Nexstar To Televise New Year’s Eve Special: “Coast-to-Coast Countdown 2026”
Exclusive National Telecast Will Feature Live Music, Special Guests, Fireworks and a Spectacular Drone Show
Broadcast Will Be Syndicated Across More Than 100 Nexstar-owned and Partner Stations, Live-Streamed Online, and Available on Connected TV Apps
Multiple Staging Areas Coast-to-Coast Including Times Square, Reunion Tower in Texas, Arizona’s Legendary Gila River Resorts and Casinos, and the Iconic Pirate Ship at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
Musical Performances by Iconic Bands, Including Styx, Foreigner, UB40, The Marshall Tucker Band, and many more
IRVING, TX (December 4, 2025) – Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST), today announced that more than 100 of the company’s local television stations will air “Coast-to-Coast Countdown 2026,” an exclusive live New Year’s Eve special on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. PT. (Local times may vary.) The broadcast will be carried across 138 Nexstar-owned and partner stations in 116 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, and Tampa. “Coast-to-Coast Countdown 2026” will be produced from four locations across the United States, featuring performances, fireworks, and end of the year fanfare. The broadcast will be staged in New York, Dallas, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. In addition to Nexstar-affiliated stations, WPLG-TV in Miami/Fort Lauderdale will also carry the broadcast.
Viewers can stream the entire show and watch exclusive bonus content live on the platforms of the participating local television stations and they can post comments and video to social media using the hashtag “#Coast2CoastNYE”.
“‘Coast-to-Coast Countdown 2026’ is a phenomenal production that brings together millions of viewers throughout the U.S. and Nexstar is excited to be able to provide such quality entertainment on more than 100 of our local television stations and their streaming platforms,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. “Whether you catch just a few minutes at midnight, or stay tuned in for the entire celebration, this year’s production has something for every member of the family—great music, iconic locations, and fireworks across the country. We’re looking forward to the best New Year’s Eve broadcast yet.”
The telecast will feature musical performances, special entertainment, and a countdown to midnight across all time zones in the United States. Viewers will be treated to the midnight ball-drop in New York City with hosts JD Roberto and Marysol Castro, a spectacular fireworks and drone show from Reunion Tower in Dallas, fireworks from Gila River Resorts and Casinos, near Phoenix, with hosts Brad Perry and Teresa Strasser live from the development’s Rawhide Western Town, and an epic 10-minute fireworks show launched from the rooftops of nine hotels on the Las Vegas strip, hosted by Michael Yo and Nikki Novak.
Viewers will ring in the New Year with live musical performances by legendary singers and bands, including:
- Styx – The classic rock group will perform iconic songs from their four platinum albums.
- Foreigner – Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famers with over 1 billion streams on Spotify and the record for the longest- running #1 album for Atlantic Records.
- UB40 – Over 100 million records sold, reggae-pop fusion icons with hits that span decades.
- Kevin Cronin – There’s no fighting the New Year feeling with this former lead singer for REO Speedwagon as he takes all his hits on the road.
- Mac McAnally – Legendary singer-songwriter responsible for some of the biggest hits across country music, and ten-time winner of the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year.
- Cheap Trick – Featuring a commanding stage presence and dynamic rock n’ roll music with its roots in punk, blues, and the best of guitar riffs, resulting in over 20 million records sold, more than 40 of which have gold and platinum certifications.
- 38 Special – Actively touring for five decades and recently celebrating its 50th anniversary, 38 Special has sold over 20 million records.
- The Marshall Tucker Band – Southern rock sound, resulting in over 30 million records sold.
- Bri Bagwell – Chosen “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the T3R Awards, claiming the title nine times, she was also 2021’s Texas Female Artist of the Decade according to the Texas Regional Radio Report.
Eastern and Central time zone viewers can continue their celebrations with the West Coast audience.
About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms, including more than 316,000 hours of programming produced annually by its business units. Nexstar owns America’s largest local television broadcasting group comprised of top network affiliates, with more than 200 owned or partner stations in 116 U.S. markets reaching 220 million people. Nexstar’s national television properties include The CW, America’s fifth major broadcast network, NewsNation, our national news network providing “News for All Americans,” popular entertainment multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV, and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network. The Company’s portfolio of digital assets, including its local TV station websites, The Hill and NewsNationNow.com, are collectively a Top 10 U.S. digital news and information property. For more information, please visit nexstar.tv.
CONTACT:
Chris Berg
Vice President of Local Content Development
Nexstar Media Inc.
972/373-8800 or cberg@nexstar.tv
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