What is the traditional New Year's Eve countdown location in New York City?

Times Square is New York City's traditional location for the New Year's Eve countdown.

Crowds gather around the square to watch the illuminated ball descend from One Times Square during the final minute of December 31. The ball reaches the bottom at midnight, marking the start of the new year. The ceremony is accompanied by music, confetti, performances, and extensive television coverage.

The location became associated with New Year's celebrations after the New York Times organized a celebration for the opening of its new building there in 1904. Fireworks initially formed the centrepiece, but the first ball drop followed in 1907 and became the enduring symbol.

Times Square is a commercial and theatrical district at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. It is sometimes called “the Crossroads of the World,” but that nickname is separate from the countdown itself. The live crowd is only one part of the event: viewers around the world also watch the broadcast from home.