One million revelers expected for iconic midnight countdown with historic second celebration for America250
A New Year Like No Other
New York City welcomed over one million revelers into Times Square on December 31, 2025, for the iconic New Year’s Eve countdown that would usher in 2026 and mark a historic moment for America. The Crossroads of the World, known internationally as the focal point of global New Year celebrations, prepared for festivities more elaborate than ever before. The evening would not end with the traditional midnight ball drop but would continue into an unprecedented second ceremonial moment celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Ball Drop Tradition Spanning Over a Century
The Times Square Ball drop tradition dates back to 1904, with the first ball actually dropping in 1907. Built by immigrant metalworker Jacob Starr, that original 700-pound, five-foot-diameter ball was constructed of iron and wood, featuring 100 twenty-five-watt light bulbs. The only years when no ball drop occurred were 1942 and 1943, during World War II when the city instituted nightly blackouts to protect against attacks. Instead of the ball drop, crowds observed a moment of silence followed by chimes rung from the base of One Times Square. Today’s Constellation Ball, unveiled in 2025, measures approximately twelve feet in diameter and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds.
Record-Breaking Confetti and New LED Technology
Over one ton of biodegradable confetti, including personal wishes submitted by people around the world, would be released at midnight. For the first time, the New Year’s Numerals featured programmable LED pucks that could display an array of colors and patterns. The numeral “2” contained 145 LED pucks, the “0” contained 164 LED pucks, the second “2” contained 145 LED pucks, and the “6” contained 140 LED pucks. These numerals could choreograph their displays with the ball’s designs, creating a unified visual spectacle. For information on Times Square history and planning, see the Times Square Alliance’s official website.
Viewing Areas and Logistics
Viewing areas opened at 3 p.m., with access points at 45th, 49th, 52nd, and 56th streets on both Sixth and Eighth avenues. The best viewing locations were along Broadway from 43rd to 50th streets and Seventh Avenue as far north as 59th Street. The ball was raised at approximately 6 p.m., with the 60-second descent beginning at 11:59 p.m. The event remained free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, with no tickets required for public viewing. However, leaving a viewing spot forfeited re-entry rights. For more information on Times Square events and celebrations, see the official New York City website.
Transportation and Street Closures
The MTA announced enhanced service schedules, adding extra subway and commuter rail service on New Year’s Eve. The best travel option to Times Square was via mass transit using the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, M, N, Q, R, and W subway lines. Seventh Avenue and Broadway closed to vehicular traffic from 38th to 59th streets at approximately 11 a.m. By 4 p.m., Sixth and Eighth avenues within the event area closed to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Prohibited items included backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, folding chairs, picnic blankets, coolers, alcohol, drones, and weapons.
Historic America250 Moment
For the first time ever, a surprise second ceremonial celebration would follow the traditional midnight countdown at approximately 12:04 a.m. EST. The Times Square Ball would be relit in a red, white, and blue America250 design and rise above illuminated “2026” numerals. The moment included the new video America Turns 250, a first-ever post-midnight release of 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti, and a dynamic pyro finale set to Ray Charles’ rendition of America the Beautiful. For information on America’s 250th anniversary celebration, see the America250 official website.
