Here’s Why The Times Square New York Ball Will Be Lit Twice on Wednesday

While most of us will be celebrating the arrival of 2026 at a local bar, at a friend's party, or by watching one of the numerous NYE specials on TV, millions of other people will be crammed into a several block section of Manhattan.

These revelers will brave cold temperatures and a lack of bathrooms (yes, its true) just so that they can see the ball drop in Times Square.

If you are headed to NYC to see the ball drop this year, you'll be treated to something special - you'll see the ball light up twice.

Why?  It all has to do with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States!

According to an article on the USA Today website, just a few minutes after the ball completes its 60 second drop to ring in the new year, it will light back up with a special America250 design.  That relit ball will rise above the glowing “2026” numbers at about 12:04 a.m. Eastern.

And that is not all.  There will also be a red, white, and blue confetti drop, along with a big pyrotechnic finale set to Ray Charles’ version of “America the Beautiful.”

This second lighting of the ball is all due to America250, a non-partisan organization that is dedicated to celebrating America's 250th birthday.  One of the other major events that they have planned is a July 3rd ball drop.