New York City announced plans for a second Times Square ball drop in 2026 to help launch celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
Organizers scheduled the additional drop for July 3, 2026, placing the ceremony on the eve of Independence Day and breaking with a tradition that has tied the iconic event exclusively to New Year’s Eve since 1907.
The plan came from America250, the congressionally chartered body overseeing the nation’s semiquincentennial, which partnered with One Times Square and the Times Square Alliance to stage the event.
Organizers said the July ceremony will follow the familiar structure of the annual New Year’s Eve countdown, with the ball set to glow in red, white and blue as confetti falls across Times Square and music closes the program.
Planners also added a brief ceremonial moment to the New Year’s Eve broadcast just after midnight on January 1, 2026, linking the traditional countdown with the anniversary year ahead.
The decision marked a rare departure from the event’s longstanding tradition. The ball did not drop in 1942 or 1943, when New York City suspended the celebration during wartime blackouts.Â
Rosie Rios, chair of America250, said organizers selected Times Square for its global visibility and its role as a backdrop for nationally significant moments.
‘To ring in the 4th of July, starting with the same type of festivities that you would normally see on New Year’s Eve – what better way to represent this global impact that we as a country have and the responsibility that comes with that?’ Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, told The New York Post.Â
The New Year’s Eve ball designed for the US’s 250th year
Officials say the tradition will expand with a rare second ceremony scheduled for July 3, 2026
Crowds gather in Times Square for the annual New Year’s Eve ball dropÂ
Beyond Times Square, America250 outlined a broader slate of initiatives tied to the anniversary, including a nationwide volunteer campaign, participation in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, and locally organized events ranging from fireworks displays to historical exhibits.
Organizers also unveiled plans for a redesigned Times Square ball, known as the Constellation Ball, featuring crystal panels and illuminated patterns inspired by Morse code.Â
The group has planned to reveal the version designated for the July 3 ceremony ahead of the New Year’s Eve countdown.
Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown L.P., which owns One Times Square, said the building has long served as a focal point during moments of national significance.
The anniversary planning coincided with other federal efforts tied to the milestone. President Donald Trump also announced a separate ‘Freedom 250’ initiative aimed at coordinating additional commemorations nationwide.
Organizers said they designed the semiquincentennial to encourage broad participation, using the Times Square ball drop as a visible opening signal for a year of nationwide observances.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Rios and America250 for comment.Â
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NYC to ring in America’s 250th birthday with historic second ball drop in Times Square