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Tag: New Year's Eve

  • Who’s performing at tonight’s Times Square ball drop for New Year’s Eve 2026?

    As revelers from around the world ring in 2026 in New York City’s Times Square, they’re being treated to a New Year’s Eve packed with live performances. 

    Crowds have gathered to watch the ball drop from atop the skyscraper at One Times Square on New Year’s for more than a century. At this year’s festivities, organizers unveiled a star-studded lineup of entertainment featuring Diana Ross, Ciara, Maren Morris, Little Big Town and more. 

    But it’s not the only New Year’s celebration with A-list performers on tap. Some top country music stars usher in 2026 on CBS’ “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash,” with Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and CeCe Winans just a few of those taking the stage.

    Here’s what to know about who is scheduled to perform, and when, this New Year’s Eve.

    Full list of Times Square New Year’s Eve performers 

    New Year’s Eve celebrations officially kicked off in Times Square at 6 p.m. ET with the lighting and raising of the ball that will drop at midnight. The evening features performances from some big names in the entertainment world:

    • James McCarthy
    • B.o.B 
    • Ciara 
    • Tones And I
    • LE SSERAFIM
    • AGNEW, a New York dance group
    • Robyn
    • Little Big Town 
    • Xavi 
    • Maren Morris
    • Ana Barbara 
    • Diana Ross

    When is Diana Ross performing on New Year’s Eve?

    Legendary singer Diana Ross is scheduled to perform a medley of her hit songs, including “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down,” on the Countdown Stage in Times Square beginning at 11:37 p.m. ET on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” on ABC. Ross is the recipient of two Grammy Awards for Lifetime Achievement — one as a solo artist and one with the Motown group The Supremes — as well as a Tony, multiple American Music Awards, a Golden Globe and Kennedy Center Honors.

    When is Ciara performing on New Year’s Eve?

    Grammy-winning singer Ciara‘s Times Square performance is expected to air sometime between midnight and 12:30 a.m. ET on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” according to an ABC spokesperson. Twenty-one of the R&B artist’s songs have made it onto Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, including her 2004 hit “Goodies,” which claimed the No. 1 spot for seven weeks. Earlier this year, Ciara released “CiCi,” her first album since 2019.

    When is Little Big Town performing on New Year’s Eve?

    Country music group Little Big Town is scheduled to play a medley of their hits starting at 9:35 p.m. ET on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” The band has been together for over a quarter-century with 32 songs making Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, including their 2014 hit “Girl Crush,” which was No. 1 for 13 weeks. Along the way, Little Big Town was named vocal group of the year six times by the Country Music Association and four times by the Academy of Country Music, and they’ve won three Grammys.

    When is Maren Morris performing on New Year’s Eve?

    Country music star Maren Morris is scheduled to perform a medley of her songs starting at 10:33 p.m. ET on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” The singer-songwriter, who released her latest album “Dreamsicle” earlier this year, rose to stardom with her 2016 hit “My Church.” The song won her a Grammy and peaked at No. 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

    When is Robyn performing on New Year’s Eve?

    Swedish pop star Robyn is scheduled to sing her 2010 songs “Dancing on My Own” and “Call Your Girlfriend” as well as her new single “Dopamine” starting at 9:18 p.m. ET on CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live.” “Dancing on My Own” was named the top song of the 2010s by the Associated Press’ music editor. More recently, a writer for Britain’s The Guardian likened it to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

    When is Tones And I performing on New Year’s Eve?

    Australian singer-songwriter Tones And I was set to perform her hits “Dance Monkey,” “Fly Away” and “Gone Gone Gone” starting at 8:03 p.m. ET on the official livestream of the festivities in Times Square. She’s expected to return at 11:55 p.m. for her version of John Lennon’s iconic song “Imagine” before the countdown to 2026. “Dance Monkey” climbed to the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 2020, and “Gone Gone Gone,” her new song with David Guetta and Teddy Swims, has been on the chart for the past three weeks.

    Schedule for tonight’s Times Square performers

    When are your favorite acts performing? Here is a list of the scheduled times for each performance (all times Eastern). Organizers note that the times on the live schedule may not match the exact broadcast time.

    • 6:03 p.m.-6:05 p.m. — James McCarthy sings the national anthem
    • 6:30 p.m.-6:43 p.m. — B.o.B performs two of his hits plus a new song
    • 8:03 p.m.-8:14 p.m. — Tones And I performs three of her hit songs
    • 8:26 p.m.-8:32 p.m. — LE SSERAFIM performs their hit songs on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” on ABC
    • 8:41 p.m.-8:46 p.m. — AGNEW, a New York dance group, performs
    • 9:18 p.m.- 9:31 p.m. — Robyn performs three of her hit songs on “New Year’s Eve Live” on CNN
    • 9:35 p.m.-9:42 p.m. — Little Big Town performs a medley of their hit songs on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”
    • 10:02 p.m.-10:08 p.m. — Xavi performs a medley of his hit songs on “Feliz 2026” on Univision
    • 10:33 p.m.-10:41 p.m. — Maren Morris performs a medley of her hit songs on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”
    • 11:02 p.m.-11:08 p.m. — Ana Barbara performs a medley of her hit songs on “Feliz 2026”
    • 11:37 p.m.-11:46 p.m. — Diana Ross performs a medley of her hit songs on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”
    • 11:55 p.m.-11:58 p.m. — Tones And I returns for a special performance ahead of the ball drop
    • After midnight — Ciara performs a medley of her hit songs on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”

    Who’s performing on CBS’ “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash”?

    Music stars help welcome the new year in Nashville on CBS’ “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.” Five hours of festivities air from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT and 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. ET/PT, on the CBS television network and streaming on Paramount+.

    Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman headline the celebration, with special guests CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Comedian and actor Bert Kreischer and country music artist Hardy serve as hosts. 

    The Nashville event includes a countdown at midnight and the city’s traditional Music Note Drop and fireworks, the organizers said.

    Here’s a list of scheduled performers and special appearances:

    • Jason Aldean
    • Lainey Wilson
    • Bailey Zimmerman 
    • CeCe Winans
    • The Fisk Jubilee Singers
    • Dierks Bentley
    • Brooks & Dunn
    • Rascal Flatts
    • Zach Top
    • Keith Urban
    • Gretchen Wilson
    • Stephen Wilson Jr.
    • Riley Green
    • Megan Moroney
    • Dwight Yoakam 
    • Marcus King
    • Cody Alan
    • Caylee Hammack
    • Comedian Dusty Slay
    • UFC champion Kayla Harrison
    • Entertainment Tonight’s Cassie DiLaura
    • Sirius XM host Buzz Brainard

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  • What will the weather be like on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Maps show the latest forecasts.

    Americans in many parts of the country will begin 2026 amid frosty temperatures, heavy snow or potentially intense rainfall, depending on where they live. 

    Weather forecasts for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day show another bout of lake effect snowfall hitting the Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast, after a powerful winter storm system brought heaps of snow and high winds to both regions, as well as parts of the Midwest, in the days since Christmas. Meanwhile, wet weather is moving into California to mark the New Year and will head toward the Northwest later this week. 

    It will be frigid across the North and the East, meteorologists say, with temperatures expected to be 10 or 20 degrees below the average for this time of year in those regions. In the West, things will be warmer than average, with temperatures between 15 and 25 higher than average.

    Lake effect snow

    Lake effect snowfall continues to pile up Wednesday in areas downwind of the Great Lakes, with parts of western New York and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula seeing the highest totals. And more is on its way: Some locations could receive between 1 and 3 feet of snow by New Year’s Day, including places that have already been pummeled by recent winter storms that brought as much as 2 feet of snow in the last 48 hours.

    CBS News/Nikki Nolan


    The National Weather Service has issued lake effect snow warnings for a number of towns and cities in northern Ohio, upstate New York and western Pennsylvania, which are set to remain in effect through Thursday. The agency’s weather forecast office in Albany warned that conditions could impede travel, especially because they may change unexpectedly. 

    “During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also vary greatly,” the NWS Albany office wrote in a message accompanying its latest warning. “Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions.”

    Cold front approaches East Coast

    Colder air is settling in across the East Coast, as the area braces for yet another cold front that is expected to move through in the coming days, CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan said.

    In New York City, revelers who are expected to gather in droves to watch the annual ball drop in Times Square will likely experience the chilliest event in eight years, said CBS New York meteorologist Matthew DeLucia. Temperatures are forecast to hover just above freezing, with cooler wind chills, and flurries or a snow shower could materialize close to midnight.

    nye-forecast.jpg

    CBS News/Nikki Nolan


    Other cities along the I-95 corridor, like Boston, could see similar conditions as they ring in 2026. As New Year’s Day arrives, a burst of heavier snow is possible in the Boston area and across southeastern Massachusetts, CBS News Boston reported.  

    Western storms

    The southwestern United States is currently experiencing a spell of rain, which will move northward over the next couple of days and bring snowfall to the Sierra Nevada, said Nolan.

    Much of Southern California will get heavy rain starting on the morning of New Year’s Day, according to the National Weather Service, which said there is a “slight risk of excessive rainfall” for portions of that region. 

    Major cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento could be affected, as well as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada.

    west-forecast.jpg

    CBS News/Nikki Nolan


    The weather service has also issued flood watches for parts of Southern California, which will remain effective through the evening on New Year’s Day.

    In the Los Angeles area, this storm is expected to bring as much as 1 inch of rainfall per hour at its peak, which should begin at around 10 p.m. PT on New Year’s Eve, CBS News Los Angeles reported. Most inland and coastal places in that area could see up to 2 inches of rainfall accumulate between Wednesday morning and Thursday night, with more expected in the mountains, according to the station.

    Nikki Nolan

    contributed to this report.

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  • New Year’s Eve 2026 celebrations kick off as the new year dawns Down Under

    On the other side of the world, 2026 has already arrived. Countries in the South Pacific are first to ring in the new year, and midnight struck in New Zealand a full 18 hours before the ball was scheduled to drop in New York’s Times Square.

    In Auckland, New Zealanders welcomed 2026 with a fireworks display launched from the country’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, in a celebration that drew thousands despite rain.

    The five-minute pyrotechnic display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 787-foot tower. Smaller community events were canceled across New Zealand’s North Island on Wednesday due to dismal weather forecasts.

    In Auckland, New Zealand, fireworks help usher in the new year with a display launched from the country’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, Jan. 1, 2026.

    Reuters


    New Yearâs Eve celebrations begin in Christchurch

    Fireworks light up the sky as people gather for New Year’s Eve celebrations at Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand.

    Lynne McAra Clark/Anadolu via Getty Images


    Australia’s east coast welcomed 2026 just two hours later, but in Sydney, the country’s largest city, celebrations were held under the pall of Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. Two gunmen targeted a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15 people in what authorities have labeled an ISIS-inspired, antisemitic terror attack.

    Officials had said that more than 2,500 officers would be on hand to patrol the area around Sydney’s iconic harbor, the epicenter of New Year’s Eve celebrations. Many were to openly carry automatic rifles, a sight rarely seen in Sydney.

    Thousands thronged to the waterfront to watch a fireworks show centered on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

    Sydney Celebrates New Years Eve 2026

    Fireworks light up the sky over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Eve celebrations on Jan. 1, 2026, in Sydney, Australia.

    Izhar Khan/Getty


    An hour before midnight, the massacre victims were commemorated with one minute of silence, while images of a menorah were projected onto the bridge’s pylons. The crowd was invited to show solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community by shining their phone lights across the harbor.

    Sydney Celebrates New Years Eve 2026

    People take photos of the New Year’s Eve firework displays at the Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

    George Chan / Getty Images


    Sydney Celebrates New Years Eve 2026

    A couple kisses to celebrate New Year’s during a firework display near the Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

    George Chan / Getty Images


    New South Wales Premier Chris Minns had urged Sydney residents not to stay away due to fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year’s Eve festivities as a victory.

    “We can’t be in a situation where this horrible, criminal, terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city,” Minns told reporters on Wednesday. “We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we’re not going to be cowered by this kind of terrorism.”

    Sydney Celebrates New Years Eve 2026

    An image of a menorah is projected onto the pylons of Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Dec. 31, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. The projection was in tribute to the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack on Dec. 14.

    Izhar Khan/Getty


    In Indonesia, one of Australia’s nearest neighbors, cities scaled back New Year’s Eve festivities as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by catastrophic floods and landslides that struck parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives.

    The capital, Jakarta, will not ring in 2026 with its usual fanfare, choosing instead subdued celebrations with a calm and reflective program centered on prayers for victims, city Gov. Pramono Anung said last week. Concerts and fireworks on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali have been canceled and replaced with a cultural arts event featuring 65 groups performing traditional dances.

    Hong Kong, too, was to ring in 2026 without the usual spectacular and colorful explosions in the sky over its iconic Victoria Harbor, after a massive fire tore through an apartment complex in November and killed at least 161 people.

    The city’s tourism board was instead hosting a music show featuring soft rock duo Air Supply and other singers in Central, a business district. The facades of eight landmarks were to turn into giant countdown clocks presenting a three-minute light show at midnight.

    HONG KONG-CHINA-NEWYEAR-2026

    Revellers pose for photos as they wait for the midnight countdown during New Year’s celebrations in Hong Kong on Dec. 31, 2025.

    May James /AFP via Getty Images


    Many parts of Asia welcome the new year by observing age-old traditions.

    In Japan, crowds will gather at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo for a bell striking at midnight. In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony will be held at the Bosingak Pavilion.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year’s Eve address broadcast by state media hailed his country’s technological progress in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors while renewing threats against Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory.

    “We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship,” he said.

    “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable,” Xi said, as his country’s military announced the conclusion of large-scale military drills around Taiwan that were condemned by the democratically governed island’s leadership as “highly provocative and reckless.”

    While much of the United States likely remained asleep, preparations were well underway for celebrations in major cities and towns across the country — including in New Orleans, where a New Year’s Day terror attack one year ago left 14 people dead.

    A National Guard deployment authorized by President Trump began on Tuesday, as part of a heavy security presence for New Year’s celebrations in the “Big Easy” a year after the attack targeted revelers in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2025, on Bourbon Street.  

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  • Is anything open on New Year’s Eve 2025? Here are open stores, restaurants and fast-food chains.


    As millions of Americans prepare to greet the New Year, they may find themselves in need of a few last-minute party favors, food or decor on New Year’s Eve.

    Most stores will be open on New Year’s Eve, although some retailers are planning to close their doors early. Otherwise, it will be business as usual for the stock market, banks and post offices.

    Read on to see what’s open today, and which stores have reduced hours on Dec. 31. It’s also a good idea to check with your local retailer for specific hours before heading out the door.

    What major retailers are open on New Year’s Eve?

    • Best Buy is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Dollar General will be open during its regular business hours.
    • HomeGoods, Homesense, Marshalls, Sierra Trading Post and TJ Maxx will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Home Depot stores will close early at 6 p.m.
    • IKEA US stores are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • JCPenney stores will open at 11 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Closing times vary depending on the location.
    • Kohl’s stores will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
    • Macy’s is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
    • Most Petco stores will open at 9 a.m. and close early at 7 p.m., although hours may vary by location.

    Is Costco open on New Year’s Eve?

    • The retailer will be open on New Year’s Eve, but stores may close earlier than usual on Dec. 31. The retailer recommends that shoppers check their local Costco location for their hours.

    Are grocery stores open on New Year’s Eve?

    • Albertsons stores will be open, but with reduced hours.
    • Food Lion stores will be open during regular business hours. Pharmacies will operate from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
    • Safeway locations will be open but may have reduced hours.
    • Shaw’s stores will be open but at reduced hours.
    • Stop & Shop locations will close at 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
    • Trader Joe’s is open until 5 p.m.
    • Wegmans store will close at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025.
    • Whole Foods stores will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

    Are banks open today on New Year’s Eve? 

    Banks such as Chase and Wells Fargo will be open today, as New Year’s Eve this year falls on a Wednesday and is not a federal holiday. 

    Is the stock market open on New Year’s Eve?

    The stock market will be open during regular trading hours on Dec. 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    Is the post office open on New Year’s Eve?

    Post office locations will be open and mail will be delivered as usual on New Year’s Eve, according to USPS.

    Which restaurants and fast food chains are open?

    Make sure to check local hours as they may vary by location.

    • Select Applebee’s restaurants will be open on New Year’s Eve.
    • Burger King
    • IHOP
    • Most McDonald’s locations will welcome customers.
    • Starbucks
    • Taco Bell

    Is Chick-fil-A open on New Year’s Eve?

    • Yes, Chick-fil-A says its locations are open on Dec. 31, although local hours may be limited. It’s best to check your local Chick-fil-A’s hours before heading out.

    Are pharmacies open?

    • CVS Pharmacy locations will be open on New Year’s Eve.
    • Walgreens is open, although pharmacy hours may vary by location.

    Edited by

    Aimee Picchi

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  • The history of the New Year’s Eve ball drop

    For millions of people, the year 2026 will begin once a crystal-covered ball, 12.5 feet in diameter, makes its descent in New York City’s Times Square.

    New York Times owner Adolph Ochs organized the first New York City ball drop, which occurred on December 31, 1907. 

    The New York Times’ report of the revelry in Times Square as the city welcomed in 1908. 

    The New York Times


    The original ball was made by Jacob Starr, a Ukrainian immigrant metalworker.

    replica-of-original-ball.jpg

    A replica of the original New Year’s Eve Ball. 

    CBS News


    New Year's Eve

    Crowds gathered in Times Square on Dec. 31, 1941, to welcome in the New Year. 

    Hulton Archive/Getty Images


    The event has taken place every year since, except in 1942 and 1943, when revelers welcomed the New Year with a minute of silence. 

    New York City Prepares For New Year's Eve 2012

    The Ball Drop is tested on Dec. 30, 2011, in anticipation of the festivities to herald the arrival of 2012. 

    John Lamparski/Getty Images


    During the COVID pandemic in 2020, the New Year’s ball still dropped, but in a nearly-empty Times Square.

    The brand new ball – the ninth ball to be used since 1907 – is the biggest ever, weighing in at 12,350 pounds.

    waterford-crystal-nye-ball-a.jpg

    The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Times Square will feature the largest ball ever, weighing 12,350 pounds, and made up from more than 5,000 handcrafted circular Waterford Crystal discs. 

    CBS News


    Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, the company that is redeveloping One Times Square into a year-round destination, gave “Sunday Morning” a close-up look at the ball, covered in over 5,000 handcrafted circular Waterford Crystal discs. “They’re in three different sizes, three different puck sizes, and round versus triangular, which was the old geometric dome pattern,” Phillips said.

    closeup-of-the-waterford-crystal-discs.jpg

    More than five thousand handcrafted Waterford Crystal discs cover the Constellation Ball, the ninth version of the ball dropped at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. 

    CBS News


    It’s a self-contained light show with many special effects.

    I asked, “Why do you think the ball drop means so much to so many people?”

    “It’s something that symbolizes releasing what was, and looking forward at what’s to come,” Phillips replied.

    And there is more to come: After it completes its New Year’s Eve descent welcoming 2026, the ball will drop AGAIN, on the eve of July 4, to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth.

         
    For more info:

         
    Story produced by Jay Kernis. Editor: George Pozderec. 

         
    See also: 

    From the archives: Ringing in the New Year (YouTube Video)

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