CNN Rings in 2026 as Andy Cohen Returns to Times Square With Anderson Cooper
As the countdown to 2026 begins, CNN is once again setting the stage for one of television’s most recognizable New Year’s Eve traditions, with Andy Cohen returning alongside Anderson Cooper to host the network’s live celebration from Times Square. For the ninth year in a row, the Emmy Award–winning duo is being trusted to guide viewers through a night that blends global spectacle, celebrity energy, and plenty of unscripted moments that have become their trademark.
This year’s broadcast is being framed as bigger and more ambitious than ever. Live coverage is being delivered not just from New York, but from more than a dozen cities across the world, giving the sense that the New Year is being welcomed hour by hour as it sweeps across continents. From Sydney and Tokyo to Paris, London, and Rio de Janeiro, CNN correspondents are being stationed on the ground, ensuring that the celebration feels truly global rather than centered on a single clock striking midnight.
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Andy Cohen’s presence continues to be a major part of the show’s appeal. Known for his quick wit and willingness to lean into the unpredictable, Cohen has helped turn the broadcast into something looser and more conversational than traditional New Year’s Eve specials. That dynamic was recently highlighted when Cohen and Cooper appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where they joked openly about their famously tipsy past broadcasts and even shared a shotski on air. Moments like that have only reinforced why audiences keep tuning in year after year.
The night itself is being packed with music, comedy, and surprise guest appearances. Performances are scheduled from major artists across genres, while comedians, actors, and cultural figures are expected to drop in throughout the evening. As usual, the balance is being carefully maintained between polished performances and the spontaneous banter that fans have come to expect from Cohen and Cooper as midnight approaches.
Another notable shift this year is how the show is being delivered. For the first time, CNN’s New Year’s Eve programming is being streamed exclusively on its new subscription platform, while still remaining accessible to traditional pay TV viewers. That move is being seen as a clear signal of how the network is adapting its most iconic live events for a changing media landscape.
By the time the ball drops in Times Square and Andy Cohen raises a glass alongside Anderson Cooper, the broadcast is expected to feel less like a formal TV special and more like a shared, slightly chaotic celebration. And for many viewers, that familiar mix of humor, honesty, and global connection is exactly what makes ringing in the New Year with Andy Cohen feel like a tradition worth keeping.
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