‘It’s Going to Be Huge’: Times Square Will Host Not One but Two Ball Drops for 2026

Times Square will host not one but two ball drops for 2026, the first one will be to ring in the new year, and the second is planned as part of the 250th anniversary of America celebration.

The organizers of the America250 nonprofit group said that for the first time ever, since the first ball drop in 1907 in New York City, there will be a second ball drop in 2026. It will take place on July 3 and serve as a countdown to Independence Day to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of America.

Times Square to hold second ball drop in July to mark America’s 250th birthday https://t.co/IeDYNyf8Yd pic.twitter.com/KzD06TD0mT
— New York Post (@nypost) December 26, 2025

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“To ring in the 4th of July, starting with the same type of festivities that you would normally see on New Year’s Eve — what better way to represent this global impact that we as a country have and the responsibility that comes with that?” Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, explained.

“Whatever you’re imagining as a broadcast performance, it’s much more than that,” she added. “It’s going to be huge, and it’s going to be beyond anyone’s expectations.”

And those watching at home and in Times Square will get a preview of the patriotic fun planned for the festivities. At approximately 12:04 on January 1, the ball will light up in red, white, and blue as 2,000 pounds of confetti rain down on the crowd after the New Year’s Eve ball drop.

America250, which has teamed up with One Times Square and the Times Square Alliance, told Good Morning America that the confetti will be followed by a “dynamic” pyrotechnic display to put everyone in the patriotic mood, accompanied by Ray Charles’ “America the Beautiful” as the ball features a special design.

After midnight strikes, revelers ringing in 2026 at Times Square will get a second treat as red, white and blue confetti rains down to usher in America's 250th anniversary. https://t.co/pKwtWhiDbZ
— ABC News (@ABC) December 26, 2025

"What better way to ring in 2026 with the iconic global countdown in Times Square," Rios said in an interview that aired on "Good Morning America" Friday.

"It's going to actually be the first time you're going to see this technology deployed in this way ever," she added. "So we're excited to be part of this."

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The Post also shared some details about this year’s New Year's Eve ball.

It read:

Organizers have also developed a new “Constellation Ball,” featuring crystals and Morse code messages in flashing lights, that will be deployed during this year’s New York’s Eve ball drop. The design of the America250 ball for the July 3 drop will be unveiled just before the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31.

GMA noted that the nonprofit group America250 was “charged by Congress to lead the celebration of the 250th year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”

In 2016, Congress authorized America250, also known as the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, "to provide for the observance and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and related events through local, State, national, and international activities planned, encouraged, developed, and coordinated by a national commission representative of appropriate public and private authorities and organizations."

A City Hall spokesperson told the Post that details of the second ball drop are still being worked out and that “nothing is finalized.”

Sounds incredible! Can’t wait! Happy New Year!

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