Gen Z indulge in alcohol free parties, choose kirtan, bhajan clubbing for New Year’s celebration

Generation Z is embracing a new alcohol-free New Year’s Eve party trend

New Year’s Eve celebrations usually involve partygoers going clubbing, dancing, and much more, but the most common and preferred by revelers are parties with alcohol. People who are in holiday and party mode in the last days of the year prefer to travel, drink alcohol for a relaxing effect and attend parties for Happy New Year. However, a different trend was seen this year.

Generation Z has started a new trend, abandoning traditional nightclubs and alcohol-fuelled parties and adopting a more neutral yet mind-blowing way of welcoming the new year and offering New Year wishes. They focus on a more joyful New Year 2026.

1. A New Nightlife Trend for Generation Z
Gen Z is now focusing on mixing devotional music like bhajans and kirtan with modern beats (EDM style). These gatherings are becoming social and low-key alternatives to traditional nightlife.

2. Beyond nightlife: A sober, spiritual social experience

Generation Z prefers to attend gatherings that become more special because they blend traditional worship music with community dance and non-alcoholic musical energy. This is because they prefer healthier and more mindful experiences over hangovers.

3. Popularity and Rapid Growth

Ticketed worship nights are selling out. According to Google Trends, searches for terms like “bhajan clubbing,” “modern kirtan,” and “sober rave India” have increased sharply (400-600% since the beginning of 2024).

4. Promoters and music creators behind the popularity

Groups such as ISKCON youth gatherings, Art of Living meditators and other artists are shaping this trend.

Organizers and cultural creators believe that this format, where spirituality meets sociality, could become a mainstream form of nightlife from 2026. Platforms, organizers and spiritual creators say the momentum is strong enough that it could become a mainstream format in 2026. Srida Patodia, founder of Sort My Scene, says the numbers are promising.

“Bhajan-inspired club nights and other spiritual-social formats generate unusually high ticket volumes,” he notes, adding that people travel between cities to attend them. Repeat attendance exceeds expectations. “Even mainstream nightlife promoters are experimenting with bhajan-style jam sessions,” he says, noting that tier 1, 2 and even tier 3 cities are starting to move towards it.

This is not bullshit anymore. This shift is being driven in part by the rise of dedicated creators and community-first youth groups.