Thursday, December 31, 2026
Restaurants open on New Year's Eve 2026
On New Year's Eve, Thursday, December 31, 2026, 12 of the 21 restaurant chains we checked are open (some with shorter hours): Cracker Barrel, Denny's, Waffle House, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and 7 more. 9 are open at some locations, including IHOP, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, McDonald's and Burger King.
No chain here has announced its 2026 New Year's Eve hours yet, so these follow what each did in past years. We update the page as they announce.
Open (9)
Cracker Barrel
All Cracker Barrel stores kept normal business hours on New Year's Eve 2023, CBS News reported; later New Yea…OpenDenny's
Denny's says its restaurants are open 365 days a year; check your location's hours for New Year's Eve.OpenWaffle House
Waffle House restaurants are open every day of the year, so expect them open on New Year's Eve; check your lo…OpenOlive Garden
Olive Garden restaurants kept normal hours on New Year's Eve in 2023 and 2024 and were open in 2025, CBS News…OpenLongHorn Steakhouse
LongHorn Steakhouse keeps normal business hours on New Year's Eve, according to its FAQ, as it did in 2024.OpenThe Cheesecake Factory
All Cheesecake Factory restaurants open on New Year's Eve, the company's FAQ says; check with your local rest…OpenBob Evans
Bob Evans said in its 2021 and 2024 holiday announcements that restaurants keep normal business hours, which…OpenTaco Bell
Taco Bell restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2025, though hours vary by location.OpenWhataburger
Whataburger says its restaurants are open 24/7, 364 days a year, except those in venues with limited hours, a…Open
All Cracker Barrel stores kept normal business hours on New Year's Eve 2023, CBS News reported; later New Yea…OpenDenny's
Denny's says its restaurants are open 365 days a year; check your location's hours for New Year's Eve.OpenWaffle House
Waffle House restaurants are open every day of the year, so expect them open on New Year's Eve; check your lo…OpenOlive Garden
Olive Garden restaurants kept normal hours on New Year's Eve in 2023 and 2024 and were open in 2025, CBS News…OpenLongHorn Steakhouse
LongHorn Steakhouse keeps normal business hours on New Year's Eve, according to its FAQ, as it did in 2024.OpenThe Cheesecake Factory
All Cheesecake Factory restaurants open on New Year's Eve, the company's FAQ says; check with your local rest…OpenBob Evans
Bob Evans said in its 2021 and 2024 holiday announcements that restaurants keep normal business hours, which…OpenTaco Bell
Taco Bell restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2025, though hours vary by location.OpenWhataburger
Whataburger says its restaurants are open 24/7, 364 days a year, except those in venues with limited hours, a…Open
Open with shorter hours (3)
Chili's
Chili's website lists New Year's Eve as an early-closing day, with restaurants closing at 9:30 p.m.; the noti…LimitedChick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A says its restaurants are open on New Year's Eve, though local hours may be limited; in 2024 they…LimitedChipotle
Chipotle restaurants closed early, at 8 p.m. local time, on New Year's Eve 2024, CBS News reported; 2026 hour…Limited
Chili's website lists New Year's Eve as an early-closing day, with restaurants closing at 9:30 p.m.; the noti…LimitedChick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A says its restaurants are open on New Year's Eve, though local hours may be limited; in 2024 they…LimitedChipotle
Chipotle restaurants closed early, at 8 p.m. local time, on New Year's Eve 2024, CBS News reported; 2026 hour…Limited
Depends on the location (9)
IHOP
IHOP restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2024 and 2025, with hours that vary by location; check your loca…VariesApplebee's
Only select Applebee's restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2025, CBS News reported.VariesOutback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2024, but hours varied, CBS News reported.VariesMcDonald's
Most McDonald's restaurants stayed open on New Year's Eve 2025, though hours vary by location.VariesBurger King
Burger King restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2025, though hours vary by location.VariesPanera Bread
Panera says its hours on New Year's Eve may vary by location; to check a cafe, start an order in the Panera a…VariesJersey Mike's
Jersey Mike's says New Year's Eve hours vary by location, so check your store in the Jersey Mike's store loca…VariesStarbucks
Starbucks says most coffeehouses are open on New Year's Eve, but some close earlier than usual.VariesDunkin'
Dunkin' store hours on New Year's Eve vary by location, so check the Dunkin' app.Varies
IHOP restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2024 and 2025, with hours that vary by location; check your loca…VariesApplebee's
Only select Applebee's restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2025, CBS News reported.VariesOutback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2024, but hours varied, CBS News reported.VariesMcDonald's
Most McDonald's restaurants stayed open on New Year's Eve 2025, though hours vary by location.VariesBurger King
Burger King restaurants were open on New Year's Eve 2025, though hours vary by location.VariesPanera Bread
Panera says its hours on New Year's Eve may vary by location; to check a cafe, start an order in the Panera a…VariesJersey Mike's
Jersey Mike's says New Year's Eve hours vary by location, so check your store in the Jersey Mike's store loca…VariesStarbucks
Starbucks says most coffeehouses are open on New Year's Eve, but some close earlier than usual.VariesDunkin'
Dunkin' store hours on New Year's Eve vary by location, so check the Dunkin' app.Varies
Not announced yet (23)
Also on New Year's Eve
Restaurants on other holidays
From each chain's announcements and store pages, and news reports of its hours; each chain's page gives the source. Hours at your local restaurant can differ. What's open on New Year's Eve · All holiday hours