Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s New Year Photos Prove the Real Party Happens After the Cameras Are Off

While most celebrities welcomed 2026 with champagne flutes and curated glamour, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard went in the opposite direction — and that’s exactly why fans can’t get enough of it.

According to Shepard, their New Year’s Eve was “bonkers fun,” and the photos he and Bell shared backed that up instantly. The snapshots showed a night built around warmth, laughter, and family chaos rather than spectacle. Wrapped in layers and surrounded by oversized flowers, hanging umbrellas, and climbing vines, the celebration felt more whimsical backyard dream than celebrity event.

Bell leaned into comfort, draping a gray blanket over an all-black outfit and carrying a leather bag, while Shepard kept things relaxed in light-wash jeans, Vans, and a sweater embroidered with a message that felt perfectly timed for a fresh start: don’t hide your magic.

True to their long-standing values, the couple also offered rare but respectful glimpses of their children. Bell shared photos of their daughters — Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 11 — carefully photographed from behind or mid-motion. As always, their faces remained private, covered with heart emojis in keeping with the parents’ firm boundary around social media exposure.

One especially sweet image showed Shepard celebrating his birthday alongside the girls, who wore matching striped tops and berets. Bell added hearts over their faces, preserving the moment without crossing the line they’ve guarded for years.

 

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Shepard’s own photo dump added another layer to the story. In one caption, he joked about a hilariously imperfect photo their daughter managed to take — all fingers covering all camera lenses, yet somehow still capturing the moment. His wish for the year ahead? That all of 2026 would unfold with that same chaotic success.

The celebration didn’t end at midnight. The following day brought sunshine and a laid-back boat outing with friends. Bell shielded herself from the sun beneath a wide-brim straw hat, cozy in a white knit sweater, while the group soaked up the calm after the festivities.

No sparkle. No posing. Just a marriage, a family, and the kind of joy that doesn’t need polishing. In a town built on performance, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard rang in the New Year by being exactly who they are — and that might be the most provocative move of all.