The Times Square Ball Drop for welcoming 2026 happened on December 31, 2025, at midnight ET, marking the iconic New Year's Eve tradition in New York City. Since today is January 1, 2026, live streams have concluded, but official replays and highlights remain available across multiple free and paid platforms. Various broadcasters offered extensive coverage leading up to the event, blending live performances, celebrity hosts, and the crystal ball descent.

Free Streaming Options

The official Times Square website provided commercial-free live coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET, with replays accessible post-event. Their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube channels also streamed the ball drop directly, capturing the festivities without interruptions.

  • Times Square NYC official site: Core webcast focused purely on the event.
  • YouTube live streams from verified channels like official tests and walkthroughs offered real-time views.
  • Social media platforms hosted simultaneous multicasts for global viewers.

Major Network Streams

CNN aired "New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen" from 8 p.m. ET, featuring guests like Shakira and Bryan Adams, streaming exclusively on CNN All Access, their app, and Smart TV apps. ABC's "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" with Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora started at 8 p.m. ET, available live on ABC or via iHeartRadio app, with next-day Hulu access.

Nexstar's "Coast-to-Coast Countdown 2026" ran on 138 local stations from 11 p.m. ET, free on Samsung TV Plus and station apps like KTLA+.

Live TV Alternatives

Subscribers to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DirecTV, or Fubo could stream via ABC, CNN, or local affiliates carrying the event. These services ensured no blackouts for the midnight moment, even in cord-cutting households.

Quick Post-Event Access

For replays as of early January 1, 2026, check YouTube for user-captured 4K tests and full streams, or network on-demand sections. Official highlights emphasize the illuminated "2026" numerals and crowd energy from the December 18 prep ceremony.

TL;DR at bottom: Primary free streams were Times Square's site/socials; paid via CNN/ABC apps/services. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.