Minutes after the Times Square Ball drops in New York City to ring in the new year, the crystal sphere will rise and glow red, white, and blue, setting the stage for celebrations of America's 250th birthday.
America250—the nonpartisan group launched by Congress to lead the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the July 4, 1776, signing of the Declaration of Independence—unveiled the upcoming patriotic display on Friday.
The commemorative Times Square Ball will go back up at approximately 12:04 a.m. local time, accompanied by a shower of 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti and a dazzling fireworks show set to Ray Charles's 1972 rendition of the country's unofficial anthem, "America the Beautiful."
"America250 will kick off the Semiquincentennial year on New Year’s Eve in Times Square — the most watched celebration on the planet — signaling that the largest and most inspiring celebration and commemoration in our nation’s history is underway in 2026," Rosie Rios, the chair of America250, said in the press release. "Our goal is to inspire all 350 million Americans to join in this moment to celebrate our country."
Those who miss the New Year's Eve extravaganza, produced in collaboration with One Times Square and the Times Square Alliance, will get a chance to see it again next summer when the patriotic Ball falls on July 3, 2026, ahead of the Fourth of July.
America250 said the drop will mark the first time in the nation's history that the crystal sphere has descended outside of the traditional New Year's Eve celebration.
"The Fourth of July countdown moment will anchor America250’s nationwide Independence Day celebrations and reinforce New York City’s central role in the nation’s Semiquincentennial," the group said.
President Donald Trump on Dec. 18 launched another nonpartisan group to lead the administration's celebrations of the country's 250th anniversary.
The organization, Freedom 250, is planning a series of events throughout 2026, including the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in the summer, followed by the "Patriot Games," a competition for high school athletes, during the fall.