New Year’s Eve Events in Des Moines: What to Do on December 31

Des Moines already has two confirmed New Year’s Eve events for December 31, 2026: a Des Moines Symphony performance downtown and an Iowa Wild hockey game built specifically around the holiday. Beyond those two, a lot of the city’s usual NYE traditions, like Noon Year’s Eve at the Science Center, Glow Skate at Brenton Skating Plaza, and the downtown hotel parties, haven’t posted their 2026 details yet.

So instead of recycling last year’s party list and calling it a 2026 guide, this one keeps the two categories separate: what’s actually booked and dated right now, and what Des Moines usually offers that you should check back on as December gets closer. Prices and schedules can shift, so confirm details on the official pages before you commit.

Quick Snapshot: Des Moines NYE

Confirmed New Year’s Eve Events in Des Moines for December 31, 2026

Des Moines Symphony: New Year’s Eve Pops, Cirque, Symphonic Cinema

The orchestra performs film music from the Symphonic Cinema program while Troupe Vertigo, a Cirque-style aerial and acrobatics group, performs above and around the stage. It’s a different kind of countdown night than a bar or a ballroom party, built around a live performance rather than a DJ.

A few practical notes:

• Ticket buyers get access to a free Concert Prelude Talk 45 minutes before the show.
• Book through the Des Moines Civic Center Ticket Office, the Des Moines Performing Arts website, or the official phone line. The Symphony specifically warns against buying from resale sites, where listings currently start well above the official price.
• The official page doesn’t call this a family event or list an age limit, so if you’re bringing kids, it’s worth checking directly with the box office rather than assuming.

Book through the official Des Moines Symphony event page.

Iowa Wild New Year’s Eve Bash vs. Texas Stars

The Iowa Wild’s own 2026-27 promotional schedule labels this specific game a New Year’s Eve Bash, not just a regular game that happens to fall on December 31. That’s worth noting because last year’s version of this event, played December 31, 2025 at 5 PM, included post-game fireworks. The 2026 announcement doesn’t mention fireworks, and the start time has moved to 6 PM, so don’t assume this year’s game will match last year’s on either count.

Single-game ticket pricing for the December 31, 2026 matchup wasn’t listed in the official sources available at the time of writing. Check the official Iowa Wild schedule for the ticket link once it’s posted, rather than buying from a third-party reseller for a price that isn’t verified.

Des Moines New Year’s Eve Events by Experience

Best for live entertainment: The Symphony’s Cirque, Symphonic Cinema show is the clear pick if you want a seated, performance-driven night rather than a party atmosphere.

Best for sports fans: The Iowa Wild’s New Year’s Eve Bash turns puck drop into part of your countdown plans, with a full hockey game wrapping up well before midnight.

Family-friendly events: Neither confirmed 2026 event is officially marketed as a family event. Des Moines has historically had strong family NYE options, covered in the section below, but none are confirmed yet for this year.

Parties and nightlife: Nothing is confirmed for December 31, 2026 as of this writing. Downtown Des Moines has run bar crawls, hotel packages, and club nights in past years, and those typically get announced closer to the date. Check back in November or early December.

Popular Des Moines New Year’s Eve Events Awaiting Confirmation

These show up every year in Des Moines, but as of this writing, none of them have published a December 31, 2026 date, time, or price. Treat this as a watch list, not a booking list.

If you’re specifically hoping for a Noon Year’s Eve, family skating, or a downtown hotel party, your best move is checking the Science Center of Iowa, Catch Des Moines, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s event calendars again as November turns into December. That’s typically when these get their official dates.

Are There New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Des Moines?

No major public fireworks display has been confirmed for Des Moines on December 31, 2026 based on the sources checked. The Iowa Wild’s 2025 New Year’s Eve Bash had post-game fireworks, but that detail is not part of the 2026 announcement, so it shouldn’t be assumed to carry over. If a fireworks show gets confirmed closer to the date, it’ll likely be tied to one of the two confirmed events above or a downtown celebration that hasn’t been announced yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What New Year’s Eve events are confirmed in Des Moines?

Two: the Des Moines Symphony’s New Year’s Eve Pops, Cirque, Symphonic Cinema on December 31 at 8 PM, and the Iowa Wild’s New Year’s Eve Bash against the Texas Stars, with puck drop at 6 PM the same night.

How much are tickets to the Des Moines Symphony New Year’s Eve show?

Between $44 and $106.40, according to the Symphony’s official pricing. Buy directly through the Civic Center Ticket Office or Des Moines Performing Arts rather than a resale site, where prices run noticeably higher.

What time does the Iowa Wild New Year’s Eve game start?

Puck drop is at 6:00 PM at Casey’s Center. That’s an hour earlier than last year’s 5 PM start for the 2025 New Year’s Eve Bash, so don’t rely on last year’s schedule if you attended before.

Are there fireworks in Des Moines on New Year’s Eve?

Not confirmed for 2026 as of this writing. Last year’s Iowa Wild game had post-game fireworks, but the 2026 announcement doesn’t mention them, so treat that as unconfirmed rather than expected.

Are there family-friendly New Year’s Eve events in Des Moines?

Not confirmed yet for 2026. Des Moines usually runs several family options, including Noon Year’s Eve at the Science Center of Iowa and at the Des Moines Children’s Museum, plus family events at places like Backpocket Pin & Pixel in Johnston. None of these have posted 2026 dates as of this writing.

Where are New Year’s Eve events held in downtown Des Moines?

The confirmed Symphony show is at the Des Moines Civic Center downtown. Beyond that, downtown bar and hotel parties have run in past years but haven’t been announced for 2026 yet.

Is the Iowa Wild game a good pick for New Year’s Eve?

If you’d rather spend the evening at a hockey game than a party or a concert, yes. It’s specifically branded as a New Year’s Eve Bash rather than a standard game, and it comes with a diamond giveaway. Just don’t count on fireworks or an exact ticket price until the team confirms them.

What to Watch For as More 2026 Events Get Announced

Des Moines usually fills out its New Year’s Eve calendar as the date gets closer, especially the family events, downtown parties, and hotel packages that haven’t posted 2026 details yet. For now, the Symphony’s Cirque performance and the Iowa Wild’s New Year’s Eve Bash are the two events you can actually plan around, and they cover two very different nights out: a seated performance downtown, or a hockey game with puck drop well before midnight.