If you have ever watched the Rose Parade on TV from a cold Midwest living room and thought about seeing it in person, New Year’s in Los Angeles is a realistic points trip. The flights are easy to book with miles, Pasadena has hotels from several big loyalty programs, and the main events are either free or fairly cheap. Here is what is confirmed for 2026-27, what is not announced yet, and how to plan it with points. Details are as of October 2026.
Key dates and facts
| Event | Date and time | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| NYELA at Gloria Molina Grand Park (downtown LA) | Not yet announced for December 31, 2026 | Last year: free, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a midnight projection show on City Hall |
| Bandfest (Pasadena) | December 29-30, 2026 | Ticketed band showcase, listed by the Tournament of Roses |
| 138th Rose Parade presented by Honda | Friday, January 1, 2027, 8 a.m. PT | Theme: “Welcome.” 5.5-mile route through Pasadena |
| Rose Bowl Game (College Football Playoff quarterfinal) | Friday, January 1, 2027 | Kickoff window set on Selection Day, December 6, 2026 |
| Floatfest (post-parade float viewing) | January 1-3, 2027 | Ticketed, near Sierra Madre Blvd. and Washington Blvd. |
The Rose Parade
The Tournament of Roses says the 138th Rose Parade starts at 8 a.m. on January 1, 2027. The theme, announced in January 2026 by Tournament President Terry Madigan, is “Welcome.” The route starts at Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, heads north on Orange Grove, turns east on Colorado Boulevard (where most people watch), then north on Sierra Madre Boulevard to Villa Street.
Grandstand seats: Sharp Seating is the official ticket seller. Its FAQ for the 2027 parade lists seats from $82 to $133 each, with fees included, depending on the view and location. It says most tickets are digital and go out by email from mid-November to early December.
Watching for free: Sidewalk viewing is free. The City of Pasadena has not posted 2027 rules yet that we could find. Last year’s rules allowed overnight camping only on the night of December 31, with sidewalk spots held starting at noon that day. Tents, sofas and boxes used as seats were banned, and Colorado Boulevard closed to cars at 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The Tournament of Roses lists the same 10 p.m. closure for this year, with the route reopening by 2 p.m. on January 1. Expect similar rules, but check the city’s announcement in December.
The Rose Bowl Game
The 2027 Rose Bowl is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Friday, January 1, 2027, after the parade. The three New Year’s Day quarterfinals use 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific windows. The Rose Bowl’s slot will be set on Selection Day, December 6, so you won’t know the teams or the kickoff time until then. Buy game tickets through the official Rose Bowl Game site or the teams’ ticket offices, and be wary of resale prices right after Selection Day.
New Year’s Eve in downtown LA
As of mid-October 2026, Grand Park had not announced a NYELA event for December 31, 2026. Its page still describes last year’s “NYELA Countdown to 2026”: free, no ticket needed, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., two music stages, food trucks, and a midnight countdown projected on City Hall. If it returns in a similar form, it pairs well with a Pasadena parade morning, but you would be going from a late night downtown straight into an early start in Pasadena.
Getting there on points and miles
- LAX: The most flights and the most airlines, including nonstops from many Midwest cities. It is also the farthest of the main airports from Pasadena, and holiday traffic can be heavy.
- Hollywood Burbank (BUR): Usually the easiest airport for Pasadena. Southwest is the largest carrier there, with service to cities including Chicago Midway, Denver and St. Louis (seasonal), and Alaska, American, Delta and United also fly in. Check the airport’s site for current routes.
- Long Beach (LGB): The city’s airport page lists Southwest to 21 destinations, including Chicago, Denver and Nashville, plus Hawaiian, Delta (Salt Lake City) and Alaska (Seattle). It is a better fit if you stay downtown or near the coast than in Pasadena.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to both Southwest Rapid Rewards and United MileagePlus, which covers a lot of Midwest-to-LA flying. Neither uses a fixed award chart for these flights; award prices move with demand and cash fares, so holiday dates can cost more points. Book early, and compare December 30 arrivals with December 31.
Where to stay on points
- AC Hotel Pasadena (Marriott Bonvoy): At 19 S. Madison Ave. Marriott’s page says it sits directly on the Rose Parade route. Valet parking is listed at $50 a night.
- The Westin Pasadena (Marriott Bonvoy): At 191 N. Los Robles Ave., near Old Pasadena and the convention center. Marriott lists self-parking at $19 a day and valet at $28.
- Hyatt Place Pasadena (World of Hyatt): Near Old Pasadena, about half a mile from One Colorado per Hyatt, with a pool. Hyatt prices awards by hotel category with several price levels, so check hyatt.com for your dates.
- Hilton Pasadena (Hilton Honors): At 168 S. Los Robles Ave., listed by Visit Pasadena as a parade-area hotel.
- JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE (Marriott Bonvoy): A downtown option at 900 W. Olympic Blvd. if you want NYE downtown. Valet is listed at $71.50 a day, so skip the rental car.
Marriott and Hilton use dynamic award pricing, and parade night is one of Pasadena’s busiest of the year, so expect high points prices and minimum stays. Search award rates now, and book a refundable award if you can. For Chase cardholders, note a change: as of October 1, 2026, Sapphire Preferred points transfer to Hyatt at 4:3, while Sapphire Reserve keeps 1:1.
Practical tips
- Get to Pasadena the night before. Colorado Boulevard closes at 10 p.m. on December 31.
- Last year, a clear bag policy applied to parade and game events and drones were restricted. Plan on the same unless the 2027 rules say otherwise.
- Bring layers. Pasadena mornings in early January can be chilly, especially if you camp out.
- Don’t book Rose Bowl game resale tickets before Selection Day unless you’re fine with any matchup.
Chase points cover both the flight and the hotel on this trip, with transfers to Southwest, United, Marriott and Hyatt. You can compare current offers and apply with our Chase referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
The Rose Parade is one of the better New Year’s trips for points travelers because the main event can be free and the flights are easy to book with miles. The weak spot is the hotel. Pasadena rooms on parade night are in high demand, and dynamic award pricing means points rates can be poor. If prices are too high, staying a little farther out and using the Metro or a rideshare is a reasonable trade.
We’d also be honest about the logistics. Combining a downtown NYE party, a predawn parade and a playoff game in one 24-hour stretch is a lot. Most people would enjoy it more by picking two of the three.
Sources
- Tournament of Roses: 138th Rose Parade
- Tournament of Roses: Sneak Peek of 2027 floats
- Tournament of Roses: Tickets
- NBC Los Angeles: 2027 Rose Parade theme announced
- Sharp Seating: Rose Parade FAQ
- City of Pasadena: 2026 Rose Parade rules and safety tips
- FBSchedules: 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule
- Pasadena Now: Rose Bowl kickoff windows
- Gloria Molina Grand Park: NYELA
- Long Beach Airport: Airlines and destinations
- Wikipedia: Hollywood Burbank Airport (airlines and carrier share)
- Marriott: AC Hotel Pasadena
- Marriott: The Westin Pasadena
- Marriott: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
- Hyatt: Hyatt Place Pasadena
- Visit Pasadena: Rose Parade guide
- Upgraded Points: Chase transfer partners
- The Points King: Chase transfer partners
Prices, points rates, schedules and entry rules change often; confirm details with the airline, hotel or organizer before you book. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
