Ringing in 2026: Where to Watch the Ball Drop and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Live
NEW YORK CITY – A Night for the History Books: Millions Ring in 2026 with Double Ball Drop and Star-Studded Performances . As the clock struck midnight and 2025 faded into history, New York City hosted a New Year’s Eve celebration unlike any other. An estimated one million revelers packed into the “Crossroads of the World” to witness a historic “double ball drop” and a record-breaking eight-hour broadcast of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
A Historic “Double” Ball Drop
This year’s countdown introduced a significant change to the 122-year-old tradition. For the first time, the iconic Constellation Ball—now weighing over 12,000 pounds and adorned with 5,280 Waterford crystals—descended not once, but effectively twice.
- The 2026 Countdown: At 11:59 PM, the ball began its traditional 60-second descent to ring in the new year.
- The America250 Tribute: Just four minutes after midnight, at 12:04 AM, the ball was relit in a patriotic red, white, and blue design. This special moment launched the “America250” initiative, celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The “second drop” was accompanied by a surprise release of an additional 2,000 pounds of patriotic-themed confetti and a pyrotechnic finale set to Ray Charles’ “America the Beautiful.”
Rockin’ Eve 2026: The Longest Broadcast Ever
Ryan Seacrest, celebrating his 21st year as host, led a marathon eight-hour telecast on ABC that spanned until 4:00 AM ET. Joined by co-host Rita Ora in Times Square, the night featured 42 artists and over 90 songs.
Highlights from the Night:
- The Legend Returns: Global icon Diana Ross headlined the Times Square stage, performing a medley of hits that brought the million-strong crowd to a standstill just after midnight.
- Pop & Global Stars: Performances included high-energy sets from Post Malone, Mariah Carey, OneRepublic, and a highly anticipated appearance by the KPop Demon Hunters (HUNTR/X).
- Multi-City Celebration: For the first time, the show featured a live Central Time Zone countdown from Chicago, hosted by Chance the Rapper. Meanwhile, NFL legend Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough held down the fort in Las Vegas.
How the World Watched
While the streets of Manhattan were a sea of people, tens of millions more tuned in globally.
- Television: ABC’s broadcast remains the gold standard, with early figures suggesting a viewership surpassing last year’s 29 million.
- Streaming: Cord-cutters flocked to platforms like Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling TV.
- Virtual Experience: The official Times Square commercial-free webcast provided backstage access and behind-the-scenes interviews to millions of viewers on mobile devices and social media.
What’s Next for 2026?
The celebration in Times Square isn’t actually over. Organizers announced that the patriotic America250 Ball will make a rare summer appearance, dropping again on July 3, 2026, to mark the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday—the first time the ball has dropped on a day other than New Year’s Eve since 1907.
