Chicago Hosting First-Ever Televised New Year’s Eve Countdown

Some of my earliest New Year's Eve memories involve watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC. The annual televised show captured the NYE bash in New York City's Time Square, and was a thrill to experience even if I lived outside of Chicago, basically a world away from the Big Apple.

I'm old enough to remember when the consummate professional Dick Clark sat behind his desk, his voice rendered hoarse from a stroke in the mid-aughts, providing commentary and giving insights into the events and performers of the night. Living in the central time zone, when the iconic ball would drop in New York City at 11pm local time, my father would change the channel to the Chicago celebration that was broadcast on WGN, so we could celebrate the new year on the homefront.

For the first time in its history, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve will feature a countdown for those living in the central time zone. Those who live in the Windy City and the bulk of the Midwest will enjoy some representation as a portion of the event will be broadcast live from Chicago, featuring a special host, live performances, and on-the-ground reporting, per the website Secret Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson made the announcement last week:

We are proud to announce that Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is coming to the greatest city in the world. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the beauty and dynamism of our city and its people for the world to see. We could not be more excited to welcome in the new year with fireworks, music, and Chicago pride - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, per Secret Chicago

Since Clark's death in 2012, New Year's Rockin' Eve has been hosted by Ryan Seacrest, who is basically synonymous with any and every live TV event that comes to mind. The show has since been branded to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, still retaining the namesake of the beloved personality, who also hosted the variety show American Bandstand for decades.

Additional broadcast details for the Chicago iteration of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest will be revealed ahead of the show airing on the evening of December 31st, 2025. For more information, visit Secret Chicago's website.