New York is all set to make history with the largest-ever ball drop in history to ring in 2026.
Times Square this year is getting a new look for New Year’s Eve with the largest ball in history for the 2026 countdown, marking 119 years of tradition that began in 1907 with a 12.5-foot-diameter and over 12,000-pound-heavy dazzling ball, reported CNN.
The Constellation Ball, which is the 9th ball to drop at the famous Midtown Manhattan intersection, features 5,280 circular Waterford crystals in three different sizes, 1.5-inch, 3-inch and 4-inch, along with LED light pucks.
The event’s organisers, One Times Square, stated, “Each new crystal size features a unique design that celebrates the Ball’s spirit of eternal positivity.”
Michael Phillips, president of the firm that owns and operates One Times Square, Jamestown, said, “(The ball) is meant to represent interconnectedness, wholeness, and the cyclical nature of tradition, celebrating the eternal relationship between the past, present, and future.”
Where to watch the Times Square ball drop?
Here are some of the ways to watch the New York Times Square ball drop live.
Free streaming options:
Times Square's official website offers commercial-free coverage starting at 6 pm ET.
Times Square’s Facebook and X accounts also live stream the countdown and ball drop.
Streaming services:
Users who have subscriptions to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DirecTV or Fubo can also watch the event.
How to watch ball drop on TV?
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest (8 pm ET) on ABC.
New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (8 pm ET) on CNN.
New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash (8 pm ET) on CBS.
Other options:
You can use a VPN to access US-based streaming platforms from anywhere in the world and watch the annual tradition.
The ball drop happens at 11:59 pm ET, while the festivities start at 6 pm ET.
