Dear Reader,

As an introvert, I’ve been successful in avoiding New Year’s Eve shenanigans. I tend to run away from huge social events (although, actually, when I do go I mostly have a fabulous time). So while I’m playing Scrabble with the children and possibly being fast asleep by midnight, I will toast you all and hope you’re dressed to the nines, drinking exotic cocktails, dancing your socks off and exuding general bonhomie. And when I wake bright and early for a traditional New Year’s swim, I will not be envious of your hangovers. Smug? Well, maybe just a bit. Happy New Year!

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

Staying In

Host A Dinner Party

Often, the New Year’s Eve nights you remember most are the ones spent sitting round the dinner table with your nearest and dearest. Naturally, a slap-up meal gives the evening a suitably special feel (and we have plenty of recipe ideas here) – but what else can you do to give your dinner party that extra dazzle? Hosting extraordinaire Alexandra Dudley suggests choosing your dishes wisely – things you can prep in advance are always optimal. ‘I’d steer clear of anything that feels new or daunting,’ Alexandra says. ‘If you’re cooking for over 10, things like risotto can be a bit tricky unless you have a huge pan.’ She thinks six to eight people is the magic number as it allows for more intimate conversation. If you’ve already invited more than that we’re not encouraging you to start making cuts – but whatever you do don’t make a seating plan, says chef Paul Ainsworth. ‘At our dinner parties we like to keep things informal and always encourage our guests to sit next to whoever they want to.’ He also recommends curating a great playlist to suit the occasion in advance, and serving guests a cocktail upon arrival (we’ve got a suitably sparkly idea below).

Order A Meal Kit

Alternatively, if you’re planning a low-key evening with your other half, save yourselves the hassle of cooking and allow the professionals to do the hard work for you. The DIY meal kits hype may have died down since the lockdown days but there are still a few goodies out there. How about a luxury seafood feast from Wright Bros? A French-inspired dinner from Cote Brasserie featuring côte de boeuf, dauphinois potatoes and chocolate financier – topped off with a bottle of fizz? If sushi is more your vibe Cookaway is offering a Japanese izakaya spread, or there’s always trusty COOK, known for its high-quality frozen dishes. You could also go the whole hog by booking your own personal chef – Yhangry has a roster of over 1,000 names, with last-minute bookings available.

Tune In To The NYE Countdown

So the food and drink is all prepped, now there’s just one decision left to make: what TV channel will it be? On BBC One, after a special NYE episode of Graham Norton (featuring Tom Hiddleston, Laura Dern, Will Arnett, Owen Cooper, Carey Mulligan and Tim Key), Ronan Keating will be ringing in 2026 with the help of some very special guests, with a brief interruption of London’s world-famous fireworks display at midnight. But our eyes will be glued to BBC Two, where Jools Holland’s annual Hootenanny kicks off at 11.30pm, featuring special guests Ronnie Wood, Olivia Dean, Lulu, Jessie J, Craig David, Heather Small, The Kooks, Imelda May, Joe Webb, David Hermlin and Ruby Turner.

Going Out

Party The Night Away

Those keen for a big night out are spoilt for choice here in London, with parties popping up in restaurants, hotels and rooftop bars across the city. For star factor, head to Notting Hill’s revamped boho institution Julie’s, where everyone from Kate Moss to Mick Jagger has partied over the years – the NYE menu includes caviar, lobster and beef wellington, with DJs into the early hours. James Knappett’s two-Michelin-starred Kitchen Table, meanwhile, is bringing back its beloved champagne and hot dog concept Bubbledogs back for one night only (available for early evening books), or there’s a decadent tasting menu on offer from 8.30pm. Or – if you really have cash to splash – splurge on a ticket to The Savoy’s annual gala, which has a Roaring Twenties theme for 2025. Think champagne towers and sequins galore, with a lavish six-course meal, live entertainment and music. Find plenty more ideas here.

Watch The Fireworks

In London sans party invite? All is not lost: one of the world’s very best annual firework displays is about to grace central London, and even without an official ticket you can clinch a great view of the sky-high show – and we’ve got the insider knowledge. If you are willing to wait around in the cold and don’t mind a crowd, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Southwark Bridge are some of the best places in the city to see the display, which centres on the London Eye (to see more, shuffle closer to the north side of the river). Alternatively head up high: Alexandra Palace, Parliament Hill and more of London’s natural high points have stellar views of displays going on across the city. If you’d prefer to be somewhere warmer, see if you can clinch a last minute ticket at one of these parties.

Dress Up

With NYE plans sorted, there’s only one thing left to ask: what will you be wearing? Now’s the time to pull on those streams of sequins, flirty frills or even that little black dress you’ve kept quietly tucked away in the cupboard. After all, New Year’s Eve is when you can go all-out – and so steer away from the usual ‘jeans and a nice top’ and get your hands on a party dress. Whether you’re thinking of investing in something new (our top picks this year come from Rebecca Vallance, Mithridate and Nadine Merabi), borrowing just for the night (hit up HURR, By Rotation and My Wardrobe HQ) or shopping secondhand (HEWI and Sellier are packed with options for festive dressing), make sure to stop by our edit of the best part dresses for the season.

