Alaska Airlines' New Year's at the Needle Celebration Delights West Coast Viewers, Welcoming 2026

Rhea-AI Summary

Alaska Airlines (NYSE:TGNA) returned as presenting sponsor for the Space Needle's New Year's at the Needle celebration welcoming 2026.

The live show in Seattle persisted through heavy fog and featured 5,000+ fireworks with 1,500+ unique cues, over 100 specialty light fixtures, live pre-show music and a soundtrack of 2025 hits. The event streamed and broadcast across regional stations and digital platforms, and included Alaska Airlines pop-up giveaways for attendees.

Key Figures

Fireworks launched 5,000+ fireworks New Year's at the Needle 2026 show

Unique cues 1,500+ cues Choreography for 2026 Space Needle show

Specialty light fixtures 100+ fixtures Lighting synchronized with fireworks

Market Reality Check

$19.33 Last Close

Volume Volume 426,024 is below the 20-day average of 1,121,250 (relative volume 0.38x) ahead of this event news. low

Technical Shares at $19.41 are trading above the 200-day MA of $18.50, about 9% below the $21.35 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

Within Television/Broadcast peers, most names were down modestly, including NXST -1.02%, SBGI -0.97%, GTN -1.02%, and IHRT -2.12%, while FUBO rose 0.8%. No momentum scanner flags or coordinated sector move were detected around this TGNA broadcast-related news.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 10	New Year’s broadcast	Positive	+0.3%	Announcement of multi-market New Year’s Eve Space Needle broadcast sponsorship.
Nov 18	Dividend declaration	Positive	-0.1%	Board declared regular quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share.
Nov 18	Merger approval vote	Positive	+0.1%	Shareholders approved merger agreement with Nexstar, pending regulatory approvals.
Nov 10	Q3 2025 earnings	Negative	-0.1%	Q3 revenue and EBITDA declined sharply on lower political and AMS revenue.
Sep 22	Sports rights deal	Positive	-0.1%	Extended Altitude Sports partnership for 40 free-to-air Nuggets and Avalanche games.

Pattern Detected

Recent TGNA news—ranging from event programming to merger and earnings updates—has typically produced small price moves, with a mix of aligned and divergent reactions, especially for income (dividend) and sports rights announcements.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, TGNA has focused on both corporate transactions and content-driven initiatives. The company reported Q3 2025 results and reiterated a pending cash sale at $22.00 per share, valuing TGNA at $6.2 billion, with expected closing in H2 2026. Shareholders later approved the Nexstar merger on Nov 18, 2025. Alongside, TGNA extended key sports rights in Denver and maintained its dividend of $0.125 per share. The prior New Year’s at the Needle broadcast on Dec 10, 2025 saw a modestly positive reaction, providing a close analogue to today’s event-focused announcement.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights TGNA’s continued role in broadcasting large-scale community events, with the New Year’s at the Needle celebration carried across stations like KING, KREM and KGW. It follows earlier coverage plans announced on Dec 10, 2025 and sits alongside a broader strategic backdrop that includes the pending Nexstar cash merger at $22.00 per share and recent Q3 results. Investors may watch future programming deals and regulatory steps on the merger process.

Key Terms

pyrotechnic technical

"largest structurally launched pyrotechnic display in North America"

Pyrotechnic describes materials, devices and activities that produce controlled combustion, sparks, flames or explosions—commonly used in fireworks, flares, military charges and industrial igniters. For investors, pyrotechnic products matter because they require specialized manufacturing, strict safety rules and high insurance and compliance costs; like a fireworks display needing precise choreography, firms in this area face regulatory, supply‑chain and liability risks that can significantly affect profitability and stock value.

simulcast technical

"enjoyed a live simulcast of the soundtrack on HITS 106.1"

A simulcast is a live event or announcement transmitted at the same time across multiple channels—such as webcast, radio, TV, or social platforms—so all viewers hear the same information simultaneously. For investors it matters because simultaneous distribution reduces the chance that some people get material news earlier than others, improving fairness and allowing everyone to react based on the same real-time information, much like multiple rooms watching the same live feed.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

The Space Needle rang in the new year with the largest structurally 
launched pyrotechnic display in North America

SEATTLE, Jan. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Persisting through heavy fog, The Space Needle's iconic New Year's at the Needle show ushered in 2026 with an impressive display of lights and fireworks. The annual show invited viewers from San Diego, Portland, Spokane and Seattle to tune in as the Pacific Time Zone welcomed the new year, while thousands gathered to watch in-person at Seattle Center.

At midnight, an incredible light and firework display erupted to welcome the new year with a bang! Additional show highlights included:

• More than 5,000+ fireworks were launched from the Space Needle with 1,500+ unique cues, making 2026 the brightest celebration yet.
• 100+ specialty light fixtures expertly synchronized to match the power and energy of the fireworks.
• Seattle Center treated attendees to an array of exciting pre-show activities, including live music from Blue Wave Band, a DJ and a light show.
• Musical soundtrack full of 2025's biggest stars like Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Kendrick Lamar and Washington State's own, Odesza.

