As 2026 draws to a close, it’s time to start planning and preparing to celebrate the new year. Whether you choose a quiet evening at home with the family or host a grand New Year’s party, there are many ways to make the evening memorable. Here we’ve gathered tips on luxurious food and fun activities that will take your New Year’s celebration to the next level!
3 tips for a successful New Year’s party
To make your New Year’s celebration a success and impress your guests, you need more than just good food and pleasant company. So start planning well in advance and be sure to have a plan for the whole evening. Here are 3 tips that will make your New Year’s party an evening to remember!
Tip 1. Host a themed New Year’s party
Themed parties make everything a little more fun! Invite guests to a party with a Great Gatsby theme or a red carpet theme, where they can dress up in glamorous 1920s outfits or gala looks. A clear theme makes the party both more fun and more memorable.
Tip 2. Create a festive New Year’s table setting
The New Year’s dinner, where you sit down together around the table, is one of the highlights of New Year’s celebrations. So plan not only the food, but also a table setting with a New Year’s theme. Decorate with candles and sparkling details such as silver cutlery and napkin rings for a festive touch. Want more inspiration on how to set the table for New Year’s? See tips for an elegant New Year’s table setting here.
Tip 3. Prepare activities and games
Once dinner is over, a few games and activities can lift the mood and help pass the time until midnight. If you already have a lot to do before the New Year’s celebration, you can hand over responsibility to one or a few of the guests to prepare some fun games that keep the party atmosphere at its peak.
Luxurious 3-course New Year’s menu
In addition to setting off fireworks and toasting at midnight, a delicious three-course dinner is the perfect way to ring in the new year. Whether you’re planning a classic, Asian, or perhaps vegetarian New Year’s menu, a luxurious multi-course dinner can become the highlight of New Year’s Eve. Here are some suggestions for dishes for a three-course New Year’s Eve menu.
Starter for New Year’s Eve: Luxurious roe toast
A classic toast Skagen is an excellent starter for New Year’s that most people enjoy, but how about serving a Skagen toast with a luxurious twist this year? Fry a good piece of bread and serve with red onion, smetana, lemon, and fresh roe for a luxurious roe toast. Missing the shrimp? Add a spoonful of Skagen mix and top with roe for a starter that is both classic and luxurious.
Main course for New Year’s: Beef tenderloin, shellfish or fish
The main course on the New Year’s menu should reflect the luxury of the entire evening. A sure winner is beef tenderloin with roasted vegetables or a flavorful lobster. If you don’t prefer red meat, a hot fish dish is also a great choice. Go for a dish with cod, which is lighter than meat, along with, for example, a white wine sauce and asparagus. This is at least as delicious and also a more budget-friendly option.
Dessert in a glass for New Year’s: Easy cheesecake or chocolate mousse
When you’ve already cooked two dishes in the kitchen, an easier dessert served in glasses is a practical option. Try a creamy chocolate mousse served with fresh berries, or whisk together a cheesecake mixture layered with berries and crushed biscuits for a luxurious and delicious cheesecake in a glass without having to bake! A perfect dessert that both looks festive and is easy to prepare.
What can you do on New Year’s?
In addition to gathering around a nice dinner and toasting the new year under fireworks, the New Year’s party is the perfect occasion for energetic games and mood-boosting activities. Here we’ve gathered our best New Year’s games that are guaranteed to get the party started!
Tips for fun New Year’s games
1. Champagne pong - a luxurious version of beer pong
If you’ve played the classic drinking game beer pong, you know what a great party booster it can be. As a New Year’s party version, you simply swap the beer glasses for elegant champagne coupes and play the same way as classic beer pong. Fill the glasses with sparkling wine or any drink of your choice and the party will be underway in no time!
2. Write New Year’s resolutions for your future self
Get out the paper and pens, it’s time to write down your New Year’s resolutions for the coming year! In this activity, each guest writes their resolutions on a note, which is then placed in a sealed box that won’t be opened until next New Year’s. This becomes a fun activity both at this year’s party and at next year’s New Year’s celebration, where all guests get their notes back and see whether they managed to keep their promises or not.
3. Secret challenges
Hand out notes to guests when they arrive at the party with a challenge they should complete during the evening. A challenge can be anything from proposing a toast to taking a photo with the person sitting next to them at the table. In this game, you as the host can let your imagination run free and choose challenges that suit your group.
4. New Year’s charades with events from the year
Charades are a fun New Year’s game for both adults and children as you use charades to go through things that happened during the year. It can be anything from world news to things that happened to you personally. So let each person write one or a few notes, collect them in a jar, and let the charades begin. A perfect game for the New Year’s party that is guaranteed to lead to laughter!
How to make New Year’s successful with children
What can you do on New Year’s with children? Tips for New Year’s activities
New Year’s Eve is not just a party for adults; let the children join in and celebrate the new year too. Fireworks can be loud and frightening. An alternative is to light sparklers outdoors, where the children can watch them sparkle and crackle in the dark. Sky lanterns are also a suitable alternative to fireworks. Gather the family and send up sky lanterns. This becomes a small project where the older children can help hold the balloon and watch it rise and float away.
Easy and festive New Year’s menu for children
New Year’s Eve is a special evening, and of course the children should also have something extra tasty and festive to eat to celebrate the new year. Since children often have different preferences than adults, a tailored children’s menu can make the evening even more fun for them. Here we suggest some easy dishes that are guaranteed to be a hit with the younger guests on New Year’s Eve!
Starter for children: Vegetable sticks with dip
Start the evening with a festive snack for the little ones. Vegetable sticks with dip are both healthy and look fun on the plate. Cut up carrots, cucumber, peppers, or other vegetables the children like and serve with a dip made from crème fraîche and a ready-made dip mix, or season with any spices and herbs you like. A perfect starter for the children on New Year’s!
Main course for children: Mini pizzas
Mini pizzas are a safe bet as the main course on New Year’s Eve. Shape the pizza dough into small pizzas, either with ready-made dough or homemade dough. Here you’ll find a recipe for how to make your own pizza dough. Top with tomato sauce, grated cheese, and let the children choose the rest of the toppings themselves. An easy but festive main course for the children.
Dessert for children: Ice cream buffet
End the New Year’s dinner with a dessert the children will be excited about - an ice cream buffet! Choose several different ice cream flavors and fill the table with colorful sprinkles, crispy meringues, and sauces like chocolate and caramel. Then let the children build their own dessert plate with their favorite ice cream and toppings. For an extra New Year’s feel, stick a sparkler into the ice cream cup so the children get a sparkling surprise that lifts the mood!
With a menu like this, New Year’s Eve will be a joyful and memorable evening even for the younger guests.