9 amazing pictures of the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square

Confetti, countdowns and cold fingers. For one long, glitter-filled night, Times Square did exactly what it always does on December 31: pulled in the world and sent it into the new year together.

Despite freezing temperatures and hours of waiting behind barricades, crowds packed midtown to watch the crystal ball drop and welcome 2026. By midnight, Seventh Avenue was carpeted in confetti and phones were held high to capture the moment the city officially flipped the calendar.

From bundled-up spectators to iconic performances and that final, glowing descent, these photos capture the chaos and magic of New Year’s Eve at the Crossroads of the World: