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December 31, 2026
Event date:
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January 1, 2027
Event end:
What to expect in 2026
Countdown NYE 2026–2027 is an electronic music New Year’s Eve festival at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California. The experience is built around a futuristic outer-space theme, with five major stages, immersive art, roaming performers, rides, themed areas and electronic music extending through midnight into New Year’s Day.
The festival is an 18+ event and offers General Admission, GA+ and VIP experiences. The official afterparty continues at the festival grounds from 2 AM to 6 AM.
Festival dates
Countdown NYE 2026–2027 takes place on December 31, 2026 – January 1, 2027.
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Festival hours: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Official afterparty: 2:00 AM – 6:00 AM
Guests can enter until one hour before the festival ends, provided their ticket has not already been scanned. Re-entry is not permitted.
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Venue & festival site
Countdown NYE 2026–2027 takes place at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California.
Venue: NOS Events Center
Address: 689 South E Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408
The festival transforms the venue into the futuristic Countdown Universe, with themed stages, interactive art, extraterrestrial performers, rides, photo opportunities and immersive installations. The official experience includes five major stages and additional themed areas such as the Red Light District and Galaxy Mall.
Full lineup
The Countdown NYE 2026 lineup has not yet been announced. The official lineup page currently asks visitors to sign up to be notified when the 2026 lineup is released.
For reference, the previous edition featured artists including Above & Beyond, John Summit, SLANDER, Madeon, Pryda, Sub Focus, Hedex, Kobosil, Kevin de Vries, Shlømo and Wuki.
The 2026 artist list should be confirmed through the official lineup announcement rather than inferred from the previous year’s performers.
Headliners
The 2026–2027 Countdown NYE headliners have not yet been announced.
Countdown’s previous edition featured major electronic acts across house, techno, trance, bass and drum & bass, with Above & Beyond, John Summit, Pryda, SLANDER and Madeon among the notable names.
The festival’s official website describes the audience itself as the headliner, reflecting the event’s emphasis on the overall immersive New Year’s Eve experience.
Accommodation areas
San Bernardino: The closest accommodation area to the NOS Events Center, with several hotels within the wider city.
Riverside: A convenient alternative with numerous hotels and restaurants east of the festival site.
Ontario: Useful for visitors arriving through Ontario International Airport and looking for hotels near major roads.
Rancho Cucamonga: Offers additional hotels, restaurants and shopping areas west of San Bernardino.
Loma Linda: A nearby option for visitors wanting accommodation south of the festival grounds.
Insomniac also works with hotels around the venue and publishes participating accommodation options through the official festival website.
Food & drink at the festival
Countdown offers food and beverage options throughout the festival grounds, along with full bar service for eligible guests. Free water refill stations are also provided.
Food: Festival food vendors provide a variety of meal and snack choices.
Dietary options: Gluten-free options are available, and guests with specific dietary requirements can contact the festival for assistance.
Drinks: Bars operate throughout the event, with alcohol restricted to guests aged 21 and over with valid identification.
Payment: Countdown is cashless. Credit and debit cards, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay and Android Pay are accepted.
Accessibility
Countdown is designed to provide accessible routes throughout the NOS Events Center, including accessible entrances, stages, viewing areas, vendors and activity areas. Wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes and crutches are permitted.
Accessibility Services Hub: Guests can obtain an accessibility wristband and request accommodations onsite.
Accessible viewing: Designated viewing areas are available at selected stages on a first-come, first-served basis.
Service animals: Properly trained and verified service animals are permitted; pets and emotional-support animals are not permitted.
Communication services: ASL interpretation and other effective communication accommodations can be requested in advance.
Medical assistance: First Aid locations are available throughout the festival site.
Best days to attend
Countdown NYE is centred on one New Year’s Eve celebration rather than separate festival days, so December 31 is the principal night for visitors attending the main festival.
For the main countdown: Stay through midnight for the New Year’s Eve celebration.
For late-night dancing: Add the official afterparty, which continues until 6 AM.
For the complete experience: Plan to arrive early enough to explore the stages, themed areas, rides and interactive installations before the midnight programme.
Stage-by-stage schedule
The 2026 stage-by-stage artist schedule has not yet been released.
The official Countdown experience currently identifies five principal stage environments:
The Mothership: One of the central Countdown stages, designed around the festival’s futuristic space theme.
Nebula: A dedicated electronic music environment within the Countdown Universe.
Area 51: A mysterious alien-themed stage and immersive environment.
Twilight Zone: A darker, atmospheric stage environment built around the festival’s science-fiction concept.
Galactik Gate: Another major stage combining music, lighting and extraterrestrial production.
The final artist assignments and running order will be published when the 2026 lineup and set times are released.
Set times
The individual 2026 set times have not yet been announced.
The official festival states that set times are normally released during the days leading up to the event through the Countdown website, social media channels and email updates. The festival guide and app can also provide timetable information.
Because artists perform simultaneously across multiple stages, visitors should check the final timetable before creating their personal schedule.
Ticket types
Countdown NYE 2026–2027 currently offers several ticket categories.
2-Day GA Experience Pass: $179.99 including listed ticket fees. Includes festival admission, water refill stations, food and beverage options and full bar access.
2-Day GA+ Experience Plus: $219.99 including listed ticket fees. Adds expedited entry and premium air-conditioned restroom access.
2-Day VIP Elevated Experience: $279.99 including listed ticket fees. Includes expedited entry, VIP viewing areas, exclusive food and beverage options, midnight champagne toast, beauty bar, barber shop, Wi-Fi and additional VIP amenities.
Afterparty: Separate afterparty passes are available for the 2 AM–6 AM celebration.
The festival uses all-in pricing, meaning the displayed ticket price includes ticket fees before applicable taxes and delivery charges.
Ticket release phases
Countdown uses limited ticket tiers, with earlier releases generally offering lower prices.
Presale: Limited presale inventory is released before later ticket tiers.
Tiered sales: Tickets move through limited allocations, so prices can change when earlier tiers sell out.
Current sales: GA, GA+ and VIP passes are currently listed through the official ticketing system.
The festival warns that tickets are expected to sell out and recommends purchasing only through Front Gate Tickets to avoid fraudulent or invalid tickets.
Festival rules
Age requirement: Countdown is an 18+ event. Guests under 18 cannot enter, even with a legal guardian.
VIP age: Guests must be 21 or older to access VIP areas and must present valid photo identification.
Re-entry: Ins-and-outs are not permitted after entering the festival.
Cashless policy: Credit cards, debit cards and supported mobile payment services are accepted.
Security: Guests and bags are subject to security screening.
Photography: Standard cameras with fixed, non-detachable lenses and small handheld video devices are permitted, while professional cameras are restricted.
Prohibited activities: Camping, sleeping in vehicles, illegal drug use, alcohol consumption in parking areas, ticket selling and other prohibited activities are not allowed.
How to get there
Countdown takes place at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, with access from Interstate 215 and the wider Southern California freeway network.
By car: Drivers from Los Angeles and Riverside can use Interstate 10 or Interstate 91 before connecting to I-215. Event signage and police directions should be followed on arrival.
By rideshare: Uber and Lyft drop-off and pickup services operate through designated areas. The official rideshare address is 499 W. Orange Show Road, San Bernardino, CA 92408.
By shuttle: Official festival shuttle services provide another option for travelling to and from the event.
By train: Metrolink is also recommended by the festival as an alternative to driving.
Public transport after the festival
Visitors staying until the end of the main festival should plan their return transportation in advance because the event continues late into the night.
Official shuttles: Countdown provides official shuttle transportation for festival guests.
Metrolink: The festival recommends Metrolink as an alternative transportation option for reducing traffic around the venue.
Rideshare: Uber and Lyft operate designated pickup arrangements, although the festival warns that demand can be very high and wait times and dynamic pricing may increase.
Taxi: Designated taxi and guest pickup areas operate throughout the event.
Visitors attending the afterparty should make separate arrangements for the 2 AM–6 AM period rather than assuming standard late-night public transport will be available.
Official tickets
Countdown NYE 2026–2027 tickets are sold through the festival’s official ticketing system. The organisers specifically advise visitors to purchase passes only through Front Gate Tickets and avoid scalpers or unofficial sellers.
Official website: https://countdownnye.com/
Contact: info@insomniac.com
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FAQ
What are the minimum age requirements to enter the festival site?
Attendees must be at least 18 years of age to gain entry into the festival grounds, and a valid government-issued photo ID is strictly required at the gates. Furthermore, any guests wishing to purchase alcohol or access restricted VIP areas must be at least 21 years old and present a physical physical ID card.
Are there any camping options available on-site at the venue property?
The festival does not offer camping facilities on the fairgrounds or surrounding parking lots, meaning all attendees must secure external lodging arrangements. Fans typically book local hotels, motels, or vacation rentals across the Inland Empire, San Bernardino, and surrounding regional corridors ahead of time.
What is the official policy regarding leaving and re-entering the event?
Once your ticket has been scanned and you have successfully entered the venue gates, zero re-entry or ins-and-outs are permitted for the remainder of that day. Attendees should make sure they bring all necessary permitted belongings, medications, and approved clothing layers with them through security upon initial entry.
Can I bring my own hydration pack or reusable water bottle inside?
Reusable water bottles and hydration packs are fully permitted inside the gates, provided they are completely empty when you reach the security check point. Once inside, you can take advantage of the numerous free, unlimited water refill stations positioned across the site to keep yourself hydrated all night long.
What types of bags are allowed through the venue security screening checkpoints?
Clear bags measuring no larger than twelve by six by twelve inches are permitted, alongside small non-clear clutch purses or fanny packs not exceeding six by nine inches. Large backpacks, non-clear multi-pocket rucksacks, and oversized luggage items are strictly prohibited to speed up the security screening process for everyone.
How do I handle emergency situations or locate lost personal items on-site?
If you or a friend require assistance, you can immediately notify any roaming Ground Control team member, security guard, or uniformed medical professional stationed nearby. For misplaced items like phones, wallets, or keys, you can visit the centralized festival lost and found booth located inside the main customer service hub.
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