The most unforgettable way to end 2026 and welcome 2027.
Thursday, December 31·8PM–1AM·SoFive, Columbia MD·Grades 6–8
This is not five hours of one activity. It is a whole building of them, running at the same time, for five hours straight — and it is built for one age group only, so the whole room is their people.
And all of it building toward the same thing at the same moment: the countdown to 2027.
There is not one way to do this night. They walk in, look around, and decide what is next — then change their minds an hour later.
Two kids can come to the same event and have completely different nights. That is the point.
It is the group photo, the rematch nobody expected, the lap time nobody will let them forget, and the ten seconds where the whole room counts down together.
Send this page to the friends who have to be there.
Twelve experiences across one huge night, plus midnight. However they choose to spend it, there is always something next.
Screens everywhere, brackets running all night, and a shot at a title for anyone who wants one. Play for the trophy or play for fun.
On the tournament boardSuper Smash Bros · FC · NBA 2K · Mario Kart 8 · Street Fighter · Madden · College Football · Rocket League.
Not entering a bracket? The rest of the library is on the screens all night — Fortnite, Minecraft, Just Dance, Gang Beasts and more. Free play between rounds, no sign-up needed.
Cover, teams, and a scoreline they will be talking about in the lounge afterwards.
Team battles in the tactical arena, running through the night.
It runs alongside the game brackets rather than instead of them, so they get both.
Proper rigs. Real lap times. A leaderboard that will not let anyone forget theirs.
What you get intoA proper cockpit rig — racing seat, wheel, pedals, and a screen big enough to make you lean into the corners.
Drop in, set a lap, and find out where you land.
The room disappears for a while.
On the headsetsBeat Saber · Arizona Sunshine · Rec Room · Population: One · Assassin’s Creed.
VR like nothing they have at home. Headset on, and the rest of the room disappears for a while.
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Everyone on headphones, everyone on a different channel, everyone somehow still dancing to the same night.
Wireless headphones for the room. Pick a channel, and the floor sounds completely different depending on which one you are on.
Take them off and it is the quietest party you have ever stood in the middle of.
Cars, a course, and lap times the whole room gets behind.
Radio controlled cars on a track, and lap times the whole room is hyped about at 11pm.
Plus RC Soccer and RC Sumo on our inflatable course, run by an Event Manager.
Teams, a ball and a scoreboard. The one that gets the whole group on their feet.
Our newest arena game, and the most physical thing in the building.
Teams, a ball, a scoreboard, and a room that gets very loud very quickly. Easy to pick up in about thirty seconds.
Five hours is a long night. Somewhere to drop into, find your group again, and decide what is next.
Somewhere to sit down between games, catch your breath and find your group again before the next thing starts.
It is a designed part of the night, not an afterthought.
Giant games, low stakes, surprisingly loud.
Giant Jenga and cornhole, running all night.
Easy to join, easy to walk away from, and somehow very hard to stop playing once a crowd gathers.
A screen, a seat, and no obligation to be competitive about anything.
A screen, a seat, and nothing to win.
Somewhere to land for half an hour in the middle of a five hour night, then get back into it.
The table that somehow ends up being where everyone is at 11pm.
Board games for the stretch of the night when nobody wants another screen.
It is usually louder than the gaming floor.
Running all night. What they are gets announced closer to the date, and the Priority List hears first.
Prizes and giveaways run through the night, on the tournament boards and off them.
What they are gets announced closer to the date, and the Priority List hears it first.
Dinner is pizza. Snacks and drinks keep going through the night, so five hours does not have to be planned around a meal stop.
Not everybody wants a bracket. For the ones who do, there are titles on the board all night and a laser tag arena running alongside them.
Pick your title and tell us who you are beating.
Team battles in the tactical laser tag arena, plus the racing sim and RC leaderboards, running through the night alongside the game brackets.
There are prizes and giveaways through the night. What they are gets announced closer to the date, and the Priority List hears first.
At the end of 2026 the games pause, the competitions stop, and the whole event comes together for one countdown. Ten seconds. One huge moment. Then it is 2027 — and they were there for it.
There is a good chance you have seen us before — at your school, at a neighbor's party, at Awesome Con, or maybe you left one of the reviews.
The full details, the experience reveals, and first access to tickets all go to the Priority List first — before anyone else.
Drop your name, email and your child’s grade, and we’ll bring it straight to you. Free, and one click to leave any time.
Everyone on the Priority List can win. Five winners each get two tickets: one for their child and one for a friend in grades 6 to 8. Confirm your entry from the email or text we send you. Winners are drawn live on November 8. Official rules
Thanks — we have your email.
A confirmation is on its way. If it is not there in a few minutes, check your promotions or spam folder.
Registration for NYE Midnight Takeover has not opened yet.
Open the email we just sent and tap Confirm my giveaway entry. That puts your family in the drawing for two free tickets.
Because you’re on the Priority List, you’ll get:
After that, nothing else to do. We’ll let you know before Priority List registration opens.
Wrong email? Email us the correction and we will fix it on the record we already have.
Sign-ups are not being taken yet. In the meantime you can reach us at team@mail.nextlevelgamingmd.com or 443-718-9598.
Get access to registration a full day before it opens to everyone else.
Priority List members get first access to the best price of the run when registration opens.
Deeper event information, experience reveals, prize announcements and important updates as the night comes together.
Stay connected as we prepare families for registration and the event.
Joining is free. It is not registration and does not commit the family to attend.