Atlanta’s favorite NYE tradition, the Peach Drop, is going to look a little different this year… mainly because there won’t be an actual Peach Drop. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of celebrating going on to ring in 2026! Keep scrolling to see all the details on the City of Atlanta’s planned New Year’s Eve celebration, which will replace the Peach Drop.
What’s happening, then, instead of the Peach Drop?
Well, kind of a peach drop… but think drones. Instead of the physical peach dropping at midnight, which echos the tradition of the NYC ball drop, Atlantans can expect a Digital Drone Peach in the Sky. This peach drone will be visible to even more Atlantans as it lights up the newly 2026 sky!
Mayor André Dickens said in a press release,
The Annual Peach Drop has been a big part of our city’s New Year’s Eve since 1989, bringing people together in a way only Atlanta can. However, this New Year’s Eve, we are reimagining that tradition with Countdown Over ATL… We cannot wait for residents and visitors to experience several fireworks displays that will light up the night across Atlanta. All you have to do is step outside, hit your neighborhood spot, meet on a rooftop or watch from your backyard, and you’ll be part of one special shared moment. Atlanta is a city of opportunity for all, and this year we are going to meet you where you are.
This unique NYE celebration will include a 12-minute New Year’s Eve activation that is a modern, inclusive, and a citywide celebration. The Digital Drone Peach in the Sky will be able to be seen Downtown and Midtown, followed by synchronized fireworks across multiple sites.
Downtown and Midtown viewers will likely be able to see the drone peach best, but residents citywide can step outside, gather in their neighborhoods, visit local rooftops or meet in backyards to watch the synchronized fireworks and celebrate the New Year together.
Happy New Year, Atlanta!