New Year’s Eve NYC: Where to Ring In 2026

Are you going to ring in the New Year in New York? Your expectations are probably sky high, and that's fair, because New York on New Year's is one big party.

Here's a heads-up: this year the celebration comes with something new that should surprise everyone. Drone light shows!

Keep reading to find out what to do on New Year's in New York and join one of the most famous New Year's Eve celebrations in the world.

Where to spend New Year's in New York?

The most obvious answer is to ring in the New Year at Times Square, with its famous Ball Drop tradition. But this year you can also enjoy some new tech at Central Park and Prospect Park, the city's most iconic parks.

Below I'll walk you through the main events for welcoming the New Year in New York.

Ringing in the New Year at Times Square 2026

The Times Square crystal ball drop is a symbol of the New Year's celebration across the United States.

The event comes with many pounds of confetti raining down and a celebrity-packed show broadcast on network television.

What exactly is the Ball Drop?

During the ball drop, a huge illuminated crystal sphere mounted on a pole descends from the top of the One Times Square Building.

The sphere reaches the bottom exactly as the clock strikes midnight.

The event was dreamed up by The New York Times in 1907 to celebrate the opening of its new headquarters. Back then the sphere was decorated with 125 incandescent light bulbs.

Today it's covered in thousands of Swarovski crystals, just like the enormous star atop the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, and lit with LEDs.

This famous New Year's ball measures 12 feet in diameter and weighs five tons!

A fun fact: it stays on top of One Times Square all year long. On your next trip, look closely, and if you bring a camera with a good zoom you'll probably be able to make it out:

What time is the Ball Drop?

Traditionally the pre-Ball Drop event kicks off at 6 pm.

But the ball drop itself, the giant crystal sphere that descends from the top of One Times Square marking the final 60 seconds of the old year, starts at 11:59 pm and ends on the year's last second, when it hits the bottom.

Then a shower of confetti bursts out while Auld Lang Syne (Old Long Since) plays.

Confirmed performers at Times Square 2026

As part of the 2025 New Year's celebration in Times Square there were concerts from names as big as Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. That should give you a sense of how much of a media spectacle this is.

Ringing in 2025 featured Megan Thee Stallion, Flo Rida, Sabrina Carpenter, María Becerra, Jelly Roll, Tyla, Yng Lvcas, LL Cool J, and Paul Anka.

As the date gets closer, you'll be able to see the performers lined up for 2026 in Times Square on the event's official page.

If you want to be part of this New York tradition, you need to show up very early to get a spot between 42nd and 47th Streets.

One smart move is to stay at one of the hotels in Times Square so you're literally next door to all the action.

The New Year's party starts a little before 6 pm, but by 3 pm the main area is already packed, and by 11 pm there isn't room for a pin. Bring food and drinks, because if you leave your spot to buy something you may not be able to get back… There are no restrooms either, so go easy on the drinks 😜.

Drone show at Central Park and Prospect Park

Starting last year, the traditional fireworks at Central Park and Prospect Park were replaced by drone light shows.

At Central Park, 500 drones lit up the sky in a show tied to the annual Midnight Run, the famous four-mile race that leaves the park one minute before midnight.

You could watch this light show from a specially designated area near Bethesda Fountain, around 72nd Street in Uptown Manhattan.

Over at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the drones formed iconic shapes like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.

As the date approaches, I'll share the details on the drone shows for ringing in 2025.

Ringing in the New Year at the Empire State

The Empire State Building is another of New York's most popular places to say goodbye to the year.

The building fills with lights and sits at the center of one of the city's best fireworks shows.

The observatory is open like every other day of the year, but to get in on New Year's you'll need to buy Empire State tickets well in advance.

New Year's parties in Times Square

There are traditionally dozens of parties in Times Square to celebrate the New Year after the Ball Drop. They're pricey, no question, but you can check the list of private events on the event page.

New Year's dinners in New York

Another idea is to ring in the year over dinner at one of New York's hundreds of restaurants. A great platform for finding and booking a table is Opentable.com.

What to do on January 1 in New York?

Almost everything is closed that day. People are recovering from a long night out. But as travelers we can't afford to waste precious time in NYC, so here are a couple of ideas for starting the new year with some fun:

Coney Island Polar Bear Club

Visiting Coney Island in Brooklyn on the first day of the year is great fun: it's home to the Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Plunge, a free annual event where a bunch of brave souls go swimming in the freezing Atlantic to shake off their hangover.

If you dare, you have to sign up on the club's official site. If not, just enjoy watching everyone else freeze 🥶.

The meeting point is on the Coney Island boardwalk, around Stillwell Avenue. People hit the water at 1 pm.

The event is free, but swimmers are asked to register starting at 10 am at the same starting point.

Shopping the deals at Woodbury Commons

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, the famous mall north of Manhattan, opens on January 1 with tons of deals. If you're the kind of person who loves to shop, this is a terrific way to start the new year.

If you're spending Christmas in New York as well as New Year's and want to stay close to the most festive spots, I recommend taking a look at these hotels for Christmas in New York. They're right by places like Macy's and the Rockefeller Center ice rink.

Happy New Year!