As the ball drops on New Year’s Eve in New York City, a celebration in red, white, and blue will commence, heralding the kickoff for America's 250th birthday throughout the upcoming year. A year filled with nationwide events is set to honor the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The Times Square celebration this year promises a second confetti drop, allowing a glimpse into the grandeur of the planned events. I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re imagining, it’s going to be much more than that,” said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. Led by a bipartisan commission forged in 2016, Rios highlighted that these celebrations will be monumental. It’s going to be one for the ages, she added.
Collaborating with the Times Square Alliance, Rios has orchestrated modifications for this year’s festivities and is also planning a unique event—a second ball drop on July 3, 2026, the eve of the nation’s birthday. This marks the first time in 120 years that a ball drop will not be exclusive to New Year’s Eve.
The New Year also signifies the official launch of America Gives, a national service initiative aimed at engaging citizens in volunteer work. Rios emphasized that the upcoming year should be community-driven, with representation from across the nation, highlighting the diversity of celebrations ranging from fireworks displays to citizen oral histories.
The only years that did not see a ball drop were during World War II, specifically in 1942 and 1943, when New York City opted for “dimouts” to prevent potential attacks.
Last year, the largest and most recent version of the Times Square ball, known as the Constellation Ball, was unveiled, weighing nearly twelve thousand pounds and measuring around twelve feet in diameter. This New Year will also kick off America250’s mission to bring people together across the country, aiming to engage 350 million Americans.
