Newsman: The Times Square Ball will drop again on July 3, 2026, marking the first time in history the Ball drops outside of New Year’s Eve. The Fourth of July countdown moment will anchor America250’s nationwide Independence Day celebrations and reinforce New York City’s central role in the nation’s Semiquincentennial.
America250 is the nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to lead the celebration of the 250th year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It will mark the first time in 120 years there will be ball drop in Times Square that doesn’t occur on New Year’s Eve.
In 2016, Congress authorized America250, also known as the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, “to provide for the observance and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and related events through local, State, national, and international activities planned, encouraged, developed, and coordinated by a national commission representative of appropriate public and private authorities and organizations.”
