The history of the New Year's Eve ball drop

December 28, 2025

TL;DR

The Times Square ball drop tradition began on December 31, 1907, organized by Adolph Ochs.
The event has occurred annually since, with exceptions in 1942 and 1943.
The new ball for the 2026 drop is the ninth iteration and the largest ever, weighing 12,350 pounds.
The ball is covered in over 5,000 handcrafted Waterford Crystal discs.
The ball drop symbolizes releasing the past and looking forward to the future.
The ball will also drop on July 4th to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's birth.

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