When the ball drops on New Year’s Eve in New York City, it will sparkle in red, white and blue, ushering in 2026 and kicking off months of celebrations for the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday.
A New Year’s Eve Tradition Reimagined
The patriotic touches at this year’s Times Square gathering, including a second confetti drop, will offer an early glimpse of what’s ahead: hundreds of events and programs, big and small, planned nationwide to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The iconic ball, first dropped in 1907, was built by Jacob Starr, a young immigrant metalworker, and weighed 700 pounds (318 kilograms). It measured 5 feet (1.5 meters) in diameter and was lit by 100 25-watt bulbs. The Constellation Ball, the ninth and largest version, was unveiled last year; it measures about 12 feet (3.7 meters) in diameter and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds (5,400 kilograms). The only years no ball drop occurred were 1942 and 1943, when a nightly “dimout” was instituted during World War II to protect the city from attacks. In those years, crowds celebrated with a moment of silence followed by chimes rung from the base of One Times Square.
America250 and the Vision for 2026
America250 Chair Rosie Rios, who oversees the bipartisan commission created by Congress in 2016 to organize the semiquincentennial anniversary, said, “I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re imagining, it’s going to be much more than that.” She added, “It’s going to be one for the ages, the most inspirational celebration this country and maybe the world has ever seen.” Rios and her group worked with the Times Square Alliance business district and One Times Square to make the changes to this year’s ceremonies. They are also planning a second ball drop on July 3, the eve of the nation’s birthday, “in the same beautiful style that Times Square knows how to do it,” Rios said. She noted it will mark the first time in 120 years there will be a ball drop in Times Square that doesn’t occur on New Year’s Eve.
The midnight stroke will also launch America Gives, a national service initiative created by America250. Organizers hope to make 2026 the largest year of volunteer hours ever aggregated in the country. On the following day, America250 will participate in the New Year’s Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, with a float themed “Soaring Onward Together for 250 Years.” The float will feature three larger-than-life bald eagles representing the country’s past, present and future.
“We want to ring in this new year from sea to shining sea. What better way to think about it than going from New York to California,” Rios said. “This has to be community-driven, this has be grassroots. We’re going from Guam to Alaska, from Fairbanks to Philadelphia, and everything in between.” She added, “If we can find something for everyone … having those menus of options that people can pick and choose how they want to participate,” she said. “That’s how we’re going to get to engaging 350 million Americans.”
President Trump’s Freedom 250 Initiative
President Donald Trump has also announced the “Freedom 250” initiative to coordinate additional events for the 250th anniversary. The initiative is intended to complement America250’s nationwide programming and to add a federal dimension to the celebrations.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Law enforcement officials announced the arrests of individuals linked to a New Year’s Eve bombing plot in Southern California. The arrests were part of a broader effort to protect the public during the holiday season.
Key Takeaways
- Times Square’s 2025 ball drop will sparkle red, white and blue, marking 2026 and launching America250’s 250th-anniversary celebrations, with a Rose Parade float.
- America250’s Chair Rosie Rios plans a second ball drop on July 3 and the launch of America Gives, a national volunteer initiative.
- President Trump’s Freedom 250 initiative will add federal coordination to the nationwide events.
The 2025 ball drop not only celebrates a historic tradition but also signals the start of a year-long commemoration of America’s founding, bringing together communities across the country in a shared celebration of patriotism, volunteerism and unity.
