Here’s how to ring in the new year in Manitoba

Manitoba

Dance parties, brunches and community gatherings help start the new year off right. Here are a few suggestions.

Events are being held across the province to welcome 2026

Jura McIlraith · CBC News · Posted: Dec 30, 2025 1:49 PM EST | Last Updated: December 30

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Catch the countdown at one of the New Year’s Eve celebrations across the province. (CBC)

Dance parties, brunches and community gatherings help start the new year off right. Here are a few suggestions.

New Year’s Eve

• New Year’s Eve at The Leaf starts at 7 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m. The adults-only event stars Alyssa Crockett and Nathaniel Muir as musical guests for the evening at the Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar. Reservations can be made online.
• Assiniboia Downs’ New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance is sold out this year. The party includes an evening hosted by Kathy Kennedy with dinner, door prizes and music.
• The Winter Wonderland New Year’s Eve Party takes over a new venue this year at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The adult-only party runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with food and music throughout the evening.

• A Bhangra Night at the Punjab Cultural Centre will ring in the New Year with a live DJ and dancing. The 18+ event starts at 10 p.m. and ends early into 2026 at 2 a.m. Tickets are $25 online.
• A Bollywood DJ Night kicks off 2026 at the Clay Oven Downtown. A confetti shower at midnight will officially start the new year.

• The Wicked Bazaar is hosting a Dark Solstice Masquerade at Hargrave Street Market from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. A selection of vendors will be on site as well as a live orchestra and feast. VIP tickets are $125 with general admission at $60.
• Zoo Lights offers a family-friendly way to celebrate the New Year at Assininboine Park Zoo. Multiple countdowns happen throughout the night. Light displays are open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• The Children’s Museum is hosting Top Hats and Tiaras from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The museum is also running Eaton’s Fairytale Vignettes from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Two firework shows are ringing in the new year at Asessippi with one at 9:15 p.m. and the other at midnight. The annual Midnight Run will follow the second firework display.

• A free celebration is taking place at Giroux Park from noon to 4 p.m. featuring hayrides, hot chocolate and winter games such as skating.

New Year’s Day

• Zoo Lights programming continues on New Year’s Day, beginning at 5 p.m. and running until 10 p.m. The Wrigely Brothers, 21-year-old identical Cree twins, will bring traditional fiddling and singing to the day.
• Gather at The Leaf is hosting a brunch to bring in 2026 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu includes fried chicken and waffles, and smoked Arctic char Benedict.
• The Forks is welcoming the new year with a full schedule of events running from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The day includes a drag brunch, face painting, skating lessons and a raw oyster bar.
• The Park Theatre is hosting the WackyDoodle Dance Party for Kids starting at 1:30 p.m. Music is set to kid-safe volumes with live DJs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jura McIlraith is a CBC Manitoba reporter based in Steinbach. She started her journalism career covering stories in the southeast for The Carillon. Since then, she has worked for multiple print publications including the Winnipeg Free Press and in radio for 680 CJOB. You can reach her at [email protected].

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