How the Times Square ball drop works
Entry is free and first come, first served. No tickets are sold, and there are no viewing spaces for sale. Viewing areas open at 3 p.m. through access points at 45th, 49th, 52nd and 56th Streets, from 6th and 8th Avenues.
The ball is raised around 6 p.m. and makes its 60-second descent at exactly 11:59 p.m. Details below come from the Times Square Alliance's most recent FAQ, written for the 2025 edition, so check timessquarenyc.org again closer to the date.
What it costs you
The price is time and comfort. Backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, folding chairs, picnic blankets, large coolers, alcohol and drones are not allowed, and all bags are searched.
If you leave a viewing area, even to eat, you cannot return to your spot. Plan on standing in one place in winter, when nighttime temperatures typically run 32 to 40°F.
Streets close as crowds arrive: 6th and 8th Avenues around 4 p.m., and the police start closing Times Square from 43rd Street and Broadway. Take the subway, not a car.
Who should still go
Go if seeing the ball come down in person is the whole point and you can handle a long, cold stand. Skip it if you want dinner, a seat, or an easy trip home.
A middle path: walk through in daylight to see the ball and stage, then leave before the pens fill. The webcast starts at 6 p.m. on December 31 on timessquarenyc.org if you want the show from somewhere warm.
Alternative: fireworks in Brooklyn
Prospect Park Alliance lists a free New Year's Eve show at Grand Army Plaza on Thursday, Dec. 31. Live entertainment starts at 10 p.m., fireworks go off at midnight, and the listing runs until 12:30 a.m. Check prospectpark.org before you go, since the details can change from year to year.
The 2/3 trains go to Grand Army Plaza, and the B/Q are an option for the ride back. Arrive by about 11 p.m. to find a spot and dress for standing outside, but for a couple of hours, not nine.
- Grand Army PlazaFree music from 10 p.m., fireworks at midnight, no pens or bag searches listed.
Alternative: a proper dinner first
The easiest way to avoid the pens is to eat well and watch midnight elsewhere. Book early, since New Year's Eve tables go first. A sit-down dinner at 8 p.m. leaves time to reach the park before the show.
If you stay in Manhattan, Joe Allen works for an early pre-theater meal, and Café Sabarsky is a good daytime pick if you want a long lunch before a late night.
- FaustoHandmade pasta, an 8-minute walk from the Grand Army Plaza fireworks.
- Joe AllenPre-theater Theater District classic; book ahead and give your curtain time.
- Café SabarskyViennese lunch with strudel; reserve, since holidays fill quickly.
Alternative: a quieter midnight
If crowds are the problem, skip midnight entirely and save your energy for New Year's Day. Brunch, a walk through Central Park and a late jazz set make an easy first day of 2027.
Reserve the late Village Vanguard set online well ahead, and note the one-drink minimum.
- BalthazarLeisurely New Year's Day brunch; reserve ahead for the holiday.
- Bow BridgeQuiet, brisk walk after a late night.
- Village VanguardHistoric basement jazz room for a calm late evening.
Putting it together
Pick one: the ball, the fireworks, or a calm night. Layer up either way, and take the subway. Our day-by-day plan uses Brooklyn for midnight and spends the following day on Central Park, dim sum and jazz.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need tickets for the Times Square ball drop?
No. Entry to the viewing areas is free and first come, first served, and no viewing spaces are sold. Private parties at Times Square restaurants and hotels do require tickets.
What time does the Times Square ball drop?
The ball is raised around 6 p.m. and descends for 60 seconds starting at exactly 11:59 p.m. Viewing areas open at 3 p.m. Confirm on timessquarenyc.org.
Can you bring a bag to Times Square on New Year's Eve?
Backpacks and large bags are not permitted, and all bags are searched. Umbrellas, folding chairs, blankets, large coolers and alcohol are also banned.
Can you leave Times Square and come back?
No. Anyone who leaves a viewing area, for example to eat at a restaurant, cannot return to their spot.
Are there free fireworks in Brooklyn on New Year's Eve?
Prospect Park Alliance lists a free show at Grand Army Plaza on Dec. 31, with live entertainment from 10 p.m. and fireworks at midnight.
