Approximately 1 million people gather in New York City on December 31 to watch the iconic Times Square Ball drop. The midnight drop serves as the official kickoff of the new year and a time-honored tradition for millions of Americans. On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will officially turn 250 years old. To celebrate the monumental occasion, America250 has something special planned for New York City. The iconic Times Square Ball will drop eight times beginning on July 3. View this post on Instagram A post shared by America250 (@america250) The Times Square Ball Drops Will Coordinate with All Time Zones According to a news release from America250, this will be the first time the Times Square Ball has dropped in July. The event will be similar to New Year’s Eve. “For the first time in history, the Times Square Ball will drop not once, but eight times — marking midnight in every American time zone, each with its own special Ball design, beginning in Guam and culminating in American Samoa — creating a nearly 24-hour celebration as the nation counts down to its 250th birthday,” America250 explained. “The celebration begins at 10:00 a.m. EDT with the first Ball Drop for the Chamorro Time Zone covering the American territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, followed by a rolling series of special moments and musical performances across Puerto Rico and the continental United States, building to a signature New York City countdown at 11:59 p.m. EDT, before continuing west through Central Time, Mountain Time, Pacific Time, Alaska Time, and Hawaii-Aleutian Time, with the final ball drop at 7:00 a.m. EDT for American Samoa,” the release explaiens. Rosie Rios, chair of America250, said this celebration will be like nothing we’ve ever seen. “This is more than a countdown. It’s a moment that brings the entire country together, one time zone at a time,” she said. “From Guam to New York to Alaska to American Samoa, we are creating a shared experience where every American can see themselves in this celebration and be part of something bigger than any one city or moment.” This story’s featured image is by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images