Root Canals Over Parties? Americans Are Officially Done With NYE

America Is Officially Over New Year’s Eve Parties

Forget champagne flutes and crowded bars. As 2025 comes to a close, most Americans are opting out of traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations—and doing so without guilt. According to a new survey of 3,000 people conducted by social app Sunny, just 24 percent plan to ring in 2026 surrounded by other people. The rest are choosing couches, comfort, and quiet over countdown chaos.

Netflix, Bedtimes, and the Ball Drop on a Phone Screen

The most popular New Year’s Eve plans this year are decidedly low-key. Thirty-five percent of respondents say they’ll stay home and binge a favorite show, while 20 percent plan to head to bed early. Another 10 percent expect to scroll social media as the ball drops. In short: pajamas have officially beaten party hats.

The Ultimate Party Snub: Dentists Over Dancing

How strong is the anti-party sentiment? Strong enough that one in four respondents said they’d rather go to the dentist than attend a New Year’s Eve party. Even more shocking, one in five said they’d prefer a root canal over a night out. That statistic alone may be the clearest sign yet that America’s social battery is running on fumes.

Where the Party Mood Is Fading Fastest

The stay-home trend is most pronounced in the western U.S., where only 26 percent plan to celebrate with others. Phoenix ranked lowest of all major cities, with just 15 percent interested in New Year’s Eve festivities. Gen Z stands out as the exception—36 percent of younger adults say they’re still excited to go out—but for most age groups, the enthusiasm simply isn’t there.

A ‘Party Deficit’ in a Screen-Filled World

Psychologists point to screen obsession as a major factor. With streaming, social media, and on-demand entertainment always available, the motivation to brave crowds and cold weather is fading. The result, experts warn, isn’t just fewer parties—it’s a weakening of our social habits.

And yet, as millions choose snacks over sparklers this New Year’s Eve, one thing is clear: America isn’t anti-celebration. It’s just redefining what celebration looks like.