Alaska Airlines returned to the party this year as the presenting sponsor. Viewers at Seattle Center were treated to giveaways at the Alaska Airlines pop-up booths at the Armory that included a large gumball machine to distribute items to VIP cardholders.

"This West Coast tradition is something we're honored to build with our community," said Ron Sevart, Space Needle President & CEO. "Every year, we look forward to ringing in the New Year with Seattleites on site and viewers across the Pacific Time Zone. We extend our thanks to Alaska Airlines and the talented technical teams who make the big vision possible."

The show was broadcast live on KING (Seattle), KREM (Spokane), KGW (Portland), and CW 8.2 (San Diego), with streaming coverage on KING5+, KGW+, KREM2+, and CBS8+. Those who enjoyed the show in the surrounding areas enjoyed a live simulcast of the soundtrack on HITS 106.1 in Seattle.

To watch the full show, visit spaceneedle.com/newyears.

About Space Needle 
Built as the centerpiece and inspiration for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the Space Needle has since become a part of the Seattle experience and the globally-recognized icon for the city. The Space Needle's recent $100 million renovation added more than 176 tons of glass to the structure offering unparalleled views of Seattle and featuring The Loupe—the world's first revolving glass floor. Open year round, the Space Needle hosts more than a million visitors per year. For more information visit: spaceneedle.com/press

About Alaska Air Group
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We'll serve Europe beginning in spring 2026. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance, with Hawaiian scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations with Atmos Rewards. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK."

About KING 5
KING 5 Media Group is a multi-platform media company based in Seattle, WA. It includes NBC affiliate KING 5, independent station KONG-TV and numerous digital platforms, including king5.com and KING 5+, a 24/7 streaming platform. KING 5 was the first television station in the Pacific Northwest, founded in 1948 by Dorothy Bullitt, now owned by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), an innovative media company that serves the greater good of its communities. Today KING 5 is the dominant media company in the region, delivering the largest local news audience and the most local programming across all screens. For more information, go to www.king5.com.

About Pyro Spectaculars 
Pyro Spectaculars is a premier full-service pyrotechnic and drone company- the undisputed global standard in pyrotechnic entertainment. As a five-generation, family-owned and operated business, Pyro Spectaculars defines the industry standard, pioneering technologies like the SkyConcert™ and elevating pyrotechnics to an art form. Notably, Pyro Spectaculars helped initiate the tradition of New Year's Eve fireworks on the Seattle Space Needle in the mid-1990s and has remained the Space Needle's dedicated partner for "New Year's at the Needle" ever since. For more information, visit: pyrospec.com.

About Illuminate Production Services Inc.
Headquartered in Northern California with warehouses in California and Florida, Illuminate is a nationwide full-service live event production company and dealer of professional production equipment. As a family-owned business, Illuminate builds team partnerships with clients. As a nationwide supplier of pro audio, video, lighting, staging, and creative content services, Illuminate is ready to serve… any project, any size, any location. For more information visit: IlluminateProduction.co

About Seattle Center
Seattle Center is the 74-acre cultural heart of the Pacific Northwest, home to 30+ arts, civic, and entertainment organizations—including Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, MOPOP, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Pacific Science Center, and SIFF—alongside iconic attractions and year-round free and affordable events. A department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District, Seattle Center also manages the City's new Waterfront Park in partnership with Friends of Waterfront Seattle. In 2025, Seattle Center is projected to generate over $900M in visitor spending and more than $2B in regional economic impact, supported by its Official Partners: Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Coors Light, Pepsi, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank.

For more information, video footage or images contact:
Amy Cunningham, Space Needle Public Relations Director

Molly DeLano, Space Needle Public Relations Strategist
media@spaceneedle.com

Cameron Greenberg, Alaska Air Group Communications Specialist
newsroom@alaskaair.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-new-years-at-the-needle-celebration-delights-west-coast-viewers-welcoming-2026-302651520.html

SOURCE Space Needle

FAQ

When and where was the Space Needle New Year's at the Needle show that Alaska Airlines sponsored in 2026?

The show took place at Seattle Center at midnight on January 1, 2026, welcoming the Pacific Time Zone into the new year.

Which stations and streaming platforms broadcast the Space Needle New Year's show on January 1, 2026?

The event was broadcast live on KING (Seattle), KREM (Spokane), KGW (Portland), and CW 8.2 (San Diego), with streaming on KING5+, KGW+, KREM2+, and CBS8+.

What were the headline production numbers for the Space Needle New Year's 2026 display?

The show used over 5,000 fireworks, 1,500 unique cues, and more than 100 specialty light fixtures.

How did Alaska Airlines engage attendees at the Space Needle New Year's event?

Alaska Airlines hosted pop-up booths at the Armory offering giveaways, including a large gumball machine distributing items to VIP cardholders.

Was there a live soundtrack or radio simulcast for the Space Needle New Year's 2026 show?

Yes; the musical soundtrack featured 2025 artists and the show had a live simulcast on HITS 106.1 in Seattle.

Where can viewers watch the full recording of the Space Needle New Year's at the Needle 2026 show?

The full show is available to watch at spaceneedle.com/newyears.