As the final hours of 2025 ticked away, millions across the UK and beyond turned their televisions to BBC One for what has become a cherished annual tradition: the New Year’s Eve music spectacular. This year, the honor of ushering in 2026 fell to Ronan Keating, the beloved Irish singer-songwriter and Boyzone frontman, whose heartfelt approach and star-studded guest list promised a night of nostalgia, comfort, and optimism.
For Keating, the opportunity to headline Ronan and Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party was both a privilege and a responsibility. As he told BBC News during rehearsals at London’s Riverside Studios, "It can be a very lonely time for a lot of people. A very hard time. Especially when you reflect on a tough year. So you want to look at, maybe, optimism into 2026." Keating’s hope, he explained, was to bring joy to those who might otherwise feel isolated, to let viewers know, "they’re not at home alone tonight, that I’m right there with them."
This sentiment was more than just a soundbite. Over the past couple of years, Keating has faced personal hardship, most notably the tragic loss of his elder brother Ciaran in July 2023. "Now, keeping the family together is more important than ever for me," he confided. The new year, he admitted, could be tough for himself as well, but music offered a means of healing and connection, both for him and for his audience.
The night’s festivities kicked off at 11:30pm on December 31, 2025, broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the program carefully structured in two parts: the first segment leading up to midnight, and the second resuming at 12:15am after the traditional London fireworks. In Scotland, viewers were treated to the Hogmanay show featuring sea shanty singer Nathan Evans, Michelle McManus, and folk supergroup Mànran, but the rest of the UK tuned in for a pop celebration spanning three decades of hits.
Keating stood on stage, illuminated by a giant R-O-N-A-N sign in golden lights—a playful nod to Elvis’ iconic 1968 comeback special. He joked with reporters about where the sign might end up after the show, quipping, "In my bedroom? That would be amazing." But there was little time for self-indulgence; the evening’s focus was on collaboration and community.
The guest list was a testament to Keating’s enduring friendships and musical versatility. Chief among the night’s highlights was a reunion with Boyzone bandmates Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch. This marked their first performance together since 2019 and offered fans a powerful dose of nostalgia. Boyzone, after all, remains one of the UK’s most successful pop groups of the 1990s, boasting six UK number-one singles and over 25 million records sold worldwide. Their set was a tantalizing preview of the group’s upcoming reunion shows in June 2026 at London’s Emirates Stadium—their first time headlining a stadium, a milestone Keating described as "unbelievable." "The guest list is ridiculous. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. And yes, I have received more Christmas cards this year than I normally do," he laughed.
But Boyzone weren’t the only familiar faces. Louise Redknapp, Keating’s former flatmate from the 1990s and a defining voice of 90s pop thanks to her time in Eternal and her solo career, brought high-energy, feel-good pop to the party. Fresh off her recent Top 10 album Confessions, Louise’s performance was a reminder of her enduring appeal—she’s sold over 15 million records to date. Keating reminisced about their early days, sharing, "Lou and I and Shano, we were flatmates back in 1995, right next door to Ant & Dec in London. It was a poptastic house. We’d all be touring together and coming back to our flat. It was very cute." Asked who took longer in the bathroom, he replied without hesitation, "Shano. Plucking his eyebrow!"
Adding a theatrical edge to the line-up was Shona McGarty, the former EastEnders star and recent I’m A Celebrity finalist. Known for her powerhouse vocals and West End pedigree, Shona was handpicked by Keating after he heard her singing nightly on the reality show. "She was singing every night on the show and I just thought, man, we’ve got to get her on New Year’s Eve. That was her audition," he enthused. For the New Year’s Eve special, Shona joined Keating for a duet of Tracy Chapman’s "Baby Can I Hold You," a song Boyzone famously took to number two in the charts.
Completing the bill was Calum Scott, the multi-platinum singer-songwriter whose emotionally charged hits like "You Are The Reason" and "Biblical" have made him a favorite in the Keating household. "I love his voice. I love his songwriting," Keating said. Scott took on the poignant task of singing the late Stephen Gately’s part on "No Matter What," a moment that resonated deeply with both the performers and the audience.
The show’s format, carefully honed since the tradition began in 2013, balanced nostalgia with contemporary flair. Previous years had seen the likes of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Robbie Williams, Alicia Keys, and Madness in the headline slot, with the program regularly attracting the largest TV audience for any music show that year. This year was no exception, as viewers tuned in for a night that blended the familiar with the fresh, the celebratory with the reflective.
Keating, for his part, eschewed the idea of New Year’s resolutions. "If I’ve got to make changes, I make them now. I won’t wait till a certain date, because I’ll only fail," he admitted. Instead, his focus was on cherishing time with loved ones and embracing the healing power of music. As he sang the soundtrack to his more than 30-year career, it was clear that the night was as much about his own journey as it was about entertaining the nation.
For those watching at home, the message was unmistakable: even in the face of loss and uncertainty, there is room for joy, connection, and hope. As the fireworks faded and the music played on into the early hours of 2026, Keating’s wish to "put a smile on your face" felt more than fulfilled.
