New Year's Eve In Times Square: What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — The annual New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square is set for Wednesday night, with New Yorkers and viewers worldwide witnessing the dropping of the New Year's Eve ball.

A new iteration of The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball will drop in Times Square to ring in 2026. The new "Constellation Ball" is the ninth Times Square Ball since 1907 and measures 12.5 feet in diameter, weighs 12,350 pounds, and is the largest ball yet, according to officials.

The new ball features new motion and control systems, state-of-the-art lighting, interactive elements and other modern technology to help with the New Year’s Eve festivities.

The ball will be raised around 6 p.m. with a countdown to the drop starting at 11:59 p.m. Entry to the view ball drop is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Viewing areas open at 3 p.m., with access points at 45th, 49th, 52nd, and 56th Streets on both 6th and 8th Avenues

Here's what else you need to know about the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square:

Street Closures

Forty-fifth, 49th, 52nd and 56th streets will all be closed off once their viewing areas have reached capacity. In addition, Seventh Avenue and Broadway will close to vehicular traffic from 38th to 59th streets. Sixth and Eighth avenues within the event area will close to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

How To Watch

Viewers can see the new Constellation Ball on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," hosted by Ryan Seacrest, starting at 8 p.m. Viewers can watch the ball drop on ABC.

Singer Diana Ross is headlining this year's "New Year's Rockin' Eve.