

Festival-goers celebrate the New Year at a previous Countdown NYE.

In usual Insomniac fashion, music is only one part of the overall festival experience. Amenities, including Carnival rides, the Galaxy Mall‘s intergalactic shopping experiences and the Red Light District (featuring provocative, alien dancers), are all slated to return. The festival will also be hosting official afters on-site, allowing especially dedicated attendees a convenient option to keep the party going until 6:00 am each day.

The first wave of tickets goes on sale this week on Thursday, April 30, at 12:00 pm PST; Layaway payment plans start with $5 deposits and are available for GA, GA+ and VIP tickets. Registration is already open, and Insomniac strongly encourages fans to sign up for presale to unlock early access and exclusive pricing.

While the lineup is yet to be announced, Insomniac confirmed the event will host 75+ performances across five uniquely-designed interplanetary stages. Previous years featured artists including Alesso, The Chainsmokers, Zedd, John Summit, Marshmello, Chris Lake, Madeon, Virtual Riot and many more. Though the summer festival season is only starting, this announcement is an excellent opportunity to secure NYE plans early.