What is the most famous New Year’s tradition?

The countdown to midnight is the most popular activity during New Year’s, where people around the world gather, either in person or virtually, to participate. It is often accompanied by the striking of bells, fireworks displays, and lively celebrations, such as toasting with champagne or other beverages. The most iconic countdown is the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop at midnight, ushering in the beginning of a new year.

15 New Year’s Eve QR Code Ideas for Memorable Year-End Campaigns

By: Roselle V.Update: January 09, 2026

New Year’s Eve is the moment when we can pause, reflect, and toast to everything the year has been.

What if you could make it even more memorable for your guests or clients?

Ignite your mind with these fun and exciting New Year’s Eve QR code ideas to make it more engaging for everyone.

With an advanced QR code generator, you can design interactive experiences that bring convenience, creativity, and connection to your celebration.

In this blog, we’ll explore different ways to use QR codes to turn your year-end campaigns and celebrations exciting and leave a lasting impression.

Table of Contents

15 New Year’s Eve QR code ideas to ring in 2026 with style

You can spice up your NYE brand campaigns and celebrations with these 15 QR-rated ideas we have:

1. Distribute QR code coupons for the year-end sale

It’s the end of the year, and you should let your customers know that you value them.

Offer promotional coupons and discounts on your products as a thank you for trusting your brand and a gesture of goodwill for their continued patronage in the coming year.

You don’t even have to print the discount offers anymore, nor do you need physical coupons. Convert the website link to QR code and share it on your brand’s social media platforms. You can even send this to your customers personally as well.

Gifts like this will inspire your customers to return in the following year.

2. Accept special requests via feedback QR codes

Create a QR code feedback form using an advanced QR code generator.

The form can contain questions, including “What product did the customers purchase from you this year?” and “Will they recommend your brand to their friends and family?”

Take their feedback and use it to enhance your brand and strengthen your customer relationships.

3. Run a special giveaway

Using QR codes, you can organize a scan-based giveaway in your brand or store.

QR TIGER is an advanced QR code software that enables you to create a Smart URL QR code that redirects to a special landing page that is only accessible within a specified number of scans.

For instance, as part of the New Year's celebration, you can give special prizes to the first five customers who scan the QR code.

This is an effective method for applying urgency marketing and promoting your brand.

4. Send out New Year’s Eve party invitations

Are you planning a special NYE party for your customers and clients?

Sending out traditional invitations may not be the smartest way to do it. Instead, create an online invitation and link it to a QR code. This way, it’s easier to distribute, whether offline or online.

The contents of the New Year’s Eve party RSVP QR code landing page must include the most crucial information, such as the event schedule, menu, venue details, and a virtual tour of the venue to attract customers.

Interested customers can respond by scanning the QR code. This will make it much easier to plan a guest list for the event.

5. Personalized greeting QR code for New Year’s Eve

Life takes people through different paths. There will be people who live far from their loved ones. This new year, be the magicians who bring families and friends together.

Provide a free video greeting card platform to your clients so they can create a personalized video featuring heartfelt thank-you wishes and New Year's greetings. They can quickly share it with their families and friends through a QR code.

It will also add an emotional touch to your campaign, making the experience more memorable and impactful.

6. Set up a New Year’s QR code donation on the 31st

NYE is not just about throwing big parties and lighting the crackers.

It’s also an opportunity to organize a donation campaign and tie up with local social welfare organizations. Let your customers know that their donation will bring a smile to the faces of someone in need

You can link the payment details in a mobile wallet QR code and share across various platforms with a CTA like “Scan and donate to spread smiles”.

7. Digital resolution notes

How many times have you heard someone say, “This New Year, I will be a new person.”

Ask your guests what they want to change or accomplish next year and embed their goals into individual resolution notes, accessible through text QR codes.

With a scan, they can immediately access their resolutions and wishes anytime through their smartphones, reminding them to maintain their dedication to their goals and make consistent efforts throughout the year.

This can make a simple yet meaningful token you can give to your guests.

8. Special recipe ideas

This festive celebration is never complete without exceptional food and drinks. Share your cocktails, appetizers, or dessert recipes with your guests through a QR code New Year’s Eve online landing page.

With their versatility, you can embed multimedia content into an HTML QR code. This can include cooking videos or step-by-step tutorials, making the learning process more engaging for others.

This easy and convenient way of accessing cooking instructions, ingredient lists, and additional tips on their smartphones will inspire others to create delicious treats, adding a dash of culinary creativity to the evening.

9. Virtual countdown clock

When is the New Year coming? It can be confusing to determine exactly when to start counting down.

To ensure that everyone at the venue is in sync, consider using a single virtual countdown clock that everyone can view.

Link it to a QR code and share it with your family, friends, and guests so they can synchronize their countdown with the official event, creating a sense of unity and excitement.

10. Year-end movie recommendations

What are the best movies this year? Curate a list and link it to a New Year’s QR code.

Then, share it across social media and let the public scan to reveal the list. This is an incredible method to boost social media engagement.

You can also place this QR code on your product packaging, flyers, and even promotional posters you create.

11. New year reading list

The new year means new book launches. Reveal a list of the most anticipated books of the coming year.

Divide them into genres and link the list to a QR code. You can share the code on different platforms and paste it on any merchandise you create or gift boxes you send around.

12. Interactive games

Before the clock strikes midnight, let your guests compete in trivia games, puzzles, or prediction polls accessible through a QR code to add an element of fun and friendly competition to the celebration.

By linking the games to QR codes, players can access the games right through their smartphones. People of all ages and abilities can participate, enhancing the festive spirit.

