This New Year’s Eve, an entirely new and bigger Waterford crystal ball will drop over Times Square from a newly renovated building touting new experiences for visitors.
“We are creating an interactive, immersive experience across 21 floors of the 26-story building that is meant to be a 21st-century visitors center for Times Square,” said Michael Phillips of the Jamestown ownership.
For the first time, guests will be able to reserve times for small wedding ceremonies at Ever, get a sugar fix at iCandy, learn the history of the building through exhibits and virtual experiences, walk gingerly on a glass balcony and have views from river to river that will be especially popular during June’s Manhattanhenge sunsets.
One Times Square will look a little different this coming New Year’s Eve, Lois Weiss
There’s also going to be a unique “not shlock” gift shop and a pay-to-go potty at the seventh floor’s One Lavs.
Some lucky visitors will even get to touch the that will have three sizes of circular, bubble-like crystals with a unique pattern to reflect this year’s Waterford’s Infinite Edition rather than the current triangular design.
Waterford’s Infinite Edition will showcase a new crystal design each year. The new 2025/6 design features 5,280 handcrafted Waterford crystal discs — Infinite Joy, Infinite Light, Infinite Beginnings — that harmonize movement and stillness, reflecting radiant optimism from every angle.
“As the world comes together each New Year’s Eve, there is no greater stage for Waterford than Times Square,” said Bentley Hardwick, Global Head of Waterford. “Through the brilliance of crystal craftsmanship, we are proud to help shape a moment that unites millions in celebration and optimism for the future. We are honored to be part of this piece of history.”
Three of the previous balls will also be on display.
Opening before the end of the year, those opting for a Ball Access Experience will receive guided tours, special access to the 19th-floor viewing deck and photos with the New Year’s Eve ball on the 25th floor that will descend its 139-foot pole to be touched by visitors.
As part of a pricier Premium Ball Experience, 5,200 people will be able to take home one of the Waterford crystals from this latest 2025 ball.
Expect happier crowds on the eve of 2026 with newer, better confetti. Lois Weiss
The Premium Ball Experience will include all the Ball Access Experience package perks while also allowing 5,280 visitors to place a newly designed 2026 Waterford crystal on the ball itself and share a personalized New Year’s Eve message.
That message will light up on the New Year’s Eve ball, once someone installs the new crystal on the ball, the light behind it will flicker with their Morse code message.
Similar news tickers have operated at the building since 1928 and even announced the end of World War II. Why Morse code? Built originally for the New York Times, its newsroom used the encoding system to send and receive messages and news from around the world.
The new ball is coated in redesigned Waterford crystals. One Times Square
The new NYC history-inspired experience, dubbed Times Travel, will open in 2026 and have a unique “as time flies” narrative with virtual rides that end at the 360-degree viewing deck. Visitors to Times Travel will also be able to write a message on confetti that will be included with the 3,000 pounds dropped on the throngs below at the stroke of midnight.
“One Times Square has always held a great significance to Times Square and its history as the Crossroads of the World with the unique job of housing the iconic New Year’s Eve ball,” said Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance. “We are thrilled to see the new building open to the public for the first time providing new and innovative experiences to the hundreds of thousands of people who come through Times Square each day with year-round access to the home of the New Year’s Eve ball.”
On a recent visit, this reporter gingerly walked on the viewing deck’s glass floor that wraps around part of the building, including along West 42nd Street.
“It’s a bit of a thrill and you can see east to west, from river to river, and it is truly a unique view,” Phillips said.
Holy puck, 5,200 people will be able to take home one of the Waterford crystals from last year’s ball. One Times Square
Several new outdoor terraces provide fantastic overviews of the Bow-Tie area including a two-level observation deck that will also host some of the New Year’s Eve celebrations. The glass safety barriers are designed for more viewing and less reflecting of the billboards and lights.
OneTimesSquare.com is already taking expressions of interest for “Ever Vow” engagements, promises, vow renewals and weddings for next year. It’s targeted for groups of 10 or fewer with packages ranging from $500 to $2,500.
“The wedding experience will be singularly exciting,” Phillips said. “This is an iconic place to get married that is really dynamic and you will have your picture taken on the 15th-floor balcony with the wedding party and then go out to the city to celebrate. It’s a hybrid between City Hall or a wedding chapel in Las Vegas.”
The multi-sensory, four-story iCandy NYC on floors 10 to 13 will feature dazzling, Instagrammable displays with one-of-a-kind sweets and thematic treats collected as you move through the exhibits as well as, naturally, a candy store.
“It’s an interesting stack of experiences and visitors have been wanting these kinds of 90-minute experiences,” Phillips said. “It’s Times Square 3.0.”
Added Harris, “It will be a wonderful addition to the neighborhood and we congratulate Jamestown on this huge accomplishment.”