CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen began at 8 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, on CNN, and the Anderson-and-Andy portion ran through 12:30 a.m. Eastern on January 1, 2026.
This is an archived guide to the broadcast that closed out 2025 and welcomed 2026. It should not be confused with CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast on December 31, 2026, which will welcome 2027.
When did CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live start?
The Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen special started at 8 p.m. ET on December 31, 2025. CNN’s official announcement listed the main block through 12:30 a.m. ET on January 1, 2026. CNN’s schedule announcement is the authoritative source for the original start time and lineup.
| Time zone | Start time |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 8 p.m. |
| Central | 7 p.m. |
| Mountain | 6 p.m. |
| Pacific | 5 p.m. |
| Alaska | 4 p.m. |
| Hawaii | 3 p.m. |
The Eastern time is CNN’s published listing; the other times are conversions for U.S. viewers.
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Which New Year’s Eve broadcast does this refer to?
The wording can be confusing. CNN’s broadcast aired on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and counted down to Thursday, January 1, 2026. In other words, references to CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live welcoming 2026 describe the 2025 broadcast.
A broadcast on December 31, 2026 would be a different edition, welcoming 2027. As of August 10, 2026, no official announcement confirming the hosts, start time, performers or streaming arrangement for that future edition had been located. CNN’s most recent major Anderson Cooper-and-Andy Cohen announcement found in the available research was for Independence Eve Live with Anderson & Andy: Celebrating 250, a separate special that aired July 3, 2026. That announcement was for the Fourth of July special, not New Year’s Eve.
How long did the Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen special run?
The featured Anderson-and-Andy block ran from 8 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. ET. At 12:30 a.m. ET, CNN handed coverage to Sara Sidner and Cari Champion in Austin, Texas, for the Central Time Zone countdown.
That means 12:30 a.m. was the scheduled handoff from the New York portion, not necessarily the end of every New Year’s program on CNN. The post-event coverage from TheWrap also identifies 8 p.m.–12:30 a.m. ET as the featured event window.
Did CNN’s New Year’s coverage begin earlier?
Yes. CNN said its broader New Year’s Eve coverage began at 7 a.m. ET, with reports and performances from cities around the world. The international coverage included an afternoon handoff from London and Paris at approximately 2:45 p.m. ET.
That 7 a.m. start referred to CNN’s full-day holiday coverage. It was not the start time for the Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen primetime special.
Where could viewers watch it on television?
The main broadcast aired on CNN. Viewers with cable, satellite or another participating pay-TV package that included CNN could watch it through their television provider.
The same provider subscription could also be used to authenticate in the CNN app or on CNN.com, provided that:
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- The package included CNN.
- The provider supported CNN authentication.
- The viewer used the correct provider credentials rather than a CNN Basic account.
CNN’s current instructions say to use the following paths:
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- CNN mobile app: Open Settings, select Connect TV Provider, choose the provider and enter the provider credentials.
- CNN.com: Select Watch in the upper-right corner, choose Connect now, select the provider and sign in.
- TV app: Use the provider-verification option or scan the activation QR code, depending on the device.
Not every provider supports CNN’s login system, and having an internet subscription alone does not provide access if the associated package does not carry CNN. CNN’s provider-authentication help page lists the current sign-in guidance and limitations.
How could viewers stream CNN without cable?
1. CNN All Access
For the December 31, 2025 broadcast, CNN announced CNN All Access as its official direct-to-consumer streaming route. The service was available through CNN.com/AllAccess, the CNN mobile app and supported connected-TV apps.
At launch, CNN All Access cost $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. CNN also advertised a temporary $41.99 first-year introductory offer for viewers who subscribed by January 5, 2026; that deadline has passed.
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CNN’s current help page lists All Access at $6.99 per month or $69.99 for the first year, but subscription prices, promotions and device support can change. Check the current CNN subscription information before paying.
At the time of the 2025 launch, CNN described All Access as including:
- Live CNN programming and selected international programming.
- Exclusive live events.
- CNN Originals and CNN Films.
- On-demand video and catch-up content.
- CNN.com and CNN app articles.
The CNN All Access launch announcement provides the original description of the service.
2. A live-TV streaming service that carries CNN
Contemporary coverage also listed live-TV streaming services such as DIRECTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling as possible ways to receive CNN without a traditional cable subscription.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThese services generally cost more than a single-network subscription because they bundle multiple live channels. Their prices, package names, channel lineups, free trials and eligibility rules are promotional and can change by date, market and account history. Do not assume that a trial advertised for a current signup was available on December 31, 2025, or that every account qualifies for one.
3. An existing pay-TV login
A viewer who already paid for CNN through a participating cable, satellite or live-TV provider did not need to purchase a separate CNN All Access plan to authenticate online. This was different from watching a genuinely unrestricted free stream: the access came with the existing provider subscription.
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- Access thousands of shows with Fire TV - Watch over 1.5 million streaming movies and TV episodes with access to thousands of channels, apps and Alexa skills, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, Apple TV+, Disney+, ESPN+, Sling TV, Paramount+, and other services right from this TV.*
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- Supports HDMI ARC - Sends audio directly from the HDMI jack to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, removing the need for an extra cable.
Was the broadcast available free online?
There was no confirmed permanently free, open CNN.com stream for this edition. The practical meanings of free were more limited:
- Free with an existing pay-TV subscription: Use a qualifying provider login.
- Free during a third-party trial: Only if the service offered a trial to that particular viewer at the time and in that market.
- Discounted CNN subscription: The $41.99 first-year All Access promotion was a paid, time-limited offer, not a free broadcast.
