How to watch 'Dick Clark's New Year’s Rockin’ Eve' 2026

Gear up to bid 2025 goodbye and welcome 2026 with Ryan Seacrest, who will be ringing in the new year at Times Square in New York City as he hosts ABC's New Year Special "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026."

The iconic venue is ready for the celebrations after organizers tested the new and updated Constellation Ball, described as the "centerpiece" of the annual countdown celebration and "a universal symbol of the New Year," at Times Square on Dec. 30. With 5,280 Waterford crystals and LED light pucks, the ball features nearly double the number of crystals as the previous ball, according to a One Times Square news release.

Ahead of the grand show, on Dec. 29, multicolored confetti was dropped from the Planet Fitness Center Stage at Times Square in New York in preparation for the release of 3,000 pounds of confetti at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Here's what to know about the annual Times Square tradition and how to watch the celebrations on ABC and streaming.

How to watch and stream Dick Clark's New Year Eve special for 2026

Seacrest will return as host "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 (NYRE)" on ABC live from New York City with Rita Ora joining him as co-host and Diana Ross set to deliver a "dazzling live performance as the 2026 headliner."

The show will air live on Wednesday, Dec. 31, on ABC starting at 8 p.m. EST and will be available to stream on Hulu the next day. ABC said this year's show, with an additional hour and a half of programming, marks the longest NYRE telecast ever.

This year's show will also be first time ABC counts down to the New Year in the Midwest with Chance the Rapper joining the broadcast as co-host to lead the live Central Time Zone countdown in Chicago, the network said.

Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough, meanwhile, will ring in the New Year in Las Vegas, while Roselyn Sánchez will celebrate in Puerto Rico, ABC said.

Watch 'Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026': Subscribe to Hulu

When is the ball drop?

The Times Square New Year's Eve celebrations will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and the New Year's Eve ball will be raised to the top of the pole at One Times Square. At exactly 11:59 p.m. ET, the ball will make its 60-second descent down the flagpole to signal the start of the new year.

This year's Constellation Ball is ninth iteration of the ball since its debut in 1907 and the largest one yet, measuring 12.5 feet in diameter and weighing 12,350 pounds, according to a One Times Square news release. Organizers said the ball also "features new modernized technology, with state-of-the-art lighting, motion, and control system, as well as a new signature sound and interactive capabilities."

This year, the ball is also expected to mark America’s 250th anniversary. America250 announced on Dec. 27 the "surprise second post-midnight moment" and said the ball will be relit with an America250 design, rising above the illuminated "2026" numerals at approximately 12:04 a.m. ET.

Who is performing on New Year's Eve on ABC?

ABC said a "lineup of superstar performers" will "deliver electrifying sets across the show’s multi-city broadcast," including:

• 4 Non Blondes
• 50 Cent
• 6lack
• AJR
• BigXthaPlug
• Chance the Rapper
• Charlie Puth
• Chappell Roan
• Ciara
• Demi Lovato
• DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! Starring Busta Rhymes
• T.I. & Wyclef Jean
• Filmore
• Goo Goo Dolls
• Jess Glynne
• Jessie Murph
• Jordan Davis
• KPop Demon Hunters: The Singing Voices of HUNTR/X - EJAE
• Audrey Nuna and REI AMI
• Leon Thomas
• LE SSERAFIM
• Lil Jon
• Little Big Town
• Madison Beer
• Maren Morris
• Mariah Carey
• New Kids on the Block
• OneRepublic
• Pitbull, Post Malone
• Rick Springfield
• Russell Dickerson
• The All-American Rejects
• Tucker Wetmore
• Zara Larsson

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How to watch Times Square ball drop

While multiple broadcasters, including ABC, will be airing the New Year's Eve celebrations live on their TV channels and streaming platforms, audiences can also catch the live webcast on Times Square's official website starting 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

"Enjoy commercial-free, webcast coverage of the festivities leading up to the Ball Drop at midnight, including backstage access, behind-the-scenes stories and interviews with performers and other celebrities," Times Square says on their website.

A livestream with open captions and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will also be available on YouTube.

USA TODAY will also be streaming the New Year's Eve celebrations from Times Square live.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.