Big Boi, the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist best known as one-half of OutKast, will headline Virginia Beach's free, family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration on December 31. The 13th annual Last Night on the Town event kicks off at 6 p.m. in Town Center, organizers say, giving locals another reason to brave the cold for a night of music, dancing, and fireworks downtown.
The booking marks a notable shift in tone for an event that has leaned heavily on country and pop acts in recent years, according to 13News Now. The 12th annual event on December 31, 2025, was headlined by Grammy-winning country trio The Band Perry with funk and alt-pop guest band Ripe, according to Last Night on the Town. Other recent headliners have included country artist Hunter Hayes in 2024 and 1980s alternative rock act 10,000 Maniacs back in 2017, per the event's historical lineup.
Big Boi's resume carries serious national weight. As one-half of OutKast alongside André 3000, he made Grammy history in 2004 when their double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below became the first record by a hip-hop duo to win Album of the Year, the station's report notes. He's won seven Grammy Awards overall and has released three solo studio albums beyond his work with OutKast, the same account states.
What Else Is Planned for the Night
Big Boi won't be the only act on the bill. The lineup also features Rocky 7, a six-piece Virginia electro-rock and pop band, along with DJ A1, per the original report. Organizers are also setting up an LED dance floor and a dance contest for children 12 and younger, rounding out a night built to appeal to families early and adults later on.
That family-to-nightlife shift tracks with how the broader event has been structured in past years. The free public celebration has typically opened at 6 p.m. in Town Center's Fountain Plaza with family activities and a youth dance contest running through 9 p.m., before main-stage musical performances move to Columbus Street from 9 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. for the midnight ball drop, according to Rove.me.
VIP Access and Who's Behind It
For those wanting a more upscale experience, VIP tickets go on sale October 14 at noon, priced at $175 per person for adults 21 and older, according to an Eventbrite listing. The VIP package includes access to casino-style blackjack and roulette tables, curated dining, party favors, and elevated stage viewing from a Commerce Street balcony. That VIP experience is hosted by the Central Business District Association and presented by Marathon Consulting.
The event itself is produced by the Central Business District Association and IMGoing, which also co-produces over 500 annual events in Virginia Beach under its Live! On Atlantic initiative and has held the city's Resort Management Agreement since 2009, according to Richmond BizSense. Beyond the two producers, the 2026 celebration is backed by sponsors including Marathon Consulting, AH Realty Trust, MitSA Group, 13News Now, and the City of Virginia Beach, per the Eventbrite listing.
Why Town Center Matters to the City
Hosting a major free event here isn't incidental. Town Center spans 17 pedestrian-friendly city blocks and was established in 2000 through an ongoing public-private partnership between the City of Virginia Beach and developer AH Realty Trust, according to AH Realty Trust. The district now serves as Virginia Beach's central business hub and generates more than $8 million annually in business taxes that help fund city services, including public education, safety, and road infrastructure, according to municipal tax data cited by Lewis Enterprises.
Municipal funding and local corporate sponsorships are what keep main-stage access free for attendees year after year. With Big Boi now added to a lineup that has cycled through country, pop, and alternative rock acts over the past decade, this year's Last Night on the Town is betting that a hip-hop legend can draw a new crowd downtown as the ball drops over Town Center.
