Luke Bartolo ‘27
EE Entertainment Editor
Welcome to 2026! Times Square officially welcomed the new year by holding their annual Ball Drop. This year, a brand new ball, the Constellation Ball, was dropped.
There have been a total of 7 balls in the history of the Times Square Ball Drop, dating back to New Year’s Eve of 1907. The first ball was made out of wood, iron, and 100 incandescent light bulbs, which was used until 1920. On New Year’s Eve of 1920, an iron ball was dropped.
For the 1955-56 Ball Drop, a new ball was constructed. The third ball was made of aluminum, and weighed 150 pounds. In 1995, a computerized lighting system was added to the ball, and was decorated with rhinestones.
From December 31, 1999 to December 31, 2006, the fourth ball was used. This ball was constructed using Waterford Crystals. The ball was created in honor of the beginning of a new millennium. Several of the panels had a “Hope” themed design. Spinning mirrors and 96 strobe lights were installed on the ball.
The fifth and sixth balls were similar, as the sixth ball was a larger version of the fifth. The fifth ball had a diameter of 6 ft, and had 9,576 Philips LED lights. The sixth ball was 12 ft in diameter, and had 32,256 LED lamps. Starting in 2008, the crystals had a theme, such as Gift of Imagination and Let There be Peace.
The seventh ball, which is the current ball, is called the Constellation Ball. It features round Waterford Crystals, rather than triangular, and is 12.5 ft in diameter. The ball will once again drop on July 3 to welcome July 4 in honor of Times Square’s partnership with America250. People can now visit this ball atop One Times Square, by buying tickets to the new One Times Square exhibit. This exhibit features an observation deck, up close access to the ball, and a museum featuring previous balls! Consumers can even purchase crystals from the ball in three different sizes. I was lucky enough to get one of these crystals and visit a preview experience before the official opening in 2026, and I have to say: this is truly a one of a kind experience. You can learn more by visiting onetimessquare.com.