As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve 2025, the Times Square ball will not only drop once, but twice. This is because 2026 will not only be a celebration of the new year but also a celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.

The patriotic touches at this year’s Times Square gathering will offer an early glimpse of what’s ahead: a second ball drop event on July 3.

Ringing in the new year in Times Square, complete with a nationally televised extravaganza and numerous musical tributes, is a time-honored tradition going back more than 110 years. Millions of Americans tune in to watch the magical moment to close out the year.