NYE FAQ

As we approach New Year's Eve 2024, we look forward to seeing revelers in Times Square for the Ball Drop! If you're planning to celebrate with us, whether in person or virtually, check out the list below of frequently asked questions about everything you need to know.

You can also head to our What's Happening page to learn more about events going on throughout the month. On social media, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to be part of the journey as we count down to the new year, and be sure to tell us how you're celebrating with Times Square New Year's Eve by using #BallDrop in your posts!

NYE FAQ

Where is the Ball lowered? Where is the best view?

The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball descends from a flagpole at the top of One Times Square. It can best be seen along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street.

The sound system is set up in the Bowtie area (where Broadway and Seventh Avenue cross), and the video screens on One Times Square (where the Ball is lowered) are easily visible. There are additional screens set up throughout the event.

When should I get there? When does the celebration begin?

The celebration will begin shortly before 6:00pm EST. At approximately 6:00pm EST the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball will be raised to the top of the pole at One Times Square (Broadway at 43rd Street). At exactly 11:59pm EST, the Ball will make its 60-second descent down the flagpole to signal the start of the New Year.

Revelers begin to gather in the afternoon on New Year's Eve, and will be allowed entrance to the viewing areas on a first-come, first served basis. It is difficult to say when different viewing areas will fill, as that depends on the year and the weather. The viewing areas will officially be opened at 3pm.

If you wish to watch from a viewing area, head to the access points at 49th, 52nd, and 56th Streets on 6th and 8th Avenues.

Can I watch the celebration online?

Yes! Join us online at 6pm on December 31 to enjoy the NYE 2024 celebration. Visit TimesSquareNYC.org to enjoy the LIVE, six-and-a-half-hour, commercial-free webcast from your computer or from mobile devices like a tablet or smartphone. If you have the Livestream app on your mobile device, you can also use that to connect to the webcast.

For details on how to share the webcast on your own website or blog, visit the Live Webcast page.

Will there be performances? What is the schedule for the New Year's Eve celebration?

New Year's Eve 2024 included musical performances by Paul Anka, Flo Rida, LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion, Jelly Roll, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla, Yng Lvcas, Maria Becerra, and Triad Brass, as well as dance performances by the Sino-American Friendship Association and AGNEW.

The performances for NYE 2025 will be announced in fall/winter 2024. The official schedule will come out in December 2024.

Are tickets needed for this event? Are there parties in Times Square?

No tickets are needed for the annual New Year’s Eve in Times Square celebration, which is a free event open to everyone on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no public viewing spaces available for sale.

Some private parties are held in many of the restaurants and hotels in Times Square and tickets are required in advance.

WARNING: MULTIPLE VENUE/PAY-ONE-PRICE/ALL ACCESS PASS ALERT

There are companies that offer Multiple Venue/Pay-One-Price/All Access passes which advertise access to Times Square on New Year’s Eve that is actually not possible. These companies advertise this pass as allowing the holder to visit numerous venues throughout Times Square on New Year's Eve. Such Multiple Venue/Pay-One-Price/All Access passes presume the holder will be able to get past police security lines. In years past, such pass holders were refused access beyond police check points, leaving the holder frustrated and without a place to go. It is reasonable to assume that the police will take the same stance this year.

Additionally, the Alliance has been informed that scalpers sold these passes on the street for exorbitant prices and in some instances the passes were counterfeit. The Times Square Alliance works very closely with the New York City Police Department and Times Square businesses to allow access to individual establishments. For a list of parties hosted by Times Square businesses visit our website.

See NYE parties
What is the best way to come to Times Square?

The best way to come to Times Square is via public transportation. To get to Times Square, the # 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, M, N, Q, R, W, and S shuttle trains all service the Times Square area. Note that certain trains do not run on weekends. In the past, the MTA has advised revelers not to use the 42nd Street Subway Station on New Year's Eve due to crowding conditions — you are advised to exit at one of the surrounding stations and enter Times Square on foot.

While the actual time of the system changes depend on the arrival of the revelers for the New Year’s Eve Celebration, based on the timeline from previous years,  the following service disruptions should be expected:

TIMES SQUARE-42 ST STATION:
The 42nd Street entrances close at approximately 11:00am. Riders can use the 41st Street entrances to access this station.

49 ST STATION N/R/W:
The “Olive Garden” egress will be closed at 4:00am. Riders can use the 49th Street exit. This station will be bypassed beginning at about 10:00am December 31st until approximately 12:15 a.m., January 1st.

50 ST STATION <1>:
This station will be bypassed beginning at noon, December 31st until approximately 12:15 a.m., January 1st.

Extra subway service will run on the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, C, D, L, N, Q, R and S lines on New Year’s Eve.

The most up-to-date transit information is always available by calling the MTA at 511 or visiting www.mta.info.

Check for planned subway changes

Other useful sources of information:
Port Authority Bus Terminal (212) 564-8484
New York City Transit Authority (Local Bus Service) (718) 330-1234
Amtrak (800) 523-8720
Metro North (212) 532-4900
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) (718) 217- LIRR

For questions about access on New Year's Eve, please contact the NYPD sub-station at (212) 239-9803 or the Times Square Alliance Dispatch Office at (212) 452-5218. Please call ONLY on New Year's Eve.

How do I enter Times Square on New Year's Eve?

Access to Times Square on the evening of December 31st will be from 6th Avenue or 8th Avenue only. No one will be allowed to cross Broadway/7th Avenue once the streets have been closed. If your destination is east of Broadway/7th Avenue, you must enter at 6th Avenue and the nearest cross street to your destination. If your destination is west of Broadway/7th Avenue, you must enter at 8th Avenue and the cross street of your destination. The only exception is for businesses on 42nd Street; for those, you will need to enter at 41st Street and 8th Avenue.

If you are attending a party or event within Times Square on New Year's Eve, be sure to contact the business to confirm special instructions you may need in order to access the entrance of the establishment.

Access points for the viewing areas:

  • 49th from 6th & 8th Aves
  • 52nd from 6th & 8th Aves
  • 56th from 6th & 8th Aves

Pedestrians and general public are NOT permitted to traverse northbound, southbound, or across intersections within affected area.

What streets will be closed for the celebrations?

On December 31, the New York Police Department will begin closing down access to Times Square starting at 43rd Street and Broadway, and moving north as revelers arrive. The exact times that these blocks close to pedestrian and vehicular traffic will depend on when the revelers begin arriving.

Beginning at 4am, 7th Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from 42nd to 48th Streets, and vehicle traffic on the side streets from 43rd to 48th Streets will be closed from 6th to 8th Avenues. Later in the morning, at approximately 11am, 7th Avenue and Broadway will be closed to traffic from 38th to 59th Streets.

Viewing areas and blocks will be closed off as they fill up northward, street-by-street, as the police deem necessary.

Pedestrian access points to enter viewing areas:

  • 49th from 6th & 8th Aves
  • 52nd from 6th & 8th Aves
  • 56th from 6th & 8th Aves

Pedestrians and general public are NOT permitted to traverse north, south, or across intersections within the closed area.

What should I wear and what should I bring? Can I bring alcohol or champagne?

Check the weather, and dress warmly. Remember that you could be spending an extended period of time outdoors in potentially below-freezing conditions. You should be well-prepared and well-insulated. Many layers, synthetics (such as Goretex and polypropylene), wind-resistant and water-repellant outerwear and a good hat are the keys to staying warm. Note that all bags will be searched.

Check weather conditions

Items that are NOT permitted:

  • Backpacks
  • Large bags
  • Umbrellas
  • Lawn chairs or other folding chairs
  • Picnic blankets
  • Large coolers
  • Alcohol

Finally, remember to drink lots of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Public drinking is illegal in New York City and police will confiscate alcohol. Additionally, both caffeine and alcohol will dehydrate you. Dehydration is very common and can sneak up on you in cold weather.

I have a disability. Will there be a designated area for me to watch the Ball Drop?

Yes. The designated viewing area for individuals with disabilities is at 44th Street and Broadway, which is accessed at the southwest corner of 44th and 6th Ave. ASL interpreters will also be present at this viewing area. Please contact info@timessquarenyc.org for more information.

Will there be portable public restrooms available?

There are no portable restrooms in Times Square during the celebration.

Will there be theaters, stores, restaurants, and food & drink vendors open in the area? Can I go eat and come back?

There will be no licensed food and beverage vendors in Times Square.

Some Broadway theaters will be open on New Year's Eve. You can check the schedules for Broadway and some Off- Broadway shows at www.telecharge.com, www.broadway.com, or www.ticketmaster.com. Stores will be open at their own discretion, so please call them ahead of time.

Many restaurants located in the Times Square area will be open on New Year's Eve; be sure to consult our Restaurant Guide to locate a restaurant, and make your reservations well in advance. Please remember that if you dine at a local restaurant, you will not simply be able to come out and watch the Ball lowering at midnight. Revelers will arrive in Times Square early in the day, and while you are dining, designated viewing areas will fill up on a "first come, first served" basis. Furthermore, no one is allowed to stand in the emergency lanes or on sidewalks.

If you leave your viewing area to dine in a restaurant, you will not be able to return to your spot.

Which open Times Square hotels and restaurants have a view of the Ball?

The following businesses have a view of the Ball from portions of their building:

Is there availability in the hotels in the Times Square area?

There are a number of open hotels in the Times Square area, of various types. For a listing of hotel room rates and availability, you can visit our Hotels page and search by desired dates.

Visit our Hotels page
How can I get alerts and updates about things happening in Times Square?

For New Year's Eve-specific inquiries, The New York City Emergency Management Department has launched an opt-in short message service for those attending the NYE festivities in Times Square.

New Yorkers and visitors can text the keyword NEWYEARSEVE to 692692 (NYCNYC) to receive alerts and updates on weather, road closures, traffic delays and more via Notify NYC, the City’s official emergency communications program. Message and data rates may apply.

For messages in Spanish, text NOCHEVIEJA to 692692.

For messages in French, text NYEFRENCH to 692692.

The Times Square Alliance uses Flash Alerts to communicate with subscribers about pertinent day-to-day issues in the district including street closures, security issues, and other news. If you would like to receive Flash Alerts, you can sign up at TSqFlash.org. In addition to email, you can opt in to receive text and phone call updates.

Note that these alerts will continue after December; if you wish to stop receiving Flash Alerts, you will need to unsubscribe.

What is the history of Times Square New Year's Eve and the Ball?

Revelers have been celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square since 1904. To learn more about the celebration's history as well as more information about the New Year's Eve Ball, check out our History page.

NYE History & Times Square Ball
How much confetti is dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve?

More than 1 ton of confetti is typically dropped in Times Square to bring in the new year.

Can I volunteer to toss the confetti on New Year’s Eve?

Unfortunately, no. Our confetti master and his team have it covered.

Times Square NYE Sponsors