Don’t forget to give prizes or rewards to winners to motivate participants to engage actively in the games.

13. Share holiday message

Create a free QR code for New Year’s Eve greetings, complete with festive visuals, animations, or even a short video message from your team.

You can share it across your social media platforms to encourage your followers, customers, and partners to scan the code and unlock your digital greeting.

This not only adds a creative, interactive touch to your brand’s holiday message but also helps drive traffic to your website or campaign page.

14. New Year's bucket list

Everyone starts the year with resolutions, but not everyone manages to keep them.

You can make it easier and more inspiring for your customers by designing a New Year’s resolution checklist template and linking it to a PDF QR code.

When customers scan the code, they can access or download the template to list their goals and track their progress throughout the year.

It’s a creative way to promote engagement while positioning your brand as one that motivates and supports personal growth.

15. NYE music playlist

Curate a special playlist for the party on any music streaming platform, such as Spotify, and share it with others using a QR code.

Doing so allows guests to easily access and listen to the curated tunes throughout the evening using their smartphones.

Using a Spotify QR code is also a smart approach to promoting the latest releases or albums to the public, gaining valuable engagements right before the new year begins.

Real-life use cases of QR codes for New Year’s Eve

There are numerous brands that are already using QR codes for their NYE celebrations. Let’s take a look at how they wisely incorporate them into their events.

Ticketfairy scanning solution for NYE 2025/26

The Ticketfairy website launches marketing tools specifically for NYE, and its ticketing system is powered by QR codes.

The platform’s ticketing solution includes a mobile ticket scanning solution that ensures fast QR code entry management for any event.

NYE 2025 Dinner - Sky Views Observatory fireworks with house beverages

For New Year’s Eve 2025, Sky View offered ultimate luxury with the New Year's Sky Views Dinner in Dubai. The people who booked their tickets receive a booking voucher with a QR code.

NBC Chicago’s ‘Chicago Trivia’ 2023

On NYE 2023, NBC Chicago launched the Chicago trivia. Anyone who participated in the trivia won exclusive prizes.

To enter the contest, participants only need to scan a QR code to access the trivia page.

BookMyShow New Year’s Eve QR codes

BookMyShow is an online platform that enables you to book tickets for various events, shows, workshops, and movies.

In India, this is the platform where the most popular NYE party tickets will be available. When you register on the BookMyShow app and website, the platform will send you the confirmed tickets in the form of a QR code.

You can take this QR code to the venue, show it at the entrance, where the organizers will scan this code and let you in.

Fireworks display at Burj Khalifa

Visitors can watch fireworks at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by purchasing tickets via the U by Emaar app.

After completing the pre-registration process, participants will receive individual QR codes that allow them to access all Downtown Dubai locations on the last day of the year. The general public can use a black QR code for free to access the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.

The other QR code colors are dark red for Dubai Opera, light blue for restaurants and eateries, gold for hotel guests, and one of six colors for every guest attending the NYE gala.

Insomniac’s Countdown NYE

Insomniac Events hosts its annual Countdown NYE event, wherein over 80 artists perform on stage.

The organizers have been sending out QR code tickets to attendees, which they can add to their Apple Wallet, screenshot, or print for their last countdown event.

This year, the organizers will provide attendees with scannable wristbands that allow them to enter the gates on festival day.

Black-tie party at Racks Bar and Kitchen

The Racks Bar and Kitchen in Bristol, United Kingdom, uses New Year’s Eve QR codes to provide guests with an all-inclusive ticket to their black-tie party that will go on until the early hours of New Year’s Day 2023.

Those who purchase a ticket will get a unique QR code that grants access to only one person. The party venue advises its customers to secure their QR code tickets in advance of the event.

What kind of QR code should you use for NYE?

When you plan your New Year’s Eve campaigns, the types of QR codes that you use are going to be incredibly important.

There are two types of QR codes that you should be aware of: dynamic QR codes and static QR codes.

Dynamic QR codes

Dynamic QR codes are advanced in a way that they let you:

Update their content, including event details such as venue, schedule, and ticket URLs, in real time.
Track their performance through scan counts, time, locations, and device types.
Integrate with CRM or email tools for guest check-ins and remarketing.
Add password protection or expiration dates for exclusive access.
Customize design with logos, frames, and call-to-action labels.
Redirect regionally by sending guests to different pages based on location.
Reuse the same QR for future events by just updating the backend link.

They are the type of QR codes that businesses and marketing professionals use.

Static QR codes

These types of QR codes are fixed once created.

They permanently link to a single destination and cannot be edited or tracked after printing.
Although static QR codes are simple and cost-effective, they may not be suitable for time-sensitive events.

While static QR codes may suffice for simple, family gatherings, dynamic QR codes should be the go-to choice for NYE events that need flexibility and control.

Countdown to the new year in the QR code way

New Year’s Eve with QR codes is a unique pairing that is unexpectedly growing with us. Because who would have thought they could be useful for this day of celebration?

These versatile and handy tech tools make a simple celebration more fun and interactive by storing interactive content, thereby enhancing the New Year’s Eve experience.

You can always create custom, dynamic QR codes with logos for your year-end celebrations with QR TIGER.

Trusted by over 850,000 brands and professionals worldwide, you can ensure that your codes are visually appealing, secure, and of high quality.

FAQ

When is New Year’s Eve?

New Year’s Eve is the night or entire day before New Year’s Day, which is December 31. People commonly mark the transition through parties, fireworks, and social events.

Is New Year's Eve a federal holiday?

No. New Year’s Eve is not a U.S. federal holiday. However, New Year’s Day (January 1) is a federal holiday.