Vegas did what Vegas does best last night—threw the biggest party on the planet and made history while doing it. For the first time ever, 600 LED drones lit up the Las Vegas sky in perfect harmony with the city's legendary fireworks display, and 345,000 degenerates showed up to watch despite hours of rain. This is why we love this city.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Las Vegas debuted its first-ever drone light show alongside the traditional 10-roof fireworks spectacular
• The damage: $1 million production, 8 minutes of pure spectacle, 600 drones painting the sky
• Why you should care: This was the 25th "America's Party" and the official kickoff to America's 250th birthday celebration
• The moment: Revelers braved steady rainfall but packed the Strip when countdown time arrived

The Show of a Lifetime

The "Rockin' into 2026 – Vegas Style" production was everything you'd expect from Sin City and more. Those 600 LED drones created some incredible visuals: the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign floating in the sky, the city skyline with "2026" rotating above it, a spinning roulette wheel, and a slot machine formation that made every gambler in the crowd point and smile.

The finale went full patriotic with a red, white, and blue display honoring America's 250th birthday celebration. Grucci handled the pyrotechnics as usual, launching fireworks from 10 different resort rooftops—MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, The Venetian, Resorts World, Fontainebleau, The Strat, Treasure Island, and for the first time, the Palms.

Rain Couldn't Stop the Party

Here's the thing about Vegas degenerates—we don't quit. Steady rainfall soaked the Strip for hours, keeping most of the expected crowd under cover. But as the final seconds of 2025 ticked away, people emerged from every casino, every bar, every hiding spot to witness history.

Getting drenched while watching drones form a roulette wheel over the Strip? That's a flex. That's a memory. That's peak Vegas.

The Sphere Showed Up Too

The Sphere's Exosphere got in on the action, showing broadcast look-ins of celebrations from across the globe throughout the day. The final Las Vegas countdown to 2026 played on that massive screen just before midnight, giving everyone in the vicinity a front-row seat to the transition.

Downtown at the Fremont Street Experience, Mayor Shelley Berkley hosted the "Countdown Under The Canopy" with performances from Robin Thicke, CeeLo Green, Common Kings, and Chingy. The Plaza Hotel capped it off with their own midnight fireworks display.

What This Means for 2026

This wasn't just a party—it was a statement. Vegas is investing heavily in making these celebrations bigger and better, and the drone technology opens up possibilities we haven't even imagined yet. Expect the 2027 show to go even harder.

For those of us who call this city home or visit religiously, last night was proof that Vegas still knows how to throw a party. Rain, cold weather, whatever—345,000 people showed up because this is the only place that does New Year's Eve right.

The Bottom Line

If you weren't in Vegas last night, you missed something special. The casino action continues today with the WSOP Circuit kicking off at Planet Hollywood, so the party literally never stops. Here's to 2026, degenerates. May your parlays hit and your slot machines pay. LFG.