Get ready, glitter lovers: the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is getting a serious makeover. For the ninth time in its 118-year history, the globe that ushers in the new year for millions of people will sparkle in a brand-new design—this time with a little Irish magic.
After a two-year hiatus, Waterford has returned as the official crystal partner of the Times Square Ball, unveiling the Infinite Edition, a design that trades last year’s triangles for 5,280 handcrafted circular crystals in three sizes. Each piece reflects the theme “Infinite Joy, Infinite Light, Infinite Beginnings.”
“Through the brilliance of crystal craftsmanship, we are proud to help shape a moment that unites millions in celebration and optimism for the future,” said Bentley Hardwick, Waterford’s global head, in an official statement.
It’s also a whole new era for One Times Square, the 26-story building that’s hosted the ball drop since 1907. When it reopens this winter as a year-round destination, it will house a multi-story candy emporium, wedding chapel (Ever) and an experience dubbed “The Premium Ball Experience,” where visitors can do something no one’s ever done before: touch the actual New Year’s Eve Ball.
Photograph: Courtesy of One Times Square
“The collaboration will allow us to create a truly unique and unforgettable experience,” said Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, which owns One Times Square, in an official statement. “Waterford and the Times Square Ball have long been intertwined and we’re excited to bring this partnership back to life.”
That “Premium Ball Experience” even lets guests swap one of the 2025 crystals for a 2026 crystal, then keep the old one as a souvenir. Visitors can also book small wedding ceremonies overlooking the Crossroads of the World or step onto glass balconies for views stretching river to river.
The refreshed building will continue rolling out new features through 2026, including “Times Travel,” a virtual journey through New York’s history that ends at a 360-degree viewing deck.
Come December 31, when the ball begins its famous descent, it won’t just mark another year gone by—it’ll gleam with 5,280 symbols of hope, renewal and maybe even a few fingerprints from the lucky New Yorkers who got to touch a piece of history.