America250 Announces Celebration of America Turning 250 on New Year’s Eve in Times Square

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 26, 2025--

As the clock strikes midnight in Times Square, America will celebrate turning 250. America250, the nonpartisan organization charged by Congress with leading the celebration and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, together with One Times Square and the Times Square Alliance, today announce a surprise second post-midnight moment on New Year’s Eve to mark the start of the Semiquincentennial year. The moment will feature the Ball lighting up with an America250 design and a cascade of 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251226561417/en/

New Year’s Eve will be the start of a year-long partnership that will build to a historic second Times Square Ball Drop to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth on the eve of the Fourth of July.

“America250 will kick off the Semiquincentennial year on New Year’s Eve in Times Square — the most watched celebration on the planet — signaling that the largest and most inspiring celebration and commemoration in our nation’s history is underway in 2026,” said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. “Our goal is to inspire all 350 million Americans to join in this moment to celebrate our country.”

Historic Second Celebration to Ring In Semiquincentennial Year
For the first time ever, a surprise second ceremonial celebration will follow the traditional midnight countdown, officially welcoming 2026 and the start of the Semiquincentennial year.

At approximately 12:04 a.m. EST, the Times Square Ball will be relit in a red, white, and blue America250 design and rise above illuminated “2026” numerals. The moment will include a new video “America Turns 250,” a first-ever post-midnight release of 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti, and a dynamic pyro finale set to Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

This New Year’s Eve moment reflects deep collaboration among America250, One Times Square, and the Times Square Alliance, reinforcing the partnerships guiding the Semiquincentennial.

“One Times Square has long been a place where the world comes together to celebrate pivotal moments—from the end of World War II to the moon landing,” said Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown, the owner and operator of One Times Square. “We’re proud to serve as the starting point of this historic year, showcasing the nation’s celebration on a global stage.”

“Every year in Times Square on New Year’s Eve we unite the crowds cheering in the streets with the millions of people around the country and the world to celebrate one of the most iconic moments together as one,” said Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance. “It’s perfect that this moment will be in partnership with America250 and the very first moment of a year’s worth of moments to celebrate our country's 250 great years.”

Anticipation for the post-midnight moment will build throughout the evening with a series of America250 features, beginning at 6:04 p.m. EST with the reveal of the America250 Ball Design atop One Times Square during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” As the countdown approaches, at approximately 11:15 p.m. EST, Chair Rosie Rios will invite Americans to take part in America Gives, America250’s newest initiative aimed at making 2026 the largest year of service ever recorded.

America250 to Return to Times Square on July 3, 2026 for Fourth of July Ball Drop
America250 is also revealing that the decorated Times Square Ball will drop again on July 3, 2026, marking the first time in history the Ball drops outside of New Year’s Eve. The Fourth of July countdown moment will anchor America250’s nationwide Independence Day celebrations and reinforce New York City’s central role in the nation’s Semiquincentennial.

America250 Drives Momentum from Sea to Shining Sea
America250 is entering the Semiquincentennial year with strong momentum built throughout 2025. New Year’s Eve marks the close of a year of progress while setting the stage for an ambitious national effort in 2026. America250 has achieved the following:

About America250
America250 is the official nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally-appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its sole-supporting nonprofit organization, America250.org, Inc., together known as America250. This multi-year effort kicked off with America’s Invitation on July 4, 2023: a national public engagement campaign inviting all Americans to share their stories and their hopes and dreams for the future of this country. Leading up to July 4, 2026, America250 is working to provide opportunities for all Americans to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look to the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. Learn more at www.America250.org.

About One Times Square
One Times Square is a 26-story building located at the intersection of 42nd Street, Seventh Avenue, and Broadway in the heart of Times Square. Originally built as the headquarters for the New York Times at the turn of the 20th century, the building is being reimagined as a destination for experiential entertainment. The building has served as the focal point for the iconic New Year's Eve Ball Drop Celebration since 1907 and continues to play a central role in the world's New Year's Eve traditions. For more information, visit onetimessquare.com.

About the Times Square Alliance
The Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square - cultivating the creativity, energy and edge that have made the area an icon of entertainment, culture, and urban life for over a century. Founded in 1992, the Alliance keeps the neighborhood clean and safe, promotes local businesses, manages area improvements and produces major annual events with partners including New Year's Eve, Solstice in Times Square and Taste of Times Square. As the custodians of Times Square, the Alliance works every day to improve the quality of life for the neighborhood residents and businesses while driving economic growth in New York City. www.TSq.org

America250, One Times Square, and Times Square Alliance Reveal Ball Designed in Honor of Nation’s Semiquincentennial Year

America250, One Times Square, and Times Square Alliance Reveal Ball Designed in Honor of Nation’s Semiquincentennial Year

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida over the weekend.

Zelenskyy told journalists that the two leaders will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine during Sunday's talks, and that the 20-point plan under discussion “is about 90% ready.”

An “economic agreement” also will be discussed, Zelenskyy said, but that he was unable to confirm “whether anything will be finalized by the end.”

The Ukrainian side will also raise "territorial issues", he said.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine “would like the Europeans to be involved," but doubted whether it would be possible at short notice.

“We must, without doubt, find some format in the near future in which not only Ukraine and the U.S. are present, but Europe is represented as well,” he said.

The announced meeting is the latest development in an extensive U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the nearly four-year Russia-Ukraine war, but efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv.

Zelenskyy's comments came after he said Thursday that he had a “good conversation” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that the Kremlin had already been in contact with U.S. representatives since Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev recently met with U.S. envoys in Florida.

“It was agreed upon to continue the dialogue," he said.

Trump is engaged in a diplomatic push to end Russia's all-out war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv.

Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he would be willing to withdraw troops from Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end the war, if Russia also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces.

Though Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that there had been “slow but steady progress” in the peace talks, Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any kind of withdrawal from land it has seized.

In fact, Moscow has insisted that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas — an ultimatum that Ukraine has rejected. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk — the two areas that make up the Donbas.

On the ground, one person was killed and three others were wounded when a guided aerial bomb hit a house in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, while six people were wounded in a missile strike on the city of Uman, local officials said Friday.

Russian drone attacks on the city of Mykolaiv and its suburbs overnight into Friday left part of the city without power. Energy and port infrastructure were damaged by drones in the city of Odesa on the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said that it struck a major Russian oil refinery on Thursday using U.K.-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.

Ukraine’s General Staff said that its forces hit the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia’s Rostov region.

“Multiple explosions were recorded. The target was hit,” it wrote on Telegram.

Rostov regional Gov. Yuri Slyusar said that a firefighter was wounded when extinguishing the fire.

Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries aim to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue its full-scale invasion. Russia wants to cripple the Ukraine's power grid, seeking to deny civilians access to heat, light and running water in what Ukrainian officials say is an attempt to “weaponize winter.”

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a media conference at the EU Summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)