NEW Year’s Eve revellers have braved freezing temperatures to ring in 2026 in style in pubs and bars across the UK.
Party-goers heading out to usher in 2026 have been warned to layer up on a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve.
While Britain is kicking off the New Year celebrations in sub-zero temperatures, it hasn’t stopped partygoers flooding city centres in their droves.
In London, tens of thousands are lining the Thames for the capital’s iconic fireworks display.
In a new year surprise, snow could now be on the cards for the first days of 2026, according to the Met Office.
Temperatures have already plunged to a bone-chilling -8C, with forecasters warning the cold spell will last at least into next week.
A yellow warning for snow and ice has been put in place from 12am on Friday, January 2, covering parts of the southeast, London, the West Midlands and much of Wales.
More than 100,000 were wowed by last year’s dazzling display in the capital, raising expectations for another spectacular welcome for 2026.
However, Primrose Hill has been closed this New Year’s Eve over safety concerns.
Last year an estimated 30,000 people gathered at the popular vantage point in Camden – which has brilliant panoramic views of the city – to see in the New Year.
Elsewhere across the south of England, freezing conditions are biting hard.
Temperatures have dipped as low as -2C on the south coast with places such as Southampton shivering below zero alongside Bournemouth and Brighton.
While temperatures are teetering around freezing in the south-west with 2-3C recorded in Bristol.
In Wales, Cardiff and Swansea are hovering between 3-5C as celebrations get underway around the capital’s City Hall.
In the Midlands and the North, celebrations continue despite the cold with Birmingham recording a chilly 3C.
While cities such as Manchester, York and Newcastle are seeing slightly milder temperatures of around 5-6C with packed bars, pubs and outdoor events.
Up in Scotland, Hogmanay celebrations are underway in classic fashion.
In Edinburgh, revellers are battling gusty winds of 25-30mph with the risk of showers and even the possibility of hail.
Temperatures in the city and Glasgow are hovering around 5-6C.
Northern Scotland is facing wetter and windier conditions tonight with colder weather biting as the year turns.
And those headed for Belfast’s Titanic Quarter for the firework display are facing temperatures of around 4C.
Despite the icy blast, boozy Brits have refused to let the weather dampen their sprits, with city centres packed and partygoers wrapped up against the cold.
Big crowds are expected for firework displays in St Peter’s Square in Manchester, Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh and Newcastle’s Quayside.
Other great fireworks displays can be found on Brighton Beach, York’s Castle Howard, Northern Meeting Park in Inverness, and Birmingham’s Centenary Square.
While London’s Thames-side display promises to be one of the UK’s most spectacular.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
A dry New Year’s Eve for much of England and Wales with sunny spells. Cloudier elsewhere with some scattered showers. A cold day, with winds increasing later in the north. Showers turning wintry over higher ground of Scotland later.
Tonight:
Windy with rain followed by wintry showers across Scotland. Drier elsewhere with clear spells, especially in the south. Frost and patchy mist or fog under clearer skies. Feeling cold.
Thursday:
New Years Day will be chilly and windy, especially in the north and east. Wintry showers across northern Scotland and extending down western coasts. Dry elsewhere with sunny spells.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Remaining cold with overnight frosts. Mainly dry with some sunny spells, but wintry showers likely too, especially in the north and at times extending down western and eastern coasts.
Official viewing areas are ticketed, but people will line nearby bridges, streets, bars or boats to get a glimpse of the glittering skyline.
As Big Ben strikes midnight, live coverage of London’s fireworks display will be broadcast live on TV with millions expected to tune in.
Coverage will briefly interrupt Ronan Keating and Friends before midnight, with the display shown through until around 12.15am.
As revellers wake up nursing sore heads tomorrow, New Year’s Day is set to remain icy and snow could now be on the cards for the first days of 2026, according to the Met Office.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is now in place from 12am on Friday, January 2, covering parts of the southeast, London, the West Midlands and much of Wales.
At least 79 places are under snow warnings in the coming days and there are warnings in Northern Ireland and the north of Scotland on January 2.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber cold health alert covering the North East and North West of England, warning of a potential rise in deaths.
The alert remains in place until January 5.
Health experts say the prolonged cold snap could put pressure on health and care services, with older people and those with existing conditions most at risk.
