New York City’s Times Square will host a significant celebration on July 3, 2026, marking the first time in 120 years that a ball drop will occur outside of New Year’s Eve. This event is part of the lead-up to the United States’ 250th birthday, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Following the traditional New Year’s Eve ball drop on December 31, 2025, the iconic crystal ball will rise again, adorned in red, white, and blue. This spectacle will serve as a precursor to months of nationwide celebrations planned for the semiquincentennial anniversary. The festivities will include hundreds of events across the country, showcasing both large and small gatherings.
Rosie Rios, Chair of the America250 Commission, emphasized the scale of the upcoming celebrations: “I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re imagining, it’s going to be much more than that. It’s going to be one for the ages, the most inspirational celebration this country and maybe the world has ever seen.” Rios leads the bipartisan commission established by Congress in 2016 to organize the anniversary events.
In collaboration with the Times Square Alliance and One Times Square, Rios and her team are implementing these new elements for the New Year’s Eve ceremony. The July event will reflect the same festive spirit that Times Square is known for, featuring a second confetti drop to enhance the patriotic atmosphere.
The first ball drop in Times Square occurred in 1907, designed by immigrant metalworker Jacob Starr. The original ball, weighing 700 pounds and measuring 5 feet in diameter, was constructed of iron and wood, illuminated by 100 light bulbs. Today, the Constellation Ball, which debuted last year, is the largest version yet, measuring approximately 12 feet in diameter and weighing nearly 12,000 pounds.
The only years without a ball drop were 1942 and 1943, when the city implemented a “dimout” during World War II. Instead of the traditional celebration, attendees observed a moment of silence followed by chimes from the base of One Times Square.
Alongside the ball drop celebrations, the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve will also launch America Gives, a national service initiative aimed at achieving the largest aggregate of volunteer hours in the country’s history. The following day, America250 will participate in the New Year’s Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, with a float themed “Soaring Onward Together for 250 Years,” featuring three large bald eagles symbolizing the nation’s past, present, and future.
Rios stated, “We want to ring in this new year from sea to shining sea. What better way to think about it than going from New York to California?” She envisions a community-driven celebration, reaching from Guam to Alaska and everywhere in between.
Additionally, former President Donald Trump announced the “Freedom 250” initiative to coordinate further events for the 250th anniversary. Rios sees the multitude of planned celebrations as an opportunity to unite a politically divided nation. “If we can find something for everyone … having those menus of options that people can pick and choose how they want to participate,” she remarked. “That’s how we’re going to get to engaging 350 million Americans.”
As anticipation builds for these historic events, Times Square is set to be a focal point for celebrations that honor the nation’s rich history while fostering a spirit of unity and engagement.
