New Year’s Eve New York means one thing for most visitors: the ball drop in Times Square. On Thursday 31 December 2026 the crowd starts gathering in the afternoon, the ball goes up the pole at One Times Square around 6pm, and at 11:59pm it takes 60 seconds to come down. Watching from the street is free, but it takes planning, patience and a lot of layers. Here’s how the night works and how to get in and out.
New Year’s Eve New York 2026: key facts
| Date | Thursday 31 December 2026 into Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Viewing areas open | From about 3:00pm, first come, first served |
| Ball raised | Around 6:00pm, when the celebration starts |
| Ball drop | 11:59pm, a 60-second descent to midnight |
| Entry | Free, no tickets; access from 6th or 8th Avenue only |
| Organiser | Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, with the NYPD handling security |
The timings above follow the Times Square Alliance’s standard schedule. Performers and the hour-by-hour program for 2026 haven’t been announced yet and usually come out in December.
How the Times Square ball drop works
From 6pm there are live performances, hourly countdowns and plenty of waiting. At 11:59pm the ball starts its descent and hits the bottom at midnight, followed by more than a ton of confetti over the crowd. For the last countdown, the Alliance added a second drop a few minutes after midnight with a red, white and blue ball for America’s 250th anniversary. Whether there will be a second drop again in 2026 hasn’t been confirmed.
Getting into Times Square on New Year’s Eve
You can only enter the viewing areas from 6th Avenue or 8th Avenue, and once the streets close you can’t cross Broadway or 7th Avenue. Viewing area access points are at 45th, 49th, 52nd and 56th Streets. From about 4pm, 6th and 8th Avenues close to traffic and pedestrians, with crossings at 41st, 44th, 47th, 50th, 54th and 57th Streets. The pens fill up in order, so the later you arrive, the further north you’ll stand.
What you can’t bring
Every bag gets searched. Backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, folding chairs, picnic blankets, large coolers, drones and alcohol are all banned, and that includes a bottle of champagne. Police will take anything on the list, so leave it at your hotel or in storage.
No bathrooms, no re-entry
There are no portable toilets in Times Square and no food vendors. Restaurants nearby may be open, but if you leave your viewing pen to eat or use a bathroom, you won’t get back to your spot. That is why many people eat a big meal beforehand and go easy on drinks.
Tips for the night
- Dress for hours outside in the cold. Temperatures can drop below freezing, so wear warm, wind and water resistant layers, a hat and gloves.
- Arrive early. The pens open around 3pm, and the closest ones fill long before the ball goes up.
- Bring snacks and a small bottle of water in your pockets or a small bag, and charge your phone fully.
- Skip “all access” or “multiple venue” passes from resellers. The Alliance warns they may not get you past police checkpoints, and some have been fake. Watching from the street is free.
Other ways to spend New Year’s Eve in New York
If 10 hours in a pen sounds like too much, you have options. Many restaurants, bars and hotels around Times Square and across Manhattan sell ticketed New Year’s Eve parties, often with a view of the ball. You can also follow the whole show on the free, commercial-free webcast from the Times Square Alliance. For ideas for the rest of your trip, see our guide to things to do in NYC in December and the Bryant Park Winter Village, a short walk from Times Square.
Subway and getting home
Take public transport. Times Square is served by the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, W and S lines, with the B, D, F and M at 42nd St–Bryant Park. On the last New Year’s Eve the MTA advised avoiding the Times Sq–42nd St station: the 42nd Street entrances closed around 10am, and the 49th St N/R/W and 50th St 1 stations were bypassed from about noon until shortly after midnight. Expect similar arrangements in 2026, and check the MTA’s service notices in late December.
Luggage storage for New Year’s Eve in New York
With backpacks and large bags banned from the viewing areas, a suitcase is a real problem if you check out on the 31st or fly out on 1 January. Radical Storage has local partners all over Midtown, including luggage storage near Times Square, spots near Penn Station and options near Grand Central.
Book online, drop your bags at a shop or hotel nearby and pick them up when you’re ready. Each bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free, and travelers rate the service 4.8/5. Hours on 31 December and 1 January vary by location, and Midtown streets close from the afternoon, so pick a spot you can reach and leave on foot.
For the official schedule, FAQ and webcast, see the Times Square Alliance website.
New Year’s Eve New York FAQ
The ball starts coming down at 11:59pm and reaches the bottom at midnight. It is raised to the top of the pole at One Times Square around 6pm.
No. The outdoor celebration is free and nobody sells official spots. Ticketed parties are only inside restaurants and hotels.
Viewing areas open around 3pm and fill in order, so arrive in the early afternoon if you want to be close to the ball.
No. Backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, chairs, coolers and alcohol are banned, and all bags are searched. Leave your bags at your hotel or in luggage storage.
No. There are no portable toilets, and if you leave your viewing area you can’t get back in.
Radical Storage has partner locations near Times Square, Penn Station and Grand Central. Book online, drop your bags and collect them later. Check holiday hours first.
