Times Square Ball Drop 2022 Welcomes In-Person Spectators This New Year’s Eve

With another challenging year behind us, New York—along with the world—is ready to ring in 2022 with the traditional Times Square ball drop 2022 ceremony. This year's event is returning in person and will take place at 1 Times Square, Dec. 31, 9pm, to Jan. 1, 2022, 12:15am. 

City officials and the Times Square Alliance are inviting New Yorkers and tourists back to the Crossroads of the World to watch the world-famous ball dropping on New Year’s Eve, as long as they show proof of full vaccination and valid photo identification. 

“This year, we are ready and thrilled to welcome a full house of revelers back to Times Square to celebrate the New Year,” said Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance. “Now more than ever we need to come together to revive our favorite traditions with our loved ones—reflecting on a tough year behind us while looking forward to a new year with hope.”

The sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is 12 feet in diameter and weighs a whopping 11,875 pounds. It's covered with a total 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles that vary in size and is illuminated by 32,256 LEDs, making it a breathtaking sight to see. 

Who are the Times Square New Year’s Eve 2022 Performers?

Jonathan Bennett, actor and TV personality, will return to the celebration as Times Square New Year's Eve Host. This year, Bennett will be joined by live event and celebrity interview host, Jeremy Hassell, who will serve as co-host. The Times Square Alliance along with Countdown Entertainment has a star-studded line-up of performances planned throughout the evening that includes:

• LL Cool J performing on ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest
• Chlöe performing on ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest
• Journey performing on ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest
• Karol G performing on ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest
• KT Tunstall performing her global chart-topping songs “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See," along with Tom Petty’s classic, “I Won’t Back Down," and John Lennon’s “Imagine” just before the ball drop at midnight
• Liza Koshy performs a fit-acular dance performance presented by Planet Fitness
• The USO Show Troupe performing “Stand by You,” “Empire State of Mind," and “A Military Salute” to honor the Armed Forces
• