The Times Square New Year's Eve ball traditionally drops once at midnight.
The descent is the central visual signal of the Times Square countdown. It begins shortly before midnight and ends at the instant the new year starts, after which the crowd celebrates with confetti, noise, and fireworks-like effects from the surrounding city. The single drop distinguishes the event from a sequence of hourly countdowns.
The ball itself was introduced in 1907, while the present ceremony has developed through changes in size, materials, lighting, and broadcast technology. Some Times Square programming includes other countdowns or performances before midnight, which can create confusion about how many times the ball descends. Those earlier moments are not additional official ball drops: the traditional illuminated ball makes one final descent each New Year's Eve.