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Welcome to the New Year's Eve & New Year 2026/2027 in Spa
Spa, the original spa town in the Belgian Ardennes, marks New Year's Eve 2026 and New Year's Day 2027 with lights, hotel galas, the historic casino and thermal baths rather than a mass street festival. Celebrations concentrate around Place Royale in the compact centre. A large municipal midnight fireworks show in Spa itself had not been officially confirmed at the time of research; check the Maison du Tourisme shortly before 31 December 2026.
Highlights & Attractions at New Year's Eve in Spa
- Illuminated Place Royale in the UNESCO Great Spa Towns setting
- A human-scale Christmas market with wooden chalets when the 2026/2027 dates are confirmed
- New Year gala menus and live music at hotels such as Van der Valk, Place Royale 39
- Les Thermes de Spa on the Colline d'Annette et Lubin, with indoor and outdoor thermal pools
- Casino de Spa at Rue Royale 4, often described as the world's oldest casino
- Winter walks to mineral springs, parks and forested hills above town
- A calmer alternative to Brussels or Liege, suited to couples and wellness travellers
Find Accommodation in Spa
Compare the best hotel prices for this event and secure your accommodation in time.
Free cancellation on most hotels
Program & Schedule: What to Expect in 2026/2027
Thursday 31 December 2026 is best spent on a late-afternoon walk through the lit streets and Place Royale. Spa's Christmas market is usually staged on Place Royale from early December into early January. In the previous season it closed at 18:00 on 31 December and was shut on 1 January. Confirm 2026/2027 hours with the tourist office at Rue du Marché 1A or on visitspa.be before you travel.
Les Thermes de Spa typically open 09:00–18:00 on 24 and 31 December and 12:00–19:00 on 25 December and 1 January; guests under 15 are not admitted. Day tickets currently range from about 35 to 48 EUR. Evening plans centre on hotel New Year dinners: Van der Valk advertises a seven-course New Year menu with live music plus a buffet option. Casino de Spa is generally open daily; entry is from age 21 with ID. Do not count on an official town fireworks display in Spa; larger organised shows are more common in cities such as Brussels.
Tickets & Admission for New Year's Eve Spa
Walking the squares and enjoying the public lights is free. You pay for hotels, restaurants, the casino and the thermal baths. Thermes tickets: about 35 EUR for three hours on weekdays, 37 EUR at weekends and public holidays, and 48 EUR for a full weekday (official list valid until 31 December 2026). Full New Year hotel packages in Spa often start around 126 EUR per night for two and rise above 300 EUR when a gala dinner and higher-category rooms are included. Book tables and rooms early. Useful official sites: visitspa-hautesfagnes.be, thermesdespa.com, vandervalkhotelspa.be and casinodespa.be.
Visitor Tips: Travel & Accommodation in Spa
- Take the SNCB train to Spa station and walk into the centre, or drive via the E42, exit 8 towards Spa. Liege Airport is the nearest major airport; Brussels is a longer alternative.
- Late December in the Ardennes is cold, often around freezing, with possible snow or ice. Pack a warm coat, sturdy shoes and a scarf; bring swimwear if you plan the thermal baths.
- Rooms on Place Royale and hotels linked to the thermes sell out. Reserve from 30 December to 2 January as soon as dates work for you.
- Many shops and the tourist office are closed on 1 January. Plan a hotel brunch and a quiet walk rather than a packed sightseeing day.
- If fireworks are essential, look at other Belgian cities and respect local bans on private fireworks. In Spa the emphasis is wellness, dining and a low-key countdown.
Note: The information on this page was researched at the time of writing and may have changed since then (e.g. date, venue, or program). Visit the organizer's official website →
The photo used is illustrative and does not necessarily depict the actual event.
