Where to Watch the Ball Drop in 2024: Top Locations and Virtual Viewing Options for the New Year’s Eve Countdown

 

How to Watch the Ball Drop 2024: New Year’s Eve Countdown to 2025

As we say goodbye to the year 2024 and welcome a new one, the iconic ball drop at Times Square, New York City, continues to be the focus of worldwide celebrations. But if you want a different experience, or if you can’t be in the Big Apple, there are so many other places and virtual options to enjoy the magic of the countdown. Here’s where to watch the ball drop and ring in 2025 with unforgettable moments.

Times Square, New York City

Easily the most popular place to witness the ball drop is New York City’s Times Square. This tradition, which began in 1907, draws over one million spectators to the square each year to watch the glittering ball drop at midnight. The event comes with musical numbers, celebrity cameos and an energy that cannot be found anywhere else.

Entering Times Square does take planning (tickets and an earlier-than-usual arrival), but it’s worth the experience for those hoping to revel in the excitement of being in the center of the celebration. For those who want to avoid the crowds, there will be live broadcasts across the nation and around the globe.

Virtual Viewing Options

Traveling to New York may not be possible for many, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip out on the legendary ball drop. And you can watch the Times Square ball drop live in the comfort of your own home. The show is streamed online through the official Times Square New Year’s Eve website and social media channels. Live streams are on platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, so it’s easy to join in on the global countdown.

For extra entertainment, you can also watch special television broadcasts, like ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” or NBC’s “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly,” which includes live performances and celebrity interviews in addition to the countdown.

Countdown Locations Across the U.S.

If Times Square doesn’t rank among your plans but you still want to witness the excitement of a live ball drop, there’s a handful of other cities across the U.S. where you can join the fun.

Nashville, Tenn.: The “Music City” holds its annual celebration down on the downtown streets. Nashville: Instead of a ball, Nashville drops a giant musical note to ring in the new year. The free event features performances from country music stars and a stunning fireworks display.

Las Vegas, Nevada: Ah, the land of excess, and there are so many places in Las Vegas to throw a party for the new year. You can see fireworks from multiple hotels, or you can go to Fremont Street; that’s where people go to countdown. The city’s iconic hotels such as the Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace throw amazing events, and the Strip turns into one enormous New Year’s Eve celebration.

Atlanta, Georgia: Atlanta’s Peach Drop is a lighthearted alternative, with the giant peach dropping at midnight. It’s one of the longest-running New Year’s Eve parties in the country, boasting live acts, food trucks and lots of family-friendly activities.

National Viewing Locations

If you’re heading overseas — or you just want to see how other parts of the world celebrate — here are some good places to be:

Sydney, Australia: Sydney is among the first major cities to welcome the new year. Sydney Harbour’s famous pyrotechnics are a worldwide drawcard. Sydney's fireworks set against the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge is a once in a lifetime experience.

London, England: London is famed for its New Year’s Eve fireworks. The event is ticketed, but it’s a trip worth undertaking to watch the colorful pyrotechnics illuminate the London Eye and the River Thames.

Edinburgh, Scotland: Celebrated as one of the world’s most exciting cities to ring in the New Year, Edinburgh performs from concerts to street parties to the midnight light show.

Celebrate From Home

If you’d rather a quiet night in, there are legions of ways to celebrate from home. Install a countdown timer, or have live streams from New York or elsewhere. And to celebrate the holiday spirit with friends and family of your own, you can have your own countdown party with themed snacks, themed music, and lots of champagne to toast in the new year.

It doesn’t matter if you’re right in Times Square or on the other side of the planet, New Year’s Eve is a time for reflection and celebration, and to look forward to what lies ahead. The ball drop is a tradition that brings people together no matter where they are in the world, and wherever you’re located, you can join in on the countdown to 2025 in style.