Mariah Carey, Chappell Roan, Post Malone Among ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ Performers

For its 54th edition, "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest" is set to break its own record by assembling its largest lineup ever to welcome 2026. The special, a staple since 1972, has evolved from a simple Times Square countdown into a coast-to-coast musical marathon. This year's expansive roster bridges generations, uniting iconic performers like Mariah Carey and 50 Cent with current chart-toppers such as Post Malone and Chappell Roan. The full list includes K-pop's EJAE of Demon Hunters, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, Maren Morris, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, BigXthaPlug, Leon Thomas, Jess Glynne, Chance the Rapper, New Kids on the Block, and OneRepublic.

The production, helmed by Dick Clark Productions—a company founded by the original host and now a property of Penske Media Eldridge—will employ a multi-city format to maximize reach. A significant innovation is a live Central Time Zone countdown hosted by Chance the Rapper from Chicago, marking a first for the broadcast. Ryan Seacrest, who has served as executive producer and host since taking over from Dick Clark in 2006, will once again anchor the main festivities from New York's Times Square alongside Rita Ora. The night will also feature DJ Cassidy’s "Pass the Mic Live!" segment with hip-hop legends Busta Rhymes, T.I., and Wyclef Jean, while correspondents Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough report from the field.

In a bid to dominate the holiday airwaves, this year's telecast will be the longest in the show's history, adding 90 minutes for a total run time stretching to 4 a.m. ET on New Year's Day. The broadcast begins on ABC at 8 p.m. ET on December 31, with live feeds from New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Puerto Rico. For the third consecutive year, iHeartMedia will simulcast the event across 150 radio stations, with a streaming encore available on Hulu starting January 1. This aggressive multi-platform strategy is a direct response to shifting viewer habits, designed to capture audiences whether they are at home, on the road, or streaming on-demand.

The curation of such a diverse lineup is a strategic effort to serve a wide demographic. It pairs legacy acts with modern stars, from Mariah Carey—whose perennial hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has topped the Billboard Hot 100 multiple times in the 2020s—to genre-defying artists like Post Malone. This approach reflects the show's goal of being a unifying cultural event. As media historian Dr. Elena Torres notes, "The expansion into Chicago and the extended runtime are not merely logistical feats; they represent a deliberate evolution to maintain the broadcast's central role in the national New Year's ritual, ensuring its relevance against digital competition." The inclusion of an unannounced headliner for the pre-midnight slot in Times Square is poised to generate additional last-minute buzz.