Where Can I Watch the 2025 New Year’s Eve Ball Drop? Here's How to Stream the Annual Times Square Event for Free
It's almost time to ring in the new year!
Every Dec. 31, roughly 1 million people gather in New York City to witness the ball — an 11,875-pound sphere illuminated by 32,256 LEDs — descend the flagpole atop One Times Square. Meanwhile, over 1 billion more people tune in on TV to watch the symbolic welcoming of the new year.
The ball drop is certainly the most highly-anticipated moment of New Year's Eve, but in the hours leading up to the main event, viewers can also catch musical performances by their favorite artists on long-running TV programs such as Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
Broadcasting live from N.Y.C., Ryan Seacrest will host several performers, including Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers, and down south, audiences can expect to see Jelly Roll and Kane Brown at New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash.
No matter what special you choose to watch leading up to midnight, you won't want to miss the iconic ball drop when the clock strikes 12 a.m. Read on for how to watch and stream the 2025 New Year's Eve ball drop for free.
The first New Year's Eve ball drop took place in 1907, according to the official Times Square website. Built by Jacob Starr, a young immigrant metalworker, the inaugural sphere was made of iron and wood and adorned with 100 25-watt light bulbs.
There has been a ball drop every year since 1907 except for 1942 and 1943, due to World War II. Crowds still gathered in N.Y.C. during those years but in lieu of a ball drop, attendees participated in a minute of silence.
The New Year's Eve ball has been redesigned many times over the past 100-plus years. The latest version, a six-ton geodesic sphere, was designed in 2008. The most recent renovation included weatherproofing so that the ball can be permanently displayed in Times Square year-round.
There are several New Year's Eve TV specials scheduled for the anticipated countdown to 2025.
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest has been around since 1973. Seacrest, who will be joined this year by Rita Ora, took over hosting duties following Dick Clark's decline in health in the early 2000s. The show will feature performances by Lenny Kravitz and Teddy Swims and is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. It can also be streamed on ABC Live.
CNN's New Year's Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen is also back for its eighth year. Viewers can expect lots of comical commentary from the two best friends, as well as appearances by Sting, Meghan Trainor and Shania Twain. The show will air at 8 p.m. ET on CNN and stream on CNN Live and Max.
Country superstar Keith Urban will host this year'sNew Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash alongside TV personality Rachel Smith. Headlining performances include Shaboozey and Jelly Roll. The show will air at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
The New Year's Eve ball will start its 60-second descent down the flagpole atop One Times Square at exactly 11:59 p.m. ET.
There are several ways to watch the New Year's Eve ball drop for free. The Times Square official website offers commercial-free coverage of the ball drop and the festivities leading up to the main event starting at 6 p.m. ET.
The ball drop will also be streamed on Times Square's Facebook and X accounts.
Those with a subscription to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV or Fubo can also watch the ball drop on any of those streaming platforms.
Watch live: New Year's Eve Times Square celebration to ring in 2025 kicks off
NEW YORK -- The countdown is on for the New Year's Eve 2025 ball drop tonight in Times Square.
Here's everything to know about how to watch live from around the world.
A Times Square Alliance live feed went live at 6 p.m. from the Crossroads of the World, and it will stay up as the clock strikes midnight. You can watch the feed in the video player embedded above.
Also follow live updates from our reporters on CBS News New York. Lonnie Quinn will be in Times Square as part of "Nashville's Big Bash" on CBS at 8 p.m., and our stream will have live shots from the ball drop countdown starting at 10:30 p.m. after an early edition of our late night news.
Spectators began lining up before dawn, including one group of friends who flew in from Tokyo. Some packed blankets, ponchos and handwarmers, while others had snacks -- even a rotisserie chicken.
Viewing areas opened at 3 p.m. Entry is first-come, first-served at checkpoints located at 49th, 52nd and 56th streets on Sixth and Eighth avenues. One million people are expected to ring in 2025 in Times Square.
Organizers say the best views are along Broadway from 43rd to 50th streets, and along Seventh Avenue as far north as 59th Street.
The show officially started at 6 p.m. when the lights on the ball are flipped on and it's hoisted into place atop One Times Square.The evening will feature live performances from Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, Mark Ambor, Mickey Guyton, Rita Ora, TLC and more.
At 11:59 p.m., the 60-second countdown begins and the confetti starts to fly. At the stroke of midnight, the lights on the ball are flipped off, and the "2025" numerals come to life.
The show wraps up at 12:15 a.m., when the cleanup effort begins. Sanitation crews will be standing by to remove more than 1 ton of confetti.
Here's our full guide for what to know about getting around the city.
The New York City Police Department says they have a "tremendous" amount of police resources around Times Square and beyond as the city prepares for the world famous New Year's Eve ball drop.
The department said there is currently no credit threat, and the agency is operating in what it calls a "heightened threat environment" to ensure the night goes off without a hitch.
"We're going to have plain clothes officers, as well as uniformed officers who are going to be doing persistent sweeps. We have our drones helping out with the aerial perspective and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear detection and mitigation capabilities. Counter drones, heavy weapons teams, K-9s, you name it," NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said.
Meanwhile, despite rain in the forecast, those heading to Times Square will not be allowed to bring umbrellas, backpacks or large bags past security checkpoints.
A guide to tonight's many New Year's Eve specials, including one with Hoda and Jenna
It's almost time for the ball to drop on New Year's Eve!
The iconic tradition in New York City's Times Square that began in 1907 is back for another edition as we get set to welcome 2025.
Millions watching from home will join the thousands packed into Times Square in Manhattan watching some of music's biggest stars perform across multiple New Year's Eve specials.
The official celebration starts at 6 p.m. ET at One Times Square with the lighting and raising of the New Year’s Eve ball. A giant switch will be flipped to light the ball by representatives from Carnival Cruise Line, the National Medal of Honor Museum and Times Square New Year’s Eve.
The 11,875-pound ball that's 12 feet in diameter and covered with 2,688 crystal triangles is the latest iteration of a ball that was first made of iron, wood and 25-watt light bulbs when it dropped to welcome the year 1908.
Revelers in Times Square have celebrated the ball dropping every year since 1907 except for 1942 and 1943, when the ceremony was suspending during a World War II "dimout" of lights in New York City, according to the official website.
Here's how to watch the latest ball drop to welcome in 2025.
Here are the specials that will give viewers a live look as the ball drops to ring in the New Year.
Ryan Seacrest will celebrate his 20th year as host and will be joined by singer Rita Ora in Times Square, according to a news release.
Country music star Carrie Underwood will headline the night, followed by a performance by the Jonas Brothers after the clock hits midnight. The band is celebrating its 20th year together.
Other live performances include country star Megan Moroney and singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose 2001 hit "Murder on the Dancefloor" experienced a renaissance this year after being featured in the movie "Saltburn."
There also will be performances by TLC, Lenny Kravitz, Alanis Morissette, Reneé Rapp, Blake Shelton, DJ Cassidy, Dasha, Ernest, Hardy, Kesha, Natasha Bedingfield, T-Pain and Luis Fonsi.
How to watch: It begins at 8 p.m. live on ABC and streamed live on the iHeartRadio app. It also will air live on iHeartRadio stations and be available for next-day streaming on Hulu.
This CBS special features some of country music's biggest artists celebrating the New Year.
Grammy winner Keith Urban and Entertainment Tonight's Rachel Smith are the co-hosts for the five-hour broadcast.
There will be more than 40 performances, according to a news release.
In addition to Urban, the country luminaries who will take the stage include Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Tyler Hubbard, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top and Lainey Wilson.
How to watch: The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and also will stream on Paramount+.
The duo of CNN's Anderson Cooper and Bravo star Andy Cohen return for their eighth year of hosting the CNN New Year's Eve special.
The special guests include 50 Cent, Sting, Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain, Diplo, Lil Jon, Mickey Guyton, Patti LaBelle and a host of comedians.
At 12:30 a.m. ET, CNN's Sara Sidner, Harry Enten and Cari Champion will take over for Cohen and Cooper. CNN correspondents will also be checking in from New Year's celebrations at cities around the world.
How to watch: The special begins live at 8 p.m. ET on CNN and will stream on CNN.com, Max and mobile apps for pay TV subscribers.
TODAY's Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager are co-hosting this two-hour primetime special on NBC where they look back on the biggest moments of the year.
The celebration comes ahead of Hoda's final week on TODAY before she departs the show after her last day on Jan. 10.
"The Voice" judges and music legends Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire are among those expected to make appearances.
How to watch: The special airs from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on NBC.
Following the special with Hoda and Jenna, NBC late-night host Seth Meyers will ring in the New Year by looking back at some of his hilarious "Day Drinking" segments from the show.
Meyers will revisit his buzzy moments with Rihanna, Post Malone, Will Forte, Kelly Clarkson, Kristen Stewart, Kevin Hart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lizzo and Dua Lipa.
How to watch: The special airs from 11:30 p.m. to 12:35 a.m. ET on NBC.
There is a live, commercial-free webcast of the ball drop beginning at 6 p.m. ET as well as one on the Times Square website.
The webcast includes backstage access and interviews with celebrities and performers ahead of the ball drop at midnight.
An accessible livestream with open captions and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available on YouTube.
How to watch the New Year’s Eve 2024 ball drop and TV specials
From glowing television screens in quiet suburbs to the energy of packed city squares, millions are preparing for the moment when the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve and the calendar turns its page.
Ready to join the global celebration? Here's how to catch every countdown, no matter where you're perched for the grand finale of 2024.
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
How to watch: The special will air live on NBC.
Hosts: TheTODAY" show’s Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager ring in the new year as the hosts of this two-hour primetime special. This will mark Kotb’s final time celebrating the holiday with "TODAY"as she is leaving the show in 2025.
Performances & more: Several celebrity appearances are in store, including stars such as Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg and George Lopez.
Time: 11:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
How to watch: The special will air live on NBC.
Hosts: Seth Meyers will ring in the new year by looking back on his numerous Day Drinking segments.
Performances & more: The program will show the series’ buzziest moments, including some with stars Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Kelly Clarkson and Kevin Hart.
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
How to watch: Watch live on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu. The special will also be available to stream live on the iHeartRadio app, as well as across 150 iHeartRadio stations.
Hosts: Ryan Seacrest will once again lead the celebration, marking his 20th anniversary as host of the special. For the second consecutive year, he will be joined live from Times Square in New York City by singer Rita Ora, according to the show’s release. Dayanara Torres returns as co-host in Puerto Rico.
Performances & more: An eclectic lineup of musical performances is set to join Seacrest. Among the performers are Natasha Bedingfield, TLC, Kesha, HARDY, DJ Cassidy, Ernest, T-Pain, Tinashe, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett, Teddy Swims and Lenny Kravitz.
Carrie Underwood will headline the night with some of her greatest hits. After the clock strikes midnight, the Jonas Brothers will take the Times Square stage with a medley performance to commemorate their 20th anniversary as a group.
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Channel: CNN
How to watch: The special will stream live on CNN, as well as on Max for subscribers, and on CNN.com, CNN connected TV, and mobile apps for pay TV subscribers.
Hosts: AndersonCooper and Andy Cohen are returning to Times Square in New York City for their eighth consecutive year as co-hosts of CNN’s "New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen." Additional CNN broadcasters will provide live coverage of celebrations across North America, while Richard Quest will report from Times Square.
Performances & more: Cooper and Cohen will be joined by several guests throughout the night including 50 Cent, Sting, Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain, Diplo, Lil Jon and Patti LaBelle.
Time: 8p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
How to watch: The event airs live on CBS and will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Hosts: The special will be hosted by Grammy-winner Keith Urban and "Entertainment Tonight" host Rachel Smith from the home of country music, Nashville, in Tennessee, per CBS’ press release.
Performances & more: This year's performers include Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Tyler Hubbard, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top and Lainey Wilson. Keith Urban, Kane Brown and Jelly Roll are headlining from Bicentennial Park.
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous ball drop themselves this New Year's Eve in Times Square, here's how to make it happen.
Time: The New Year’s Eve ball is raised to the top of the pole at One Times Square around 6 p.m. ET. It will be released at exactly 11:59 p.m. ET to make its 60-second drop to celebrate the new year.
How to stream: Visit TimesSquareNYC.org to enjoy the live webcast from your computer or mobile device.
Where: Access to Times Square on the afternoon of Dec. 31 will be from 6th Avenue or 8th Avenue only, and will be on a first come, first served basis until the viewing areas are full.
Hosts: Actor Jonathan Bennett and co-host Jeremy Hassell.
Performances & more: Mark Ambor and Mickey Guyton will perform. And of course, the special Times Square New Year’s Eve tradition of singing John Lennon’s "Imagine" moments before the ball drop will continue this year, according to the Times Square official website.