Three of the Best…

New Year’s Resolutions

Here’s what the C&TH editors will be striving for in 2026

‘This year, I'm determined to wean myself off having to listen to something when I go to bed (usually, politics too – honestly). It means I have my phone with me and I find myself reading news articles instead of nourishing novels. I'm also sure that having earplugs in my ears a lot of the time is doing me untold damage. So, I'm going to have to get used to going to bed with my own thoughts floating around – how frightening. Wish me luck!’

Lucy Cleland, Editorial Director

‘Every year I promise myself I’ll put down my phone and pick up my books more – and in recent years it has really stuck. When I’m engrossed in what I’m reading, that is. I won’t name names, but I recently spent weeks struggling through a novel I was finding dreary, urged on only by the knowledge that other people think it’s good. Less of this in 2026: I pledge to be guided by my own tastes, not other people’s. And with the assistance of a recent Bibliotherapy session (yes, you read that right), I am tentatively back on track. First on my list is The Original by Nell Stevens.’

Olivia Emily, Digital Culture Editor

‘I'm putting aside health-facing resolutions this year. No more half-marathon training, no more dry January... My resolution for 2026 is to go out partying each month. The aim is to discover new clubs and bars with cool atmospheres and great drinks – and I'm challenging myself by including nothing too cheesy (sorry, The Swan). On my list to try include Carpet Shop, Jumbi, M.O.T., Deptford Northern Soul Club, and Dalston Superstore. Why? I'm turning 28 in the coming year and have realised that the pandemic stole my early party years in London where my tastes in clubs would have evolved; now is the next best time.’

Tessa Dunthorne, Features Writer and Food & Drinks Editor

Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Year

From Ellen De Generes’s sprawling Cotswolds estate to King William IV’s Mayfair mansion, choosing our property of the year has been no mean feat. Knocking aside Kate Moss’s party pad and Mick Jagger’s London townhouse, the top spot goes to the indomitable Thorne Island – a Napoleonic fort located off the Welsh coast on its very own private island. Transformed from a decaying military fortress into the ultimate party pad by entrepreneur Mike Conner, he told us what it takes to protect his home from the fury of seas, storms and flying shrimp. Read more here.

Competition Time

Last Chance To Enter

Win a £2.9m Cornwall dream home with Raffle House

Win a five-night stay at Amilla Maldives

Win a private dining experience at Fazenda Bishopsgate worth over £1,000

Psssst…

Are you a 2026 bride (or know someone who is)? If you’ve yet to secure the dress, then why not tune into one of the year’s biggest bridal trends: Rococo. Think full skirts, oversized bows and enough drama to impress Marie Antoinette herself. Here’s how the trend is taking shape in the bridal salon.

The Full Story

What To Wear To A New Year’s Eve Party

Stylist Nicole Smallwood shares her top tips (and tricks) for NYE party dressing

The most wonderful time of the year doesn’t end with Christmas (or Boxing Day). If anything, the big extravaganza comes a week later, on 31 December. New Year’s Eve has a special place on the festive calendar – some would say it’s where the party really starts – and in your wardrobe.

‘The thing that excites me about New Year’s Eve is getting those special pieces out of your wardrobe,’ says Nicole Smallwood, stylist and Fashion Director at Country & Town House. ‘You know, the ones you don’t really know how to wear or don’t have an occasion to wear them to. For many, New Year’s Eve is the dressiest occasion of the year.’

So what should you wear? It might feel a little frustrating, but the answer is: it depends. ‘Is it a house party? Is it a pub? Are you going clubbing? Have you got a special dinner to go to? The dress code changes depending on where you’re going,’ says Nicole. ‘There isn’t really a strict rule on what to wear – everybody’s New Year’s Eve is different.’

A Stylist’s Top Tips

Borrow & Lend

‘New Year’s Eve is the time to beg, borrow and steal,’ says Nicole. ‘Say it’s a dress that you wore last New Year’s Eve, and say you’re going out with the same group of friends this year – you don’t want to wear the same thing again, so maybe it’s time to see what your girlfriends are wearing. See whether you could do a swap just for that evening.’

Invest In Longevity

Items that feel ‘special’ are one thing, but when they have wearability beyond one night they become even better. ‘You should really think about the purchases you’re making,’ advises Nicole. ‘Think about the items that you’re buying. Ask yourself: when are you going to wear them again? How are you going to wear them again?

‘It’s so easy to get sidetracked by all the glitter and sequins, but it’s important to avoid buying those pieces that you’re only going to wear once.’

Find An Adaptable Hero Piece

With this in mind, Nicole suggests finding that one hero piece you can imagine wearing again and again. ‘I’m such an advocate for mixing your whole wardrobe together,’ she says. ‘One of my best pieces is a black blazer that I wear with everything. I wear it to a business meeting in the day, and over a sequin dress at night. It’s one of those key pieces, especially for New Year’s Eve dressing, that is going to elevate your style – but also give plenty of mix and match options for the coming year.’

Don’t Be Swayed By Sequins

Does the thought of sparkles make you itch? You’re not alone. ‘If you’re not a sequin girl, then don’t feel pressured into having to wear something sparkly,’ emphasises Nicole. ‘Sticking to the classics – a really good blazer, a pair of great leather trousers or that little black dress you’ve had in the cupboard for years – can make just as big an impact.’

…Or Trends

And finally: ‘Stay true to yourself. Don’t feel like you have to follow the crowd or follow trends. Just go with what resonates with your personal style, and what you feel good in. You don’t want to let the clothes wear you.’

 Find more inspiration here.