There are two kinds of people in this world: those who think it sounds fun to brave the elements for hours and watch the ball drop in Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and then there’s the rest of us.
It has become a time-honored tradition for millions of people to gather in a few blocks of New York to celebrate a new year, and this year revelers are in for some new features. During the annual countdown to midnight, a larger ball will drop, weighing more than 12,000 pounds and adorned with 5,200 crystals and LED lights. And there’s some special red, white and blue confetti among the nearly three tonnes to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.
But with temperatures in New York expected to be near freezing, many people will be eager to experience the festivities in the comfort of their own homes. As an added bonus, you might experience one of those memorable and meme-worthy moments from a drunken host or performer.
Artists this year span a range of musical genres and generations, from Chappell Roan to Diana Ross and Jason Aldean to 50 Cent.
While channel surfers can easily switch between different programs, the festivities are just as easy to stream once you’ve cut the cord. We have listed a number of options to ring in the new year at home.
TIMES SQUARE WEBCAST
If you want to feel like you’re in the middle of it all in an ad-free way, the free livestream from the organization that hosts the annual ceremony may be your best bet. The Times Square Alliance will begin live streaming in front of the ball lights at 6:00 PM ET and continue throughout the evening.
This year’s stream will include backstage access and interviews with some of the artists and other celebrities who will be in Times Square throughout the evening. You can view more details about the stream and a full schedule here.
Although you can stream live from a browser, at TimesSquareNYC.orgthe same feed will also be available on the organization’s YouTube channel. If you’re more fascinated by the ball dropping than anything else, check out TimesSquareBall.net in advance for some live cams of the ball before it drops and collect some fun facts to surprise your fellow New Year’s Eve revelers.
NYE COVERAGE ON CABLE OR BROADCAST TV
If you’re nostalgic for the time when Dick Clark helped you cross that threshold from one year to the next, his spirit lives on in many ways. Most major television networks have some form of coverage planned for the festivities, from New York and beyond.
ABC: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve Rockin’ Eve Featuring Ryan Seacrest starts at 8:00 PM ET. While Seacrest will emcee much of the evening’s broadcast from New York, he will be joined by Chance the Rapper in Chicago and Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough in Las Vegas. You can also stream everything on your favorite platform or on ABC.com.
CBS: New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, hosted by Bert Kreischer and HARDY, begins at 8:00 PM ET. In lieu of the Times Square prom, this network will treat you to the Nashville Music Note Drop, along with a lineup of country artists who will be performing throughout the evening. As in previous years, you can also stream this event on Biggest+.
CNN: New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper And Andy Cohen starts at 8:00 PM ET. If you want to make a day of it, tune into CNN all day for coverage from around the world before the boozy duo kicks off from Times Square in the evening. You can expect a lot of hype about the network’s new streaming subscription platform, where you can watch all the action in addition to the apps.
Fox: Jimmy Failla’s All-American New Year’s Bash kicks off at 11:00 PM ET. There are hour-by-hour specials starting at 9:00 PM ET, but these are usually focused on a look back at the past year rather than a concert of sorts. The programming will also be available to stream online.
NBC: A toast to 2025! presented by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager begins at 10:30 PM ET. After leaving coverage on New Year’s Eve last year, the network is back this year with a two-hour event that reunites this duo. You can also stream this event via the Peacock app.
PBS: From Vienna: New Year’s Celebration 2026. If you’re not feeling giddy from the night before, tune in for something a little more highbrow on New Year’s Day with the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual concert at 8:00 PM ET. This event will also be available via online streaming or the PBS app.
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