You can watch the New York Times Square ball drop either in person in Manhattan or on several major TV networks and official livestreams from home. Here are the main options.

In person in New York

  • The ball drops above One Times Square at midnight, with viewing areas along Broadway (roughly 43rd–50th Streets) and Seventh Avenue up to around 59th Street.
  • Entry to the official viewing pens is free, first‑come‑first‑served, and access points are typically set up on 45th, 49th, 52nd and 56th Streets from Sixth and Eighth Avenues.
  • You usually need to arrive many hours early (mid‑afternoon) and be prepared for standing, security checks and no re‑entry if you leave the pens.

Official free livestreams

  • The Times Square Alliance runs an official commercial‑free webcast of the performances and ball drop from about 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time on its website and partner platforms.
  • The feed is generally available worldwide and often includes behind‑the‑scenes segments, artist interviews, and accessibility options like captions and ASL on platforms such as YouTube.
  • Local New York outlets such as CBS News New York also host free livestreams of their TV coverage of the countdown and ball drop.

On TV in the U.S.

  • Major U.S. networks air New Year’s Eve specials from Times Square that include the ball drop, such as ABC’s long‑running show from the square.
  • CBS carries “Nashville’s Big Bash,” which cuts to the Times Square countdown and can also be streamed on the Paramount+ service.
  • Cable channels like CNN host their own New Year’s Eve specials featuring live Times Square coverage and musical performances.

From nearby venues with a view

  • Some Times Square–area hotels and rooftop bars host ticketed New Year’s Eve parties with direct or partial views of the ball, often including food, open bar and music.
  • These events are usually expensive and sell out early, but they let you avoid standing in the public pens while still seeing or being very close to the ball drop.

Quick tips

  • Decide if you prefer the comfort of watching at home (official stream or TV) or the atmosphere of being in Times Square with the crowds.
  • If going in person, dress very warmly, eat beforehand, and arrive early; if watching online, set a reminder for just before midnight Eastern Time so you catch the final countdown.

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