To welcome 2026, the new New Year's Eve countdown ball at One Times Square in New York City was unveiled on Monday (November 24).
This year's ball is larger than ever, measuring 3.8 meters in diameter and weighing approximately 5.75 tons. For the first time, it uses round crystal glass, replacing the previous triangular shapes, and the number of balls has doubled to 5,280. The round crystal glass is cut into three different sizes, and the themes and patterns can be changed.
In addition to being larger, rounder, and more colorful, the ball will also send blessings to the world in Morse code during the New Year's Eve celebration.
This is the ninth New Year's Eve ball in Times Square since the event began in 1907. Every year at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, the glittering ball, accompanied by the countdown, slowly descends from the approximately 42-meter-high pillar of One Times Square, bringing the atmosphere to a climax. (Reuters)
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