How to watch Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest tonight
Are you ready for 2025? Well, ready or not, here comes New Year’s Eve, and with it, the annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (with Ryan Seacrest) special. This year, the ABC special will be hosted by, of course, Ryan Seacrest, alongside Rita Ora in Times Square. The special will have plenty of other co-hosts too, with NFL star Rob Gronkowski hosting from Las Vegas and Jeannie Mai covering the West Coast. Dayanara Torres will serve as a co-host in Puerto Rico. The 2025 NYE Ball Drop special will feature performances by Alanis Morissette (with Reneé Rapp), Kesha, Laufey, Natasha Bedingfield, T-Pain, Blake Shelton, Lenny Kravitz, The Jonas Brothers and Carrie Underwood.
Are you ready to ring in the New Year? Here’s what to know about how to watch Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, plus how to watch the NYE Ball Drop free livestream, CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen and more.
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve will air live on ABC.
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest will kick off at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
There will be performances by Alanis Morissette (with Reneé Rapp) Dasha, DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! starring Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh, Ernest, HARDY, Kesha, Laufey, Natasha Bedingfield, T-Pain, Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Lenny Kravitz, Thomas Rhett, the Jonas Brothers and Carrie Underwood.
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (with Ryan Seacrest) isn’t the only festive option this New Year's Eve. There’s also CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on CNN (and streaming live on Max) and New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash! hosted by Rachel Smith and Kieth Urban, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS (and streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME).
There will be a free livestream of the Ball Drop on Timessquarenyc.org, offering commercial-free, webcast coverage of the Times Square festivities leading up to the Ball Drop at midnight. There will also be a livestream with open captions and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation available on YouTube. Both livestreams begin at 6 p.m. ET.
Who's performing at tonight's Times Square ball drop to ring in New Year's Eve 2025?
A variety of performers will take to the stage ahead of tonight's ball drop in New York's Times Square before a massive crowd of New Year's Eve revelers ringing in 2025.
Here's what you need to know about the performers in Times Square on New Year's Eve:
Pop singer-songwriter Mark Ambor was scheduled to perform in Times Square from 8:03 p.m. to 8:12 p.m. EST, according to organizers of the New Year's Eve festivities at the "Crossroads of the World." Ambor was set to sing his songs "Belong Together," "Good to Be" and "Our Way," and the performance was on a livestream of the event.
Country singer-songwriter Megan Moroney was scheduled to perform from 8:26 p.m. to 8:32 p.m. EST, according to organizers. She was set to sing a two-song medley from her album "Am I Okay?" on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on ABC, according to the show.
A roaming street performance by the NYPD Marching Band is set between 9:03 p.m. and 9:13 p.m. EST, according to organizers.
Grammy-nominated country singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton is expected to perform from 9:16 p.m. to 9:27 p.m. EST and from 11:55 p.m. to 11:58 p.m. EST, according to organizers. During the first performance, Guyton will perform her songs "All American," "House on Fire" and "My Side of the Country." Just before midnight, she'll sing John Lennon's "Imagine." Both performances will be on the Times Square livestream.
British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor is expected to perform from 9:37 p.m. to 9:43 p.m. EST, according to organizers. She'll sing her hit song "Murder on the Dancefloor" on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," according to the show.
Latin Grammy-nominated singer Greeicy is expected to perform from 10:01 p.m. to 10:07 p.m. EST, according to organizers. The performance is expected to air on Univision's "Feliz 2025."
Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter De La Ghetto is expected to perform from 10:19 p.m. to 10:25 p.m. EST, according to organizers. The performance is expected to air on "Feliz 2025."
Members of '90s powerhouse TLC are expected to perform from 10:34 p.m. to 10:41 p.m. EST, according to organizers. They'll perform hits from throughout their career, including songs from 1994's "CrazySexyCool," on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," according to the show.
Latin singer Kapo is expected to perform from 11:02 p.m. to 11:08 p.m. EST, according to organizers. The performance is expected to air on "Feliz 2025."
Country superstar Carrie Underwood is expected to perform from 11:37 p.m.-11:46 p.m. EST, according to organizers. She'll perform a medley of some of her biggest hits on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," according to the show.
The reunited Jonas Brothers are expected to perform just after midnight EST on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," according to the show. The trio will perform a medley of songs from their career to mark 20 years since their debut.
Pop star Rita Ora is also expected to perform just after midnight EST on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," according to an ABC spokesperson. Ora is expected to perform a medley of her hit songs, organizers said.
The show in Times Square starts at 6 p.m. EST. Here's the schedule of performances:
Some of country music's biggest stars will celebrate the new year performing on CBS' "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash." The show will air from 8-10 p.m. EST/PST and 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. EST/PST on CBS television stations and stream on Paramount+.
The show will include over 40 performances. Here is a list of who's performing:
