- - Watch NYC Times Square confetti drop test ahead of New Year's Eve

Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY December 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM

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The countdown to 2026 has begun and preparations are in full swing.

On Monday, Dec. 29, multicolored confetti was dropped from the Planet Fitness Center Stage at Times Square in New York in preparation for the release of 3,000 pounds of confetti at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The confetti is dropped to check air worthiness.

The 3,000 pounds of confetti, which will drop on New Year’s Eve, will include thousands of wishes from people who have submitted them on actual confetti at the New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall in Times Square and via the Virtual Wishing Wall.

Times Square said the "beloved annual tradition invites visitors from across the globe to share their hopes for the year ahead by writing them on pieces of confetti that will be released over Times Square at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve." Confetti submissions were accepted between Dec. 1 and 29, according to the Times Square website.

Shrimp, a cherry, more. See quirky New Year’s Eve drop traditions.

See confetti test at New York City's Times Square

1 / 7See confetti fly in Times Square ahead of New Year's EvePeople look on as the Planet Fitness test air worthiness of confetti is presented during New Year's Eve rehearsals in Times Square, New York, on December 29, 2025.

People look on as the Planet Fitness test air worthiness of confetti is presented during New Year's Eve rehearsals in Times Square, New York, on Dec. 29, 2025.

Wishes that will be dropped during New Year’s Eve celebration are displayed in Times Square in New York City on Dec. 29, 2025.

Wishes that will be dropped during New Year’s Eve celebration are displayed in Times Square, New York City on Dec. 29, 2025.

Rain soaked confetti are seen in Times Square during New Year's Eve rehearsals as part of the Planet Fitness test air worthiness of confetti in New York on Dec. 29, 2025.

New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square have been held for 122 years, "ever since the owners of One Times Square began in 1904 to conduct rooftop celebrations to greet the New Year," Times Square's website says.

In addition to the confetti, Times Square will also host its famous ball drop on New Year's Eve as well as musical performances by artists including B.o.B, Tones and I, Xavi, Robyn and Diana Ross, among others.

When will NYE celebrations begin at Times Square?

The Times Square New Year's Eve celebrations will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and the New Year's Eve ball will be raised to the top of the pole at One Times Square. At exactly 11:59 p.m. ET, the ball will make its 60-second descent down the flagpole to signal the start of the new year.

Described as the "centerpiece" of the annual countdown celebration on Dec. 31, the new and Constellation Ball at Times Square, unveiled last month on Nov. 24, is ninth iteration of the ball since its debut in 1907. With 5,280 Waterford crystals and LED light pucks, the ball features nearly double the number of crystals as the previous ball, according to a One Times Square news release.

This year, the ball is expected to make another descent shortly after midnight, to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. America250, on Dec. 27, announced the "surprise second post-midnight moment" and said the ball will be relit with an America250 design, rising above the illuminated "2026" numerals at approximately 12:04 a.m. ET.

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Seven-foot-tall numerals for "2026" are displayed during an illumination ceremony on December 26, 2025 at One Times Square in New York City, ahead of the this year's New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.How to watch the Times Square ball drop

While multiple broadcasting corporations, including CNN, ABC and CBS will be airing the New Year's Eve celebrations live on their TV channels and streaming platforms, audiences can also catch the live webcast on Times Square's official website starting 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

"Enjoy commercial-free, webcast coverage of the festivities leading up to the Ball Drop at midnight, including backstage access, behind-the-scenes stories and interviews with performers and other celebrities," Times Square says on their website.

A livestream with open captions and American Sign Language interpretation will also be available on YouTube.

Contributing: Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Videos, photos show NYC test out NYE confetti drop in Times Square

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