Summary (tl;dr)

Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper are trending after co-hosting CNN's "New Year's Eve Live" special for the ninth consecutive year, welcoming 2026 with their signature on-air camaraderie and a lineup of celebrity guests and musical performances.

Essential Background

Anderson Cooper has hosted CNN's New Year's Eve coverage since 2002, with Andy Cohen joining him as co-host in 2017 after Kathy Griffin's departure. Their annual broadcast from Times Square has become known for its unscripted moments, celebrity interviews, and their distinctive dynamic, often including on-air drinking that has garnered significant viewer attention and some controversy in past years. This tradition has solidified their status as a popular duo for ringing in the new year.

The Full Story

Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper once again headlined CNN's "New Year's Eve Live" broadcast, guiding viewers into 2026 from Times Square in New York City. This marks their ninth consecutive year co-hosting the special, which aired live on CNN and, for the first time, streamed exclusively on CNN's new subscription platform. The highly anticipated show featured a variety of guests and performances, including Stephen Colbert, Robyn, Shakira, Brandy and Monica, Bryan Adams, Florence + The Machine, and Patti LaBelle, among others. Viewers were particularly interested in the hosts' on-air drinking, which CNN confirmed would be allowed this year after a brief restriction in 2022. The broadcast also included live reports from various locations worldwide, with additional Central Time Zone coverage hosted by Sara Sidner and Cari Champion from Austin, Texas, featuring performances by Vince Gill and The Head and The Heart, and interviews with Flavor Flav and Ariana Madix.

Why It Matters

The continued popularity of Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper's New Year's Eve special highlights its role as a cultural event that many viewers tune into for entertainment as they welcome the new year. The trending keywords reflect audience interest in their unique on-screen chemistry, the celebrity guests, and the memorable, often unscripted, moments that arise from their live broadcast, including discussions around their on-air drinking. The move to exclusively stream a portion of the New Year's Eve programming on CNN's new subscription platform also signals a shift in media consumption habits and CNN's strategy for its digital offerings. The enduring fascination with their professional partnership and personal friendship (despite long-standing rumors of romance, which they deny) further fuels public engagement and social media discussions surrounding the annual event.

Geographic Location

• Times Square, New York City, New York, United States (main broadcast of CNN's New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen)
• Auditorium Shores, Austin, Travis County, Texas, United States (Central Time Zone New Year's Eve coverage with Sara Sidner and Cari Champion)
• Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Broward County, Florida, United States (Shakira performance)
• Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States (Bryan Adams performance)
• Virtual/Online (CNN's New Year's Eve programming streaming exclusively on CNN's new subscription platform)