Many families across America share one particular tradition, despite their differences: the New Year’s Eve ball drop, live from New York City in Times Square. This year, faithful viewers were met with a shocking announcement, overshadowing their sacred tradition with new uncertainties.
Collectively, Americans have been ringing in the New Year with this classic event since its founding in 1907 by Adolph Ochs, owner of The New York Times. The celebration consists of countless special guests, from musical artists to world-renowned comedians, all leading up to the highly anticipated ‘ball drop.’ The original ball design was a 5-foot-diameter iron and wood sphere, lit using 100 bulbs. In the nearly 120 years since, the ball design has undergone countless improvements and adapted to new technology, resembling the values of the New Year’s holiday: out with the old, in with the new. The most recent edition of the Times Square Ball was unveiled in 2008, over a decade ago. This design consisted of 2,688 crystal triangles and over 32,000 LED lights, covering the 12-foot sphere and weighing in at roughly 11,875 pounds. The size comparison between the original ball and our most recent version demonstrates how far America has come as a nation and the latest announcement hopes to push this narrative even further.
This New Year’s, the event organizers in New York City announced plans to retire the current Times Square ball by releasing the newest design set to be introduced for the 2026 New Year’s celebrations. Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown (the company with ownership of One Times Square) that the new design will be the most advanced yet, composed of dynamic and digitally interactive elements to represent the new age of technology in America. However, rather than the anticipated excitement over the announcement, organizers were met with sadness and worry from the celebration’s faithful viewers. America couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to this beloved symbol of history.
In response, organizers announced their plan to create an immersive arts and culture exhibit in New York City featuring retired Times Square balls, thus allowing visitors to revisit past elements of their beloved traditions and appreciate their historical significance. The exhibit hopes to act as a space to unify the past, present, and future, connecting generations to the rich history the New York Times has fostered into America’s New Year’s Celebration.
