The aliens are landing in San Bernardino again, and this time they’re staying two nights. Countdown NYE returns to the NOS Events Center on Thursday, December 31, 2026 and Friday, January 1, 2027, with Marshmello, DJ Snake, Alesso, Subtronics, Seven Lions, and more than 75 artists across five covered stages.
Insomniac’s New Year’s Eve festival spent last year in Los Angeles. For 2026 it heads back to its original home at the NOS Events Center and grows to two days, with 6 a.m. afterparties on the grounds. Set times and the festival map are still to come. Here is everything posted as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Thursday, December 31, 2026 and Friday, January 1, 2027. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. each night. |
| Where | NOS Events Center, 689 S E St, San Bernardino, CA 92408 |
| Headliners | Marshmello, DJ Snake, Alesso, Subtronics, Seven Lions, Oliver Heldens, James Hype, Tchami |
| Stages | Five covered stages |
| Ages | 18+ (21+ for alcohol and VIP) |
| Tickets | 2-Day GA listed at $179.99 all-in, with a $5 deposit option |
| Re-entry | No |
| Payment | Cashless |
| Parking | Free general parking |
| Official site | countdownnye.com |
Who’s playing
The official lineup is A to Z, with no day or stage splits yet. The five stages are The Mothership, Nebula, Area 51, Twilight Zone, and Galactik Gate. Sorted by sound:
Headliners
Marshmello, DJ Snake, Alesso, Subtronics, Seven Lions, Oliver Heldens, James Hype, and Tchami.
Bass
NGHTMRE, Space Laces, TroyBoi, LYNY B2B Peekaboo, Jessica Audiffred, DJ Diesel, Smoakland, Zingara, Deathpact, and S.Y.N (Svdden Death, yvm3, and NIMDA).
House
Matroda, Loud Luxury, R3HAB, ACRAZE, Joshwa, Walker & Royce, Wax Motif, Archie Hamilton, RØZ, and Ranger Trucco.
Techno and beyond
Rinzen and DØMINA bring the techno. TOKiMONSTA, Flosstradamus, Taiki Nulight, Crumb Pit, BUNT., Kloud, Gordo, Discovery Project, Mija B2B sim0ne, and HEYZ B2B Tynan round out the middle of the bill.
The rest of the bill
33 Below, AHEE, Arlo, AYCH, Blaise Bracic, borne, Brandon, Bushbaby, CHOZEN, DJ Guestlist, ECCHI.MP4, ESSE, Ghengar, GorillaT, GRAVEDGR, Green Matter, Hills, HOL!, Jaden Bojsen, Jev, Kelland, KHROME, Lavern, Lucky, MADVKTM, Noise Mafia, Skilah, and TOBEHONEST.
Know the song, find the stage
| If you know… | Go see |
|---|---|
| “Alone” or “Happier” (with Bastille) | Marshmello |
| “Turn Down for What” (with Lil Jon) or “Taki Taki” | DJ Snake |
| “Heroes (We Could Be)” (with Tove Lo) | Alesso |
| “Gecko” | Oliver Heldens |
| “Ferrari” (with Miggy Dela Rosa) | James Hype |
| “Body” (with Brando) | Loud Luxury |
| “Do It to It” (with Cherish) | ACRAZE |
Tickets
All passes are two-day passes, sold only through Front Gate Tickets, with a limit of four per person. Prices are all-in (fees included, before taxes and delivery). Each pass can also be started with a $5 deposit. As of September 28, 2026, the official ticket page listed:
- GA Experience Pass: $179.99. Includes free water refill stations, food and drink options, and full bar access (21+).
- GA+ Experience Plus: $219.99. Adds expedited, dedicated entry and air-conditioned restroom trailers.
- VIP Elevated Experience: $279.99. Adds VIP viewing areas and food and drink, a complimentary midnight champagne toast, a beauty bar, a barber shop, a kandi-making station, and Wi-Fi. VIP is 21+.
- Afterparties: Sold separately. They run 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on the festival grounds.
The page notes that Front Gate prices may differ as tiers sell out. If you buy VIP and turn out to be under 21, the FAQ says you can make an even exchange for GA, but there are no refunds.
