Greater Fort Lauderdale marked the arrival of 2026 with a high-profile New Year’s Eve celebration that combined waterfront experiences, global media exposure, and the launch of a new international brand campaign. The festivities, held on the night of December 31, 2025, positioned the destination at the center of worldwide attention through a live broadcast on CNN New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

As the countdown unfolded, celebrations shifted from traditional venues to the iconic waterways of Greater Fort Lauderdale, reinforcing the destination’s identity as the “Venice of America.” In a key moment of the broadcast, Visit Lauderdale partnered with CNN for a three-minute live segment transmitted from the newly inaugurated Pier Sixty-Six, aboard a Sanlorenzo yacht—symbol of Italian luxury and global maritime lifestyle.

The live segment showcased the destination’s aquatic culture, coastal lifestyle, and welcoming community spirit—core pillars of “Never Lose Your Splash,” Greater Fort Lauderdale’s new global brand campaign, officially introduced as the region stepped into 2026.

“There is no better way to celebrate the New Year than by sharing the energy, diversity, and joy of Greater Fort Lauderdale with a global audience,” said Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. “Our partnership with CNN allowed us to spotlight our distinctive water culture while unveiling a bold new brand vision to the world.”

To amplify national and international visibility, Visit Lauderdale also launched digital out-of-home advertising in Times Square, New York, directly across from CNN’s studios. The dynamic visuals aired during the New Year’s Eve broadcast and continued in the weeks that followed, extending the campaign’s reach to millions of viewers worldwide.

The “Never Lose Your Splash” campaign highlights the destination’s sunny climate, expansive beaches, inland waterways, and interconnected neighborhoods, targeting both first-time and repeat visitors. The launch builds on the destination’s strong momentum, driven by new hotel developments, expanded air connectivity, and the recently completed expansion of the Broward County Convention Center, further strengthening Greater Fort Lauderdale’s position as a leading leisure and meetings destination in 2026.