“The countdown is officially on, with less than six hours until it’s time to ring in the new year and the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square. For those planning to enjoy the festivities from home this year, you can also witness all the excitement and action in New York City via”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
For those planning to enjoy the festivities from home this year, you can also witness all the excitement and action in New York City via livestream. The free live webcast begins at 6 pm ET / 3 pm PT on Wednesday and features live performances, interviews, behind-the-scenes stories and hourly countdowns.
Two familiar faces return to host the NYE 2026 webcast: actor and TV personality Jonathan Bennett and Jeremy Hassell.
Bennett, best known for his starring roles in Mean Girls and Hallmark holiday films, such as A Keller Christmas Vacation, Happy Howlidays and The Holiday Sitterhas hosted the event for several years. Bennett has also hosted Cake Wars, Halloween Wars and Holiday Wars. As for Hassell, he has been part of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration since 2016. Throughout his career, he has hosted several live events and celebrity interviews.
The event will feature musical performances by BoB, who will sing “Airplanes,” “Nothin’ On You” and “Incwadi,” and Tones and I, performing “Gone Gone Gone,” “Fly Away” and “Dance Monkey,” as well as John Lennon’s “Imagine.” New York dance group AGNEW is also set to perform on the Planet Fitness Center Stage, while several other artists are set to take to the Countdown Stage for ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eveincluding Ciara, LE SSERAFIM, Little Big Town, Maren Morris and Diana Ross.
As for the famous ball drop, the mayor of New York City is set to push the crystal button.
After the clock strikes midnight in Times Square and celebrations erupt, a surprise second ceremonial moment will also follow to celebrate America turning 250, and will feature the Ball lighting up with an America250 design.
To watch the NYE 2026 webcast, click here, or visit the official Times Square Facebook page.