Eureka Springs is preparing to welcome 2026 with one of the largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in Arkansas, anchored by the Second Annual Bash with a Splash in Basin Spring Park and supported by a full lineup of events across the entire city.
The event, initially concepted by Jack Moyer and brought to life through the event planning of Mary Howze, has quickly grown into a statewide draw. Backed and now staged by the Eureka Springs Advertising & Promotion Commission (CAPC) and its staff, this year’s celebration is poised to exceed last year’s attendance and energy.
City officials say the goal is simple: Turn Eureka Springs into Arkansas’ New Year’s Eve headquarters.
Downtown Countdown Returns With Parade, Music & Water Drop The Bash with a Splash begins at 8:30 p.m. with a carnival- style parade winding through downtown. Music follows immediately, including Jenna and the Soul Shakers, pop-up performers, a laser-light show, and headliners Fossils of Ancient Robots leading the crowd toward midnight.
As the countdown strikes zero, the sky will fill with confetti and a glowing 2026 will rise atop the Basin Park Hotel, triggered by the countdown’s final cue. Seconds later, the city’s signature Water Droplet Drop descends — a nod to the healing springs that first put the city on the map.
Shops and restaurants will remain open late, with a food truck court opening at 9 p.m. to serve visitors throughout the celebration, and the annual New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl returns at the many bars and eateries participating in the entertainment district.
Organizers expect an even larger turnout than last year, when crowds filled Basin Spring Park and spilled into surrounding streets.
CITYWIDE CELEBRAT ION: “A NIGHT FOR EVERY ARKANSAN”
To complement the downtown spectacle, venues across Eureka Springs are hosting their own New Year’s Eve celebrations, offering options from elegant dining to late-night dance parties.
Crescent Hotel to Host Upscale Dinner & Countdown
High above downtown, the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa will offer an 8 p.m. five-course prix fixe dinner in the Crystal Dining Room featuring beef tenderloin, sea bass, and a vegetarian Portobello entrée.
After dinner, guests are invited to dance into the night, ending with a Cold-Sparkle Countdown on the Back Porch at midnight — a refined, mountaintop view of 2026.
Chelsea’s Promises a Wild, Immersive NYE Chelsea’s Corner Café & Bar is preparing one of the most imaginative celebrations in town, complete with a costume contest with real goblins, PBR Midnight Toast and immersive decorations to complement their Goblin Ball.
The party’s soundtrack will be delivered by God Dog, Crescent City Combo, The Rowdy Regulars & The Gary Lawrence Show, powering a high-energy downtown scene deep into the new year.
Eureka Live to Feature DJ, Drag & Downtown Dance Floor Eureka Live is planning a full-club countdown, featuring DJ sets, drag performances and a glowing dance floor packed until the early hours of Jan. 1. The venue is known for hosting one of the most inclusive parties in the region.
Missy’s White Rabbit Pretty in Pink Prom Party The White Rabbit is going full pink glamour for New Year’s Eve! Wear your favorite shade of pink or your best prom-night look and get ready to dance, sparkle, and celebrate. Featuring live music from The Bad Jacksons and a curated playlist, tiaras, sashes and prom-royalty surprises, a pink photo booth and a midnight pink confetti glow. Featured drinks: Eureka Splash and Blush 75.
Bring your date, your besties, or your crush — it’s the pinkest, coziest, most electric NYE party in Eureka Springs. Don’t miss it.
Gotahold Brewing & Wanderoo Offer Laid-Back Alternatives For those who prefer a relaxed celebration, Gotahold Brewing will offer craft beers and fire-pit gatherings in a casual, community environment.
Nearby, Wanderoo Lodge’s Gravel Bar will feature live music, hearty food and an outdoors-minded crowd known for bringing in the new year with warmth and camaraderie.
City Officials Expect Strong Regional Attendance Organizers say this multi-venue format allows visitors to “choose their celebration.” Early lodging reports from hotels and rentals show strong booking activity across the city.
“We want all of Arkansas to feel welcome here on New Year’s Eve,” one organizer said, noting that visitors from Northwest Arkansas, Little Rock, Kansas City, Dallas and several Missouri towns attended last year’s celebration.
With downtown’s Bash with a Splash, mountaintop elegance at the Crescent, brewery gatherings, music venues, dance floors, and late-night bars, Eureka Springs aims to offer a New Year’s Eve experience unmatched anywhere in the state.
Full event details and lodging information are available at VisitEurekaSprings. com.
