Chappell Roan, Mariah Carey, Post Malone, and numerous other artists performed live across multiple cities during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest on December 31, 2025, to welcome 2026. The 53rd annual event, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora, featured sets from Times Square in New York to Las Vegas and beyond. Highlights included Roan’s rendition of “The Subway” from Kansas City and Carey’s medley in Las Vegas.
The festivities kicked off with performances broadcast from various locations, marking the 53rd anniversary of the tradition that began in 1973. In Kansas City, Chappell Roan delivered a pre-recorded performance of “The Subway,” a track she released in summer 2025 and which earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. Roan, who won Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys and recently inducted Cyndi Lauper into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, capped a breakout year supporting her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
In Las Vegas, Mariah Carey took the stage with a medley featuring “Obsessed,” “In Your Feelings,” and “It’s Like That,” thrilling audiences just before the Times Square ball drop. The West Coast segment, hosted by Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough, also showcased 50 Cent, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, 4 Non Blondes, Goo Goo Dolls, and Huntr/X—the vocal trio of Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami from the hit Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. Huntr/X performed their smash single “Golden,” shortlisted for an Oscar for Best Song and nominated for multiple 2026 Grammys, including Song of the Year. Sources differ on their exact location, with some placing them in Times Square and others in Las Vegas.
Post Malone brought country flair from Nashville with “That’s My Story,” “What the Cowgirls Do,” and “Amarillo Sky.” Times Square hosted Diana Ross, Maren Morris, Ciara, Le Sserafim, and Little Big Town, while additional acts like Chance the Rapper appeared from Chicago and Daddy Yankee from Puerto Rico. Over 40 artists participated in total, blending pop, hip-hop, K-pop, and rock for a multi-city celebration watched by millions.
