A Night of Celebration: Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper Welcome 2026 with CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live
As the final moments of 2025 ticked away, Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper once again took center stage in Times Square for their ninth consecutive year hosting CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live. The dynamic duo kicked off the evening with their traditional tequila shots, setting the tone for a night filled with laughter, celebrity gossip, and entertainment. “Bottoms up: This is tequila!” declared Cohen before they clinked glasses. The longtime friends reminisced about their 2025 highlights, including a memorable trip to Disneyland with their children and watching Cher perform during Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary celebration. Cooper playfully shared that Cher had recently called him, prompting Cohen to ask if she had inquired about him. Cooper’s joking response—that Cher had referred to Cohen as “that troublemaker”—captured the affectionate banter that has made their partnership so beloved by viewers.
The conversation took an interesting turn when they discussed their friendly rival, Ryan Seacrest, who hosts the competing New Year’s Eve broadcast on ABC. When Cooper asked if Seacrest had reached out, Cohen mentioned receiving a text “yesterday or the day before,” while Cooper shared that Seacrest had texted him that very morning. Cooper noted that in previous years, Seacrest had even sent him gifts, which Cohen jokingly suggested might have been “a photo of himself.” This good-natured rivalry between the two New Year’s Eve broadcasts has become a recurring theme, especially after Cohen’s infamous comments about Seacrest’s show during the 2021-2022 broadcast. The cohosts also delighted viewers with their discussion of the popular hockey romance series “Heated Rivalry,” with Cohen suggesting, “Of the two of us, you’re Ilya and I’m Shane”—a comparison that left Cooper humorously bewildered.
The special featured an impressive lineup of musical performances that catered to diverse tastes. Viewers were treated to sets by Robyn, Shakira, Brandy and Monica, Bryan Adams, Florence + The Machine, Raye, Brandi Carlile, Aloe Blacc, Patti LaBelle, and Michelle Williams. The musical performances were interspersed with special appearances by celebrities including Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, B.J. Novak, Leanne Morgan, and Sarah Sherman. This blend of music and celebrity cameos has become a hallmark of CNN’s New Year’s Eve celebration, providing entertainment that ranges from nostalgic to contemporary, ensuring there’s something for everyone as they count down to the new year.
Since Cohen joined Cooper as cohost in 2017, the CNN New Year’s Eve special has gained notoriety for its unfiltered moments and genuine camaraderie between the hosts. Perhaps the most talked-about incident occurred during the 2021-2022 broadcast, when Cohen delivered a scathing critique of then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio: “Watching Mayor de Blasio do his victory lap dance after four years of the crappiest term as the mayor of New York—the only thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on is what a horrible mayor he has been. So sayonara, sucka.” During the same broadcast, Cohen also took aim at ABC’s competing show, referring to “Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers performing” and dismissing a Journey performance as “propaganda” because it didn’t feature original lead singer Steve Perry. These unfiltered comments led to CNN temporarily banning alcohol during the following year’s broadcast—a decision that was later reversed, allowing the hosts to resume their beloved tequila tradition.
The evolution of the show has seen its share of controversies and reconciliations. Following his on-air comments, Cohen apologized to Seacrest, and the two made amends. The alcohol ban implemented for the 2022-2023 broadcast was lifted the following year, allowing the hosts to return to their tequila shots tradition that viewers had come to anticipate. This restoration of their drinking tradition speaks to the authentic approach that has made Cohen and Cooper’s hosting partnership so successful—they’re not afraid to be themselves, even when it occasionally leads to controversy. Their genuine friendship and willingness to let loose once a year provides a refreshing contrast to Cooper’s typically serious journalistic persona, giving viewers a glimpse of his lighter side.
In a CNN promotional video released earlier in December, Cohen and Cooper reflected on their favorite memories from their years of co-hosting the New Year’s Eve special. Cohen emphasized the joy he finds in making Cooper laugh, telling him, “We can’t talk about New Year’s Eve without talking about your many, many occasions of being in a puddle of giggles. I say to people my job is to make you laugh on New Year’s because people love to hear you laugh.” He added a touching sentiment about their annual tradition: “And I think God bless you for the work you do all year long. You’re keeping ’em honest right here on CNN, and this is your time and all of our time to let loose and enjoy.” This encapsulates why their New Year’s Eve pairing has resonated so deeply with audiences—it’s a rare opportunity to see two friends genuinely enjoying each other’s company while inviting viewers to join in the celebration. As the ball dropped in Times Square to welcome 2026, Cohen and Cooper once again provided the perfect blend of entertainment, humor, and heartfelt moments to mark the transition into a new year, continuing a tradition that has become a staple of holiday television.
