You can watch the 2026 Times Square ball drop on major TV networks, on several live‑TV streaming services, and for free on the official Times Square webcast and social channels.

Main ways to watch

  • Traditional TV (U.S.)
    • ABC airs “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” with coverage from Times Square starting in prime time and running past midnight.
* CNN carries its own New Year’s Eve show with live Times Square shots and countdown.
  • Free official Times Square stream
    • The official Times Square site offers a commercial‑free live webcast that starts in the early evening and runs through the midnight countdown.
* Times Square’s official Facebook and X (Twitter) accounts also livestream the ball drop at midnight ET.
  • Streaming without cable
    • Live‑TV services that carry ABC/CNN—such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo—let you stream the ball drop if those channels are in your plan.
* Some services (like Fubo or DirecTV Stream) often have short free trials near New Year’s, which can be used to watch without a long‑term subscription.

Watching outside the U.S.

  • If you are abroad, you can still:
    • Use the official Times Square webcast, which is accessible internationally in most regions.
* Watch via global news channels or local networks that rebroadcast the Times Square countdown (availability varies by country).
  • Viewers who already pay for U.S. streaming services sometimes use a VPN to log in as if they were in the U.S., though availability and legality depend on local laws and the service’s terms.

Extra context and timing

  • The ball begins its 60‑second drop at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and hits the bottom exactly at midnight to ring in 2026.
  • The current Constellation Ball , introduced for the 2025 celebration, continues in 2026 and will be relit in red, white, and blue afterward to mark the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary.

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