How to Watch the New Year's Eve Ball Drop in Times Square This Year
Here comes 2022!
Whether you're planning an all-out New Year's Eve party or you're counting down the final moments of 2021 in sweats on your couch, there's something special about New Year's Eve and the promise of something new. While last year's Times Square celebrations were not open to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Year's Eve 2021 in the Big Apple is poised to be a bit more lively. Read on for everything you need to know about how and where to watch the ball drop in 2022!
Is the New Year's Eve ball drop happening this year?
Watching the New Year's Eve ball drop in Time's Square is one of the most beloved New Year's Eve activities out there. And just like in 2020, the ball will indeed drop in Time's Square this year, but this time it won't be a totally virtual experience.
The annual ball drop is happening in Times Square on December 31, 2021, with festivities beginning around 6 p.m. and going until midnight.
Unlike 2020, people are being encouraged to attend in person this year — but, like most celebrations that have happened since the pandemic began, things will look slightly different. For those planning to travel to Manhattan for the big event in person, there will be some important changes and safety rules to note — but before we cover that, here's how you get an IRL spot at Time Square's famous ball drop, if you're curious: If you Google "Ball Drop tickets," you'll likely find a lot of places offering all-access passes to parties at nearby restaurants and hotels, for a variety of prices. However, there are no official tickets for the ball drop. It is a free event, open to the public, on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are tickets available to private parties at nearby locations, but those won't always guarantee you a spot with the best views of the ball.
If you do manage to stake out the best spot in Time's Square, be prepared to get comfortable, because there is no seating available and there are no restrooms (not even portable restrooms). If all that sounds good to you, though, there are some other very important, very new rules to keep in mind, too: Every single guest at this year's ball drop is required to provide proof of vaccination, along with a valid ID. This also applies to the parties surrounding Time's Square.
But if you're planning to watch this year's celebrations from afar, you're in luck — the event will be broadcast and easy to stream on both television and the internet.
Where can I watch the ball drop on TV?
As usual, major television networks will cover the ball drop this year, with many of them featuring celebrity appearances and multiple musical performances throughout the evening.
On ABC, Ryan Seacrest will be back to host Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, with the broadcast beginning at 8 p.m.
On CNN, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will once again host the drop, also beginning at 8 p.m.
On NBC and Peacock, pop superstar Miley Cyrus and SNL's Pete Davidson will host the network's New Year's Eve special for the first time. It will air live from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
All this is to say — you have a lot of options. You can stick to one special you like, or switch back and forth between all the different channels and specials to try a little bit of everything.
How to stream the ball drop for free
If you have cable or a cable streaming platform like YouTube TV, you should be able to watch most networks' coverage in real time on your television. If not, Time's Square's official website also lists hosts a live webcast on its website. Live streams on NewYearseve.nyc and TimesSquareBall.net are also good options for watching the event live.
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