On what date did the special Times Square Ball drop count down to America250?

The special Times Square Ball drop for America250 took place on July 3, 2026, counting down to midnight and the July 4 anniversary. It was an unusual edition of an event normally associated with New Year’s Eve.

The collaboration between the Times Square celebration and the Semiquincentennial Commission was announced in December 2025. The one-off event was designed to build anticipation for the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The ball was lowered repeatedly for midnight in each U.S. time zone, creating a coast-to-coast countdown. A highlighted moment occurred at midnight Eastern Time, with additional timing connected to U.S. territories and their time zones.

The date is easy to misremember as July 4 because that was the actual anniversary. The ball drop began on July 3, however, and its purpose was to count down into July 4. The regular New Year’s Eve tradition remained a separate event.