To stream the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop, you can watch it free on the official Times Square webcast, major TV network apps, or live-TV streaming services that carry ABC, CBS, and CNN.

Easiest free options

  • Go to the official Times Square site’s live webcast on New Year’s Eve; it usually starts around 6 p.m. ET and runs through the midnight countdown with no cable login needed.
  • Watch the dedicated Times Square livestream hosted by Jonathan Bennett and Jeremy Hassell, which is promoted as the central online stream for the 2026 ball drop.
  • Check Times Square’s social media (YouTube, Facebook, X) for simultaneous free livestreams of the countdown.

Via major TV specials

  • ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” airs from Times Square and can be streamed if you have ABC via Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or similar services.
  • CBS carries its own New Year’s programming and the ball drop; you can watch through Paramount+ Premium or any live-TV streaming service that includes CBS.
  • CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” streams on CNN’s subscription platform and via CNN apps for pay‑TV subscribers.

If you don’t have cable

  • Use a free trial of a live‑TV streaming service (Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream) to access ABC, CBS, or CNN’s coverage for the night.
  • Stick with the official Times Square webcast or social media streams if you want to avoid sign‑ups and trials altogether.

Smart TVs and devices

  • On Samsung Smart TVs, you can access New Year’s Eve specials and ball‑drop coverage through Samsung TV Plus or network apps like ABC, CBS, and CNN.
  • Streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TV apps) let you install ABC, CBS, CNN, and YouTube apps, where many of these streams are available live.

Quick checklist before midnight

  • Test your stream (Times Square webcast or network app) at least 10–15 minutes before 11:59 p.m. ET.
  • Confirm your time zone so you’re watching the actual New York midnight drop, not just local celebrations.

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