Revelers filled the streets of downtown to ring in 2026 at WRAL First Night Raleigh.
The city's annual New Year's Eve celebration featured two acorn drops - one at 7 p.m. and another at midnight. Both were followed by fireworks.
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Earlier in the evening, the annual People's Procession parade featured the Paperhand Puppet Intervention, NCSU Pipes & Drums and Helping Hands Mission Band.
The early acorn drop offered families a chance to start the new year celebration early.
Celebrations continued throughout the evening with main stage performances hosted in City Plaza.
Many revelers had big plans for the new year, including some resolutions.
WRAL anchor Michelle Mackonochie – familiar to WRAL viewers after five years as part of the morning news team – has a big change ahead in 2026. She will be moving to the evening newscasts. Starting next week, Mackonochie will anchor the 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts with Dan Haggerty, and the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Gerald Owens. Ahead of her shift change, she shared her resolution for 2026.