Waterford Crystal, headquartered in Co Waterford, has been outfitting the Times Square Ball with crystal panels since the 2000 New Year’s Eve Celebration.
While New York City's New Year's Eve ball drop tradition dates back to 1907, it was 1999 before Waterford Crystal was brought aboard to craft the modern Ball to welcome the new millennium.
In August 1999, Alderman Pat Haynes, the then-Mayor of Waterford, escorted the crystal panels from Ireland to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and presented them to then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani and other distinguished guests.
The new Ball, the fourth Times Square New Year's Eve Ball, was six feet in diameter and featured 540 hand-crafted crystal triangles from Waterford. Transparent, its central circle represented the Earth while its seven-pointed star represented the planet's continents.
December 2023: The Waterford Crystal New Year's Eve Ball in Times Square. (Getty Images)
Several more iterations of the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball were rolled out since then, with the latest being unveiled in November 2025.
The Constellation Ball is the biggest Ball yet with 5,280 crystals and LED light pucks. It measures 12.5 feet in diameter and weighs 12,350 pounds. It features Waterford Crystals in circular shapes. (TimesSquareBall.net)
New Ball to ring in 2026
In November 2025, One Times Square debuted the Constellation Ball. The biggest Ball yet, it features Waterford Crystals in circular shapes, which is a major design change from the triangular-shaped crystals introduced in 1999.
The Constellation Ball also features new modernized technology, with state-of-the-art lighting, motion, and control system, as well as a new signature sound and interactive capabilities. Its real-time audio system creates reactive and generative designs based on music or other audio input.
Overall, the Constellation Ball measures 12.5 feet in diameter and weighs 12,350 pounds, with 5,280 crystals and LED light pucks.
Fast facts about the Constellation Ball, Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
Biggest Ball Yet: Measuring 12.5 feet in diameter and weighing 12,350 pounds, the Constellation Ball features 5,280 Waterford Crystals and state-of-the-art LED light pucks.
Circular Crystal Design: A major design update replaces the triangular crystals introduced in 1999 with circular shapes. Circles symbolize unity, wholeness, and the nature of time, making them a meaningful centerpiece for a celebration of reflection and renewal. The circular shapes are nearly double the number of crystals from the previous Ball.
Celestial Inspiration: Circular crystals evoke celestial bodies, perfectly embodying the Ball’s Constellation theme, which celebrates infinite possibilities and the interconnectedness of humanity, much like stars shining in the night sky.
2025: The Constellation Ball is the biggest Ball yet with 5,280 crystals and LED light pucks. It measures 12.5 feet in diameter and weighs 12,350 pounds. It features Waterford Crystals in circular shapes. (TimesSquareBall.net)
Modernized Technology & Features: The Constellation Ball is composed of fully programmable LED light pucks offering vibrant, customizable displays. The Ball also allows for interactive capabilities, including a real-time audio system that generates reactive designs based on music and other sounds.
Crystal Sizes: Approximately 1.5 inches, 3 inches, and 4 inches in diameter. Each size features a unique design that embodies the Ball’s spirit of eternal positivity.
2026 Themes: Infinite Life (1.5-inch), Infinite Liberty (3-inch), Infinite Happiness (4-inch). The crystal designs are of interwoven curves and circular motifs to reflect the shared ideals at the heart of America’s story.
About the Infinite Edition: The 2026 crystals mark the second iteration of the Infinite Edition, a multi-year design series introduced in 2025 with the themes Infinite Joy, Infinite Light, and Infinite Beginnings.
Waterford Craftsmanship: As the official crystal of the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball, Waterford’s timeless artistry and legacy remain central to the nation’s most iconic New Year’s tradition.
(Fast facts provided by TimesSquareBall.net.)
You can watch the Waterford Crystal New Year's Eve Ball drop in Times Square via this live stream on December 31:
*This article was originally published in 2023, and updated in December 2025.
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