New Year’s Eve in Times Square is back, and this year’s celebration promises an epic lineup of stars and traditions. Get ready for a memorable night as we countdown to 2026!
The iconic New Year’s Eve ball drop in New York City’s Times Square is set to ring in 2026, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1907. As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, this year’s festivities are expected to attract thousands of attendees and millions of viewers from home, showcasing some of the biggest names in music.
The countdown to midnight kicks off at 6 p.m. ET with the ceremonial raising of the New Year’s Eve Ball, an event marked by representatives from Carnival Cruise Line and Times Square New Year’s Eve flipping a switch to light up the ball. Following this moment, singer Jenn O’Hagan will perform the national anthem, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ setting a patriotic tone for the evening.
Fans of the TODAY show will be thrilled to see Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb reunite for a special segment titled ‘A Toast to 2025!’ airing on NBC. They’ll relive memorable highlights from 2025 while looking ahead to the new year. Joining them will be several familiar faces from the TODAY team, including Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer, Willie Geist, and Al Roker.
Special guests for the NBC celebration include Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, who is prepping for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and figure skating commentator Johnny Weir. Also making appearances will be ‘Sunday Night Football’ host Maria Taylor, along with various stars from NBC and Peacock shows. Comedian Jim Gaffigan, ‘The Office’ star Brian Baumgartner, and comedian Lil Rey Howery are also set to add to the evening’s entertainment.
For those looking to join in on the celebrations, the NBC two-hour special begins at 10:30 p.m. ET and promises to be filled with fun and nostalgia. Additionally, viewers can access a free, commercial-free livestream of the ball drop celebration, which will last 6.5 hours, via TimesSquareNYC.org starting at 6 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve. The livestream will also feature open captions and American Sign Language interpretation to ensure accessibility for all.
