Times Square to Feature Double Ball Drop for 2026

New York City's Times Square will mark the arrival of 2026 with a historic double drop of its iconic New Year's Eve ball, the first such occurrence in the event's more than century-long tradition, as part of nationwide preparations for the United States' 250th anniversary.

On December 31, 2025, the illuminated Constellation Ball will descend at midnight as usual to usher in the new year, drawing crowds of revelers and millions of television viewers worldwide. Minutes later, at approximately 12:04 a.m. on January 1, the ball will rise again, relit in red, white, and blue hues with a special America250 design projected onto it. It will then drop a second time above illuminated 2026 numerals, accompanied by a release of 2,000 pounds of patriotic confetti and a pyrotechnic finale set to Ray Charles' rendition of "America the Beautiful." Organizers from the Times Square Alliance, the America250 commission, and One Times Square collaborated on the enhancements to extend the celebration beyond the traditional countdown and highlight the semiquincentennial milestone.

The America250 commission, a bipartisan organization established by Congress in 2016, is coordinating hundreds of events...