Beyond the stages
Countdown leans hard into its alien-invasion theme, and the grounds have a few things worth knowing about before you arrive:
- Red Light District: An adults-only zone with alien dancers.
- Galaxy Mall: The shopping area.
- Rides: “Intergalactic invasion simulators,” plus photo ops.
- Roaming performers: Costumed characters all over the grounds. The site’s advice: do not feed them, unless it’s pizza.
Getting there
- Free parking: General parking is free in several lit, patrolled lots around the venue. From Los Angeles or Riverside, take the 10 or 91 East to the 215 North and use exit 43 (2nd St.) for the Purple, Blue, and Green lots. From the San Fernando Valley or Pasadena, take the 210 East to the 215 South, same exit.
- Premier parking: Coming soon, in the Pink Lot right outside the entrance, open 1:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Rideshare: Use 499 W. Orange Show Rd, San Bernardino, CA 92408 for drop-off and pickup, and wait in the rideshare pickup lounge. Expect long waits and surge pricing.
- Taxis and friends dropping you off: Use the Guest Drop-Off and Pickup area next to Big Lots, entering off S. E Street behind Target.
- Other options: The festival suggests carpooling, Metrolink, or its shuttle program.
- Rules: Street parking is not recommended, and the surrounding neighborhoods are tow-away zones. No tailgating, no sleeping in cars, and cars must leave the lots at the end of each night. RVs and vans are not allowed in Insomniac lots.
What to bring
- ID: A physical, valid government photo ID. No school, digital, consular, or expired IDs, and no photocopies. A foreign driver’s license needs a color copy of your passport and won’t get you a 21+ wristband.
- Bags: Clear bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, small clutches up to 6 x 9 inches, or a hydration pack (empty, no more than two main compartments plus one small one).
- An empty reusable water bottle. Refill stations are free.
- Glow and totems: LED costumes, glowsticks, hula hoops, and totems or decorated pool noodles are allowed.
- Warm layers. It’s an Inland Empire winter night, and you’ll be out until 2 a.m. or later.
What to leave at home
- Over-the-counter medication (prescriptions are OK with the physician’s prescription).
- Red light-up wands, batons, or lightsabers.
- Aerosols, gas masks, laser pointers, and air horns. VIP pass holders get complimentary noisemakers for midnight.
- Chairs, blankets, tents, and large umbrellas.
- Costumes that look like police, security, fire, medical, or staff uniforms.
- Outside food and drinks, glass, markers, stickers, professional cameras, drones, pets, and weapons.
The full list is on the Hours and Info page. Expect a TSA-style search at the gate.
Inside the gates
- No re-entry. You can enter until an hour before closing, but once you’re in, you’re in for the night.
- Cashless. Credit, debit, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay. Cash can be exchanged for a prepaid card on site.
- Lockers (about 8 by 12 by 18 inches) come with a universal phone charger and make a good meeting point for your group.
Accessibility
The festival says accessible routes connect entrances, stages, viewing areas, and vendors. Wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, walkers, and canes are welcome, and mobility devices can be charged at the Accessibility Services Hub (bring your own cords). Rentals are not provided. There is no pre-registration: use the accessible entrance, then stop at the hub for a free wristband for you and one companion. Accessible viewing areas at designated stages are first come, first served. Accessible parking is in the Pink Lot off Arrowhead Avenue, reached from I-215 exit 41. Trained service animals are allowed after verification on site; emotional support animals are not. Details and the contact form are on the accessibility page.
Still to come
Set times, the day-by-day and stage-by-stage lineup, the festival map, shuttle details, and premier parking sales have not been released. The festival’s hours page still carries last year’s date alongside the 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. hours, so watch for an update. The 824 Journal will update this guide as details arrive.
Sources
- Countdown NYE, official site
- Countdown NYE 2026 lineup
- Countdown NYE tickets (prices as listed September 28, 2026)
- Countdown on Front Gate Tickets (dates, stages, afterparties)
- Countdown NYE Experience (stages and activations)
- Countdown NYE Parking and Drop-Offs
- Countdown NYE Hours and Info
- Countdown NYE FAQ
- Countdown NYE Accessibility
- EDM Identity: Countdown NYE 2026 Lineup (September 19, 2026)
Featured photo: Scott Randall (SoCalNomad) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
