The 50th annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve celebration will feature the show’s first-ever Spanish-language countdown with Puerto Rico as the inaugural host destination, MRC Live & Alternative and ABC announced today (Oct. 7).
The Spanish-language countdown festivities are set to take place on the grounds of the Puerto Rico Convention Center and DISTRITO T-Mobile with host Ryan Seacrest overseeing New Year’s festivities in Times Square, set to air Friday, Dec. 31 live on ABC at 8pm ET. Puerto Rico’s countdown will occur at 11pm ET.
“As we expand the footprint of ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,’ we’re proud to broadcast from Puerto Rico as we showcase the vibrant multicultural destination to commemorate this milestone year for the iconic New Year’s celebration,” said MRC Live and Alternative president Adam Stotsky.
“This celebration not only allows Puerto Ricans to enjoy this great historic event; it also speaks to diverse communities around the world that our Island is ready to receive tourism and foster economic development,” said Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi. “‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will be a testament to all that Puerto Rico has to offer.”
The upcoming New Year’s celebration coincides with the celebration of San Juan’s — the capital of Puerto Rico — 500th anniversary. Details on co-hosts, performers in Times Square and additional locations will be announced closer to the event, which will showcase with more than five-and-a-half hours worth of performances.
“This show has solidified its place in television history as the must-watch New Year’s Eve special, and the upcoming 50th year will be a can’t-miss event with the biggest names in entertainment,” added Rob Mills, evp, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment at Walt Disney Television.
Last year’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve — which marked the first time a live audience was not allowed in Times Square to watch the ball drop at midnight due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — featured a star-packed lineup with bicoastal performances by Jennifer Lopez, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Thee Stallion, Cyndi Lauper and Miley Cyrus, among others.