Chicago sets New Year's Eve curfew for teens as murder rate hits 412 for 2025

In the lead-up to New Year’s Eve, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released a video urging families to "talk through New Year’s Eve plans with our young people" and announcing that a youth curfew will be in effect for the evening. This comes as the city has hit 412 murders in 2025, through December 28.

Chicago will be hosting for the first time a Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve party, with Johnson saying, "we want everybody, including our young people, to join in the festivities downtown, to have a healthy, safe celebration." 

He said families should ask their young people "where they’re going to be, who they’ll plan to be with, and develop a plan to stay in touch with them throughout the night. Identify safe locations where your child can go if they get separated from their group and identify safe routes to and from the celebrations downtown." 

Johnson said the city would have outreach workers throughout the Riverwalk area "to help calm situations that may feel unsafe or overwhelming, and keep folks informed about safe routes and transportation options to get home safely," including free late-night train rides. Outreach workers are provided by non-profit agencies working on government grants to be "peacekeepers" in Chicago, who use their "lived experience" to engage with the community and prevent violence.

A curfew will be in effect between 10 pm and 4 am for youth ages 12 to 17, Johnson said, with those in this age group needing adult supervision if they are downtown past 10 pm. "Curfew violations come with real consequences. That’s why everybody needs to be responsible and respectful so everyone can have a safe celebration." 

Damarion Spann, a member of the Mayor’s Youth Commission, said, "I know the curfew isn't exactly what everyone wants to hear, but it's there to keep us safe. If you're between 12 and 17 and you're downtown after 10 pm you must be with an adult. Ignoring the curfew can lead to fines or other consequences, and I know no one wants to start 2026 that way.

He added, "most importantly, it’s how we carry ourselves that will make sure we'll get home safely. I've seen how violence impacts our communities. I've even felt it when friends and people I know have been hurt or lost. That's not the story we want for our city or for our generation. That's why the safety measures the city has in place for New Year's Eve matter, outreach workers, curfews, and clear expectations aren't about stopping the fun."

Johnson concluded, "Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year, and remember, Chicago, by checking in with young people in your family, you can play a vital role in making our New Year's celebration a national success. I hope to see you there."

This comes as the city, as well as New Orleans, are on high alert for terror attacks on New Year’s Eve. Chicago officials have assessed that the New Year’s Eve celebration event with fireworks on the city’s Navy Pier is an “attractive target” for terror attacks.