Winterfest New Year's Eve Celebration: Fountain of Light

The Winterfest New Year's Eve Celebration takes over the International Fountain Mall on Thursday, December 31, 2026, with the Fountain of Light as the night's center. It's the finale of Winterfest, Seattle Center's seasonal celebration that runs for about five weeks each winter. Throughout those weeks, the grounds are filled with seasonal decor, a Winter Train and Village, and weekend entertainment on the Armory Stage.

One of the season's biggest strands is the Seattle Christmas Market, which turns the Fisher Pavilion and South Fountain Lawn into a European-inspired outdoor Christmas village and marketplace. It comes with a heated Alpine Lounge serving German-inspired treats and mulled wine, a Northwest tradition that's been running for more than 75 years. The Christmas Ship Festival is also part of the city's holiday round: a ship dressed in hundreds of shimmery white lights sails to around 40 Puget Sound waterfront communities, with choirs performing on board. The New Year's Eve Celebration brings the whole season to a close, built around the International Fountain.

The celebration starts at 9 PM at the International Fountain Mall, located within the Seattle Center at 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109. Admission is free.