Downtown Pittsburgh will put on its holiday best to host the annual Highmark First Night, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The Cultural District will be ringing in the new year with a jam-packed lineup of performances, activities, fireworks and a midnight ball-raising. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the 32nd annual arts-focused event. Here are a few things to know before you go.
The logistics
The party will start at 6 p.m. and last until midnight when the Future of Pittsburgh Ball will be raised and 2026 will officially begin.
The main event is free and open to the public, though you’ll need to purchase tickets beforehand to attend several of the performances being staged throughout the Cultural District.
Transportation will likely be at the forefront of most people’s minds when considering First Night. While Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s buses, light rail and inclines are an option for some, many routes may stop running if you plan to stay for midnight. Check schedules at rideprt.org.
If you’re driving to the Cultural District, check parking options in real time at parkpgh.org. Parking is available Downtown and in nearby, walkable neighborhoods, such as the North Side, so be sure to check out all the options.
Pittsburgh weather can be unpredictable, but as of now, temperatures will be cold — below freezing late at night — so make sure everyone is appropriately bundled up for outdoor events.
So much to do
Activities abound for adults and kids alike at First Night.
At Highmark Fifth Avenue Place in the first-floor lobby, engage in all-ages activities at the Citizens Activity Zone. This is a great chance to stay warm and engage with local arts organizations, including the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media, Scouting America and more. There will be make-and-take crafts, face painting and balloons. The Activity Zone will be open from 7 to 10 p.m.
See live ice sculpting at the Seventh and Penn Parklet from 8 to 11 p.m. Richard Bubin, owner of IceCreations.com, will sculpt a 2,400-pound masterpiece of the Pittsburgh skyline in real time. Make sure to check in to watch the process, or come back when it’s done for some super-cool photos.
The Trust Family Book Giveaway at the Benedum Lot will provide free children’s books from 7 to 10 p.m., courtesy of the Trust Family Series and Trust Community Engagement. Also at the Benedum Lot will be a Steel City LUG LEGO build activity from 7 to 11 p.m.
New Year’s Eve is all about the future, so learn more about yours with a tarot card reading. Dr. Amber Epps, owner of Arts & Crafts: Botanica & Occult Shop in Wilkinsburg, and her good friends Elizabeth Kivowitz and Maggie Negrete will be on hand at Oasis on Seventh Street from 7 to 10 p.m.
Sparkling performances
Whether music, theater or comedy, First Night is a great time to stop and watch live entertainment. Here are a few of the many shows you can check out.
The winner of GBU Life’s annual Sing-Off Competition, which is for students in grades six to 12, will get the chance to sing in front of an excited audience at the Highmark Stage at Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street at 7 p.m.
At Black Benatar’s Community Lip Sync Spectacular, the hostess will provide a tutorial on lip sync performance and then audience members will get to sign up to move their lips along to their favorite songs. This performance-slash-activity will be held at the Trust Arts Education Center at 805 Liberty Ave. from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Dollar Bank Battle of the Bands — at First Night for the first time — will pit four bands against each other on the Highmark Stage from 10 to 11:59 p.m. Also hosted by Black Benatar, this show will include additional special guests.
Multi-genre artist Megan Paullet and the HR Department will bring their debut single and a set of other tunes to the Greer Cabaret Theater. Don’t miss this rising star of the region while you can still say you saw them back when. There will be two performances, one from 7 to 8 p.m. and one from 9 to 10.
Taking the Highmark Stage from 8:15 to 8:45 p.m. will be Lua’s Dance Club with Pittsburgh Samba Group and Timbeleza — two of Pittsburgh’s premier Brazilian performance groups. With great Brazilian music, stunning choreography and amazing costumes, this will be a performance to remember.
And for the kids, check out the Family Dance Party at the Highmark Stage from 7:15 to 7:59 p.m. with DJ Todd Griffin of Next Level Productions. This early dance party will bring the energy and hit songs that will call kids and adults alike to the dance floor.
For a full list of events and performances, check out firstnightpgh.trustarts.org/events.
Food and drink
Downtown Pittsburgh has a vibrant dining scene that offers a lot of options anytime, from food that’s easy to grab and eat on the go to fine dining experiences for the special occasion. Whether you’re in the mood for Italian, Chinese, New American, Mexican or any other cuisine, there’s a place for you. Make sure to check whether you can get a reservation because restaurants and bars will likely fill up quickly. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has a handy map and list to peruse.
If you want something even quicker, a variety of food trucks will be set up to provide bites and sips, including Bado’s Pizza Truck, R&G’s SmokeShack on Eighth Street from 6-11 p.m., and PGH Crepes, Brisketburgh and Hoshi on Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Ringing in the New Year
The Dollar Bank Children’s Fireworks & Kids NYE Countdown will let the little ones celebrate and still get to bed on time. Held at the Highmark Stage from 8 to 8:15 p.m., there will be a countdown followed by a dazzling explosion of fireworks.
At midnight, when the clock ticks over to 2026, there will be a countdown followed by the raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball at the Highmark Stage. The ball made its first First Night appearance in 2007. It weighs about 1,000 pounds and is made of sustainable materials. With a diameter of about six and a half feet, the ball takes about two minutes to rise 75 feet into the air.
There’s no better way to say goodbye to 2025 and look to the future than spending it with your fellow Pittsburghers and the many talented entertainers from around the region. Be safe, have fun and enjoy 2026!
