ABC7, Dick Clark Productions (DCP), Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Choose Chicago announced that “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” America’s most-watched New Year’s celebration, will broadcast live from Chicago with the first Central Time zone midnight countdown live broadcast in its more than 50-year history.  The festivities will be led by a new host, feature live performances, and on-the-ground updates and reporting throughout the evening. This announcement comes on the heels of a recent report by WalletHub that ranked Chicago as the top winter travel destination. Joining New York City’s Times Square live Eastern Time zone countdown and the only broadcast Spanish language live Atlantic Time zone countdown from Puerto Rico, Chicago will bring the city’s energy and New Year’s festivities directly into homes across the nation.  “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026” airs Wednesday, Dec. 31, live on ABC beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. The No. 1 New Year’s Eve programming special each year, ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025” attracted 29 million viewers at midnight and reached over 33 million viewers throughout the night.