Meet the New Year’s Eve Ball: Times Square’s Bigger, Brighter Icon for 2026

Times Square has officially unveiled the new “Constellation Ball,” marking the most significant redesign of the New Year’s Eve centerpiece in nearly a decade.

This is the ninth ball since the tradition began in 1907, when Adolph Ochs introduced the original version after fireworks were banned for safety concerns around wooden buildings in Times Square.

The new 2025 ball is also the largest ever built, measuring 12.5 feet in diameter and weighing more than 12,000 pounds.

The redesign doubles the number of Waterford crystals to 5,280, arranged in new round shapes rather than the old triangular panels. For 2025, the crystals debut themed patterns titled Infinite Joy, Infinite Light, and Infinite Beginnings, which will rotate annually in future years.

A fully upgraded lighting and motion system powers audio-reactive visuals that shift in real time, modernizing the world’s most-watched New Year’s symbol.

For the first time, the ball will be a year-round attraction. Visitors can view it up close through paid access at One Times Square, with general tickets starting around $45.

The project blends 118 years of history with brand-new technology, transforming the New Year’s Eve ball into both a cultural icon and a permanent NYC landmark.