Which New York City location hosts the annual New Year's Eve ball drop?

Times Square hosts New York City’s annual New Year’s Eve ball drop. The tradition began on December 31, 1907, when a lighted ball descended from the flagpole atop One Times Square to mark the new year. The ball replaced fireworks that had been used for the celebration.

The event became a major public spectacle, with crowds gathering in the square and millions more watching remotely. The ball has changed in size, materials, and lighting technology over the decades. Today’s version is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and illuminated by LEDs.

People sometimes call the event simply the “New York ball drop,” but Times Square is the specific location. The celebration is also associated with musical performances, confetti, and the midnight countdown. One Times Square, the building from which the ball descends, was originally known as the headquarters of The New York Times.