- Free public stream: The official arrangement did not establish one.
CNN’s official YouTube channel posted clips and highlights, but an official clip is not evidence that the complete live special was freely streamed there. CNN’s official highlights video should not be confused with a full-broadcast replay.
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Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen hosted the New York portion from Times Square. CNN announced the following guests, performers and contributors, while noting that live-event timing and appearance order could change:
Announced Times Square guests and performers
- Stephen Colbert.
- Robyn, performing from Times Square.
- Shakira, performing from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
- Brandy and Monica, associated with The Boy Is Mine Tour.
- Bryan Adams, performing from Madison Square Garden.
- Florence + The Machine.
- RAYE.
- Mentalist Oz Perlman.
- Amy Sedaris.
- Brandi Carlile.
- Aloe Blacc.
- Patti LaBelle.
- Michelle Williams.
- Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell.
- Comedians B.J. Novak, Leanne Morgan and Sarah Sherman, among others.
Announced Austin coverage after the handoff
When Sara Sidner and Cari Champion took over at 12:30 a.m. ET, CNN announced appearances by:
- Vince Gill.
- The Head and The Heart.
- Flavor Flav, in an interview.
- Ariana Madix, in an interview.
The lineup was an announcement of planned participants, not a minute-by-minute running order. CNN did not publish a complete schedule assigning each performer an exact appearance time.
Were Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen allowed to drink?
Yes. Contemporary coverage reported that CNN permitted Cooper and Cohen to drink during the 2025 broadcast. This should be understood as a report about that edition and those hosts, not as a universal CNN policy for every correspondent or every New Year’s Eve program.
The detail attracted attention because CNN restricted alcohol during the 2023 broadcast after Cohen’s on-air remarks about the 2022 celebration. Later Cooper-and-Cohen editions restored the drinking tradition, according to Parade’s coverage and Forbes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to troubleshoot CNN streaming access
- The app shows articles or a preview instead of the live channel. CNN Basic is primarily an article-access tier. Live streaming requires All Access or a qualifying TV-provider login. Check the CNN subscription-tier guidance.
- Your provider login is rejected. Confirm that your package includes CNN and that the provider is one CNN supports for authentication. Signing in with an internet-service password or a provider that does not carry CNN will not unlock the channel.
- The TV app does not work on your smart TV. CNN’s current help page says All Access content is unavailable on Samsung and Vizio smart TVs. Try a supported streaming device, phone, computer or another supported TV app instead.
- You are relying on a trial. A trial may require a payment card and may automatically renew. CNN’s current guidance says subscriptions should be canceled at least 24 hours before renewal. Review the terms in the account where the subscription was purchased; CNN’s cancellation and renewal help page explains the policy.
- An old article sends you to Max or CNN Max. That guidance applied to an earlier edition, including the 2024 coverage described by TVLine. CNN announced the All Access arrangement for the December 31, 2025 broadcast, so platform instructions must be checked for each year.
- A favorite performer is missing. Live broadcasts can change their running order, and the announced lineup did not guarantee an exact time for each appearance.
Could viewers watch the 2025 broadcast later?
CNN All Access supports on-demand and catch-up content generally, but the available sources do not establish a permanent replay window specifically for the complete 2025 New Year’s Eve broadcast.
For a full replay, check the CNN app or CNN.com after the broadcast. Availability may depend on your All Access subscription or pay-TV login, and a full episode should not be assumed to remain available indefinitely. Official CNN clips and best moments may remain on YouTube even when the complete program is unavailable.
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- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
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What about viewers outside the United States?
The published start time and streaming instructions were for CNN’s U.S. service. CNN International is distributed in other countries, but local channel carriage, scheduling and streaming rights vary. CNN’s announcement did not provide a universal worldwide direct-streaming method for the special.
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Viewers outside the U.S. should check their local CNN International provider, regional TV listings or the CNN service available in their country. Do not assume that U.S. CNN All Access availability or pricing applies internationally.
Archive and update note
This guide describes the broadcast that aired on December 31, 2025, and welcomed 2026. It is no longer a live-event guide. There was no official confirmation in the available research for CNN’s December 31, 2026 broadcast welcoming 2027, so the hosts, schedule, performers and streaming platforms for that event should not be inferred from the 2025 edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live 2026 the broadcast on December 31, 2025?
The 2025 broadcast welcomed 2026, so it is best described as CNN’s December 31, 2025, New Year’s Eve Live. A broadcast on December 31, 2026 will welcome 2027 and is a separate edition.
Did CNN’s 2025 New Year’s Eve special stream on Max?
Not according to CNN’s announcement for the December 31, 2025 edition. Max or CNN Max instructions belonged to earlier editions. CNN named CNN All Access as the direct-streaming route for the 2025 broadcast, while pay-TV subscribers could authenticate.
Is the complete 2025 CNN New Year’s Eve broadcast still available?
CNN All Access supports catch-up and on-demand content generally, but no permanent full-replay window for this specific broadcast was established. Check CNN.com or the CNN app; official clips are not necessarily the complete program.
Can I watch CNN New Year’s Eve outside the United States?
Possibly through a local CNN International provider, but availability, scheduling and rights vary by country. The U.S. CNN All Access arrangement was not presented as a universal worldwide option.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen New Year’s Eve Live aired at 8 p.m. ET on December 31, 2025, and continued through the 12:30 a.m. ET handoff to Sara Sidner and Cari Champion in Austin. The 2025 online options were CNN All Access or a qualifying pay-TV login; there was no confirmed unrestricted free stream.
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