What Are the Best Events to See Before the Year Ends and What Should I Do for New Year’s? A Guide to 2025’s Final Live Entertainment Moments
There’s a particular feeling that shows up every year around this time.The holidays start speeding toward you. Your calendar fills up faster than you expect.
There’s a particular feeling that shows up every year around this time.
The holidays start speeding toward you. Your calendar fills up faster than you expect. And suddenly December feels like the shortest, and busiest, month of the year.
But here’s the truth: this stretch between now and New Year’s Eve is one of the best times to experience live events. The energy is different. Cities feel alive. Artists, teams, and venues save some of their best moments for these final weeks.
And if you’re the kind of person who keeps saying “I’ll do something fun before the year ends,” this is your moment. If you want to end 2025 on a high note, or kick off 2026 with something unforgettable, here’s your guide.
Why December Is Packed With Can’t-Miss Events
December is when everything overlaps. You get the tail end of the big fall tours, playoff pushes in sports, holiday specials, end-of-year residencies, and the first wave of New Year’s shows.
It’s also a month where memories feel heavier and more meaningful. A concert in July is fun. A concert in December can feel symbolic- like closing a chapter with the people you love, in a room full of strangers singing the same chorus.
Live events thrive on that feeling. And this year, there are plenty.
Who This Guide Is For
You’ll get the most out of this list if you are:
Someone who wants to squeeze in something exciting before the year ends
A last-minute planner who thrives on spontaneity
A sports fan who loves winter games and rivalries
A music lover looking for a standout show before 2026
Someone searching for New Year’s Eve plans that don’t involve standing in a crowded bar
If even one of these sounds like you, keep reading.
Top Events You Shouldn’t Miss Before the Year Ends
Here are real, high-demand events happening in late December — all available on XP. These aren’t filler events. These are the kind you remember.
1. Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour (Multiple Cities)
A December staple. The lights, the pyrotechnics, the orchestral rock — it’s the most dramatic holiday show you can see.
2. Radio City Christmas Spectacular — The Rockettes (New York City)
A classic for a reason. The production is huge, the energy is infectious, and it’s a true New York holiday moment.
3. NHL Winter Games and Rivalry Matchups (Nationwide)
Late-December is packed with big hockey games as playoff races heat up. Rangers vs Islanders. Bruins vs Canadiens. Blackhawks vs Blues. Electric every time.
4. NFL Late-Season Games (Across the U.S.)
These late-season matchups often decide playoff futures. Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins games are especially high-energy.
5. Andrea Bocelli Holiday Concerts
A top-tier voice paired with holiday classics in concert halls built for acoustics — a December must.
6. Jingle Ball (Various Cities)
Year after year, still one of the most fun mixed-artist concerts of the season.
7. NBA Christmas Day Games
One of the biggest days in basketball. Six marquee games, all with blockbuster energy.
9. A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, or Holiday Pops (Nationwide)
If you’re more into tradition, these shows feel like stepping into a warm, familiar moment.
Bonus: Where to Be for New Year’s Eve 2025–2026
If you want your New Year’s to feel like an event, not an obligation, these are the ones worth booking early:
-Bruno Mars – New Year’s Eve at Park MGM, Las Vegas
Two-night concerts on Dec 30 & Dec 31, 2025 at Dolby Live.
-The Avett Brothers – NYE 2025 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Asheville NC
-Perpetual Groove – 25th-Anniversary NYE Show, Atlanta GA
How to Plan These Events With XP
Go to xp.tickets and search for the event you’re thinking about
Set a Price Alert on the app so you can buy when the ticket dips
Choose your seats knowing the price you see is the price you pay
If plans change, use XP Sell and get an instant buy-back
This is the easiest time of year to say yes to an experience — and the hardest time of year to forget the ones you do.
Proof That These Events Are Worth It
Live events in December consistently rank among the highest-attended of the year. Sports intensity is at its peak, holiday tours are built for spectacle, and NYE concerts are some artists’ biggest productions. Demand is high, but so is the payoff.
If you’re going to pick a window to treat yourself, this is it.
About XP
XP is a fan-first ticket marketplace where pricing is transparent, the experience is simple, and fans stay in control. No hidden fees. No surprises.
Just tickets to the moments that matter.