Chicago does have New Year’s Eve “ball drop” style celebrations, but they look a bit different from the famous Times Square drop in New York. The biggest recent versions have been tied to large public events downtown and at Navy Pier rather than one permanent, iconic ball structure.

Main answer

  • Chicago has hosted a televised New Year’s Eve celebration as part of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” which included a countdown and ball-drop-style moment in the city to ring in 2026.
  • The city has also promoted its “biggest New Year’s Eve celebration yet” along the Riverwalk, emphasizing live performances, fireworks, and national TV coverage.
  • At Navy Pier, there are NYE events such as an early “Beach Ball Drop” at Margaritaville (aimed at families) and late-night parties tied to the midnight fireworks show, which give the city its own version of a ball drop experience.

How it compares to NYC

  • New York’s Times Square has a permanent, globally recognized crystal ball that drops every year in the same place.
  • Chicago’s “ball drop” moments are event-based (for example, special NYE broadcasts or venue-specific drops at Navy Pier) rather than a single, iconic, permanent ball on a tower.

Where to go for a ball-drop feel

  • Downtown/Riverwalk: Look for the official city-backed New Year’s Eve celebration, especially when Chicago is featured on national countdown shows.
  • Navy Pier: Check venues like Margaritaville or Bar Sol for their scheduled ball or beach-ball drops plus a view of midnight fireworks over the lake.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.