New York New Year 2027: Countdown & Ball Drop

New Year 2027 arrives in New York at midnight EST (UTC−5) on Friday, January 1, 2027, which is 05:00 UTC on Friday, January 1, 2027.

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Ball Drop 2027: Expected (annual event)

2027 event

New York Ball Drop 2027

Expected (annual event) The Times Square Alliance calls the Ball Drop an annual tradition and has not yet published its plans for this year; ABC's October announcement of its Rockin' Eve special names Times Square as a live location. The celebration that welcomed 2026 was the first Ball Drop for the 12.5-foot Constellation Ball and included an America250 salute.

Event
Times Square New Year's Eve
Type
Ball drop
Where
Usually held at Times Square (One Times Square)
When
Traditionally at 23:59 (EST)
Admission
Last year: free
Organizer
Times Square Alliance and One Times Square
Watch live
ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, with Rita Ora co-hosting from Times Square, will air live on ABC and stream on Disney+ (ABC announcement, 7 October 2026). The Alliance also streamed a free, commercial-free webcast at timessquarenyc.org last year.

Official updates

Where to watch in New York

  1. Broadway, 43rd to 50th Streets — The Alliance's pick for the best Ball views. The sound system sits at the Bowtie where Broadway meets Seventh Avenue, and screens on One Times Square are easy to see.
  2. Seventh Avenue, up to 59th Street — Also named by the Alliance for Ball views. Police close blocks northward, street by street, as they fill, so arrive early.
  3. Hotels and restaurants with Ball views — The Alliance lists Renaissance New York, Marriott Marquis and The Knickerbocker among buildings with views. Private parties there need advance tickets, and no public viewing spaces are sold.
  4. Prospect Park, Brooklyn (Grand Army Plaza) — Last year's plan (New Year 2026) was free fireworks at midnight, with live music from 10 pm, at a long-running Brooklyn tradition. Check the Prospect Park Alliance for this year's plans.
  5. Central Park, between Bow Bridge and Cherry Hill — Last year's plan was a fireworks show launched here as the NYRR Midnight Run began, visible from anywhere in the park. Fireworks shows depend on the weather.

Getting there

  • Go by subway. The 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, M, N, Q, R, W and S shuttle all serve Times Square, but the Alliance notes that in the past the MTA has advised revelers not to use the Times Square-42 St station on New Year's Eve because of crowding: get off at a nearby station and walk in. Based on previous years, expect the 49th St (N/R/W) and 50th St (1) stations to be bypassed from about noon until about 12:15 am.
  • Enter the viewing areas from Sixth or Eighth Avenue only, at 45th, 49th, 52nd or 56th Street. Last year (New Year's Eve 2025) they opened at 3 pm on a first-come, first-served basis, and once streets were closed no one could cross Broadway or Seventh Avenue.
  • Travel light. All bags are searched, and last year backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, chairs, picnic blankets, large coolers, alcohol and drones were banned. There are no portable restrooms or licensed food vendors, and if you leave your viewing area you cannot return to your spot.

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AT A GLANCE

Timezone
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
UTC Offset
UTC−5
Midnight arrives
Friday, January 1, 2027 at 12:00 AM EST
Celebration order
32nd of 37 cities to celebrate (same time as Toronto)

How New York celebrates

New York City rings in the New Year with the iconic Times Square Ball Drop — a tradition since December 31, 1907, watched live by hundreds of thousands of revellers and by a worldwide audience the Times Square Alliance estimates at over one billion.

The centrepiece is the Constellation Ball, a 12.5-foot ball weighing 12,350 pounds, covered in 5,280 circular Waterford crystals and lit by LED light pucks. It begins its descent down a flagpole atop One Times Square at 11:59 p.m. and reaches the bottom at midnight.

Beyond Times Square, New Yorkers celebrate at rooftop parties across Manhattan, in neighbourhoods like the East Village and Brooklyn, and at ticketed events at major venues. The city's diverse character means celebrations range from intimate family dinners to large-scale outdoor concerts.

Frequently asked questions

Will there be a ball drop in New York for New Year 2027?

Expected, but not yet announced. The Times Square Alliance calls the Ball Drop an annual tradition, and the Ball has been lowered every year since 1907 except 1942 and 1943. The Ball begins its 60-second descent at 11:59 pm Eastern and reaches the bottom at midnight.

Is it free to watch the Times Square ball drop?

Yes. The outdoor celebration is free and open to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis, and no public viewing spaces are sold. Private parties at Times Square restaurants and hotels need tickets. Last year (New Year's Eve 2025) the viewing areas opened at 3 pm and all bags were searched.

Are there fireworks in New York on New Year's Eve?

Times Square marks midnight with a confetti release and pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square rather than a full fireworks show. Last year fireworks were planned for midnight in Prospect Park in Brooklyn and in Central Park near Bow Bridge, weather permitting. Weather has cancelled New York fireworks shows before, so check the Prospect Park Alliance and NYRR for this year's plans.

What time is New Year in New York?

New Year arrives in New York at midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5). In 2027, that is 05:00 UTC on January 1, 2027.

What is the Times Square Ball Drop?

The Times Square Ball Drop is a tradition dating back to December 31, 1907. Since New Year's Eve 2025, the ball has been the 12.5-foot Constellation Ball, covered in 5,280 circular Waterford crystals. It begins its descent down a flagpole atop One Times Square at 11:59 p.m. and reaches the bottom at midnight.

How many people watch New Year's Eve in Times Square?

Hundreds of thousands of people gather in and around Times Square on New Year's Eve, according to the Times Square Alliance, which also estimates a worldwide audience of over one billion people.

What time zone is New York on New Year's Eve?

New York is on Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5) on New Year's Eve. Daylight Saving Time ends in early November, so EST is in effect on December 31.

Is New York one of the first or last cities to celebrate New Year?

Among the 37 cities on this site, New York is the 32nd to reach midnight, at the same time as Toronto. At UTC−5, it celebrates relatively late in the global celebration window.

Where do people celebrate New Year's Eve in New York?

A focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations in New York: Times Square. See the where-to-watch list above for more places.

What time should I tune in to watch New York's New Year celebration?

Midnight arrives in New York at 12:00 AM EST (UTC−5) on Friday, January 1, 2027. The main moment of Times Square New Year's Eve traditionally begins at 11:59 PM (23:59 EST) on December 31. ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, with Rita Ora co-hosting from Times Square, will air live on ABC and stream on Disney+ (ABC announcement, 7 October 2026). The Alliance also streamed a free, commercial-free webcast at timessquarenyc.org last year.

What is the Times Square Ball made of?

Since New Year's Eve 2025, the Times Square Ball has been the Constellation Ball: a 12.5-foot ball weighing 12,350 pounds, covered in 5,280 circular Waterford crystals in three sizes and lit by LED light pucks. The circular crystals replace the triangular ones used on earlier balls since 1999.

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This page provides a live countdown to New Year 2027 in New York City (Eastern Standard Time, UTC−5). New Year's Day 2027 in New York City falls on Friday, January 1, 2027 at midnight EST. New York celebrates New Year's Eve with the Times Square Ball Drop, a tradition since 1907 watched by hundreds of thousands of people in person and, by the Times Square Alliance's estimate, over one billion viewers worldwide. The Constellation Ball, unveiled in November 2025 and first dropped on New Year's Eve 2025, weighs 12,350 pounds and is covered in 5,280 circular Waterford crystals.