The countdown to Highlight New Year’s Eve is on! Burlington City Arts is once again welcoming revelers from far and wide to celebrate NYE in the city’s vibrant waterfront and downtown. Everyone is invited to the biggest party of the year as we gather and celebrate the experiences and ideas that make our community a creative hub. This year’s festivities will feature a jam-packed lineup of live music, unique art events, spectacular circus shows, fireworks, and so much more from noon through midnight on December 31.

 This year, beloved New Year’s Eve favorites are back to help us ring in 2026 in true Burlington fashion. Circus Smirkus returns with an awe-inspiring stage show custom-created for Highlight. Families can expect plenty of joy, laughter, and amazement, but they should also expect these three popular shows to reach capacity, so get there early!

 Close out 2025 on the shores of Lake Champlain at Waterfront Fest. From 2pm–10pm, Highlight fills Burlington’s iconic Waterfront Park with live music, local food vendors, the return of the Fluffy Bus, fireworks, and the unique NYE tradition of setting a wooden sculpture of Champ aflame.

 Celebrate all day and night with one-of-a-kind, artist-driven events, like The Will to Dance, a mini festival in the ECHO Center that showcases the sonic diversity of Burlington’s stellar music scene. Revelers of all ages can boogie down and still be home by bedtime with Daytime Disco at Foam Brewery, featuring Burlington’s best DJs, fueling a family-friendly getdown all afternoon long. And these are just a few of the highlights of Highlight!

 Get your all-access ticket for only $18 before December 31. Day-of tickets will be $20. And families can snag special reserved floor seats to Circus Smirkus with our Big Top Button for $40. Head to HighlightBTV.org to peruse the full lineup and get your tickets today!

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN MEASE AND LUKE AWTRY