Time Square has unveiled a dazzling New Year’s Eve ball to ring in 2026, and it is the biggest and brightest yet.
Named the Constellation ball, it is the ninth version of the sphere to usher in the New Year at the famous Midtown Manhattan intersection. The ball measures 12.5 feet in diameter and weighs nearly 12,00 pounds.
The ball features 5,280 circular Waterford crystal disks in three distinct sizes-1.5-inch, 3-inch, and 5-inch-as well as LED light pucks.
The ceremony marks an integral part of New Year's Eve celebrations for both the crowds gathered in Time Square and the millions watching on television.
At 11:59 p.m., the ball glides down the pole in a spectacular display while attendees and millions of viewers tune in from home.
The concept is based on time balls, navigational instruments that gained immense popularity in the 19th century.
The current design is illuminated with cutting-edge LED technology, a modern evolution of the electric lights that have defined the Times Square ball drop for decades. It serves as a brilliant adaptation of a historic adaptation.
This ball stands as a global beacon for a year of ground-breaking ambitions. As millions watch the crystal sphere descend-the countdown signals the opening of a new era-one where our reach extends further into the solar system than ever before.