Eight U.S. time zones received a Times Square Ball Drop for America250 in 2026.
The special Times Square event was held as a countdown to July 4, 2026, rather than on the usual New Year’s Eve schedule. The ball was lowered eight times so midnight could be marked across the U.S. time zones associated with the anniversary celebration.
The earliest drop corresponded to the Chamorro Time Zone, which includes Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. A prominent drop occurred at midnight Eastern Time, and the final one corresponded to the Samoa Time Zone, including American Samoa.
This event was a one-off extension of the familiar Times Square tradition. It illustrates the geographic scope of the anniversary: the commemoration included U.S. states, territories, and communities spread across multiple time zones, not only the mainland Eastern Time Zone.