Akron, Ohio / New Year’s Eve
The city becomes the stage.
FIRSTNIGHT AKRON
Welcome202731 December 2026A night for the music makers, the wide-eyed kids, the neighbors and the curious.
First Night Akron is coming back.
MUSIC ✳ MOVEMENT ✳ MAKING ✳ ONE SHARED NIGHT
01 / Back in Akron
A familiar spirit.
A new beginning.
On December 31, 2026, we welcome 2027 — and a new chapter for First Night Akron.
The date is set. The program, venues and admission arrangements are still to be announced. Until then, explore the story, save the date and start planning with your people.
02 / More than midnight
Discover something.
Share it with someone.
The best part of an arts festival can be the thing you did not come looking for.
First Night’s earlier editions brought music, dance, theater, visual arts and hands-on activity into the heart of Akron. Explore that creative history while the returning program takes shape.
Photos show earlier editions. Performers, activities and fireworks for 2027 have not yet been announced.
Small artwork. Big memories.04 / The city remembers
Before the next night,
meet the first ones.
A living website. A carefully dated archive.
Read recovered programs, follow the story of 22 celebrations and look closely at the photographs and artwork that survived.
The First Night Akron archive
Original programs.
Maps. People. Art.
Old editions keep their own dates. Nothing in a historical program is silently turned into a 2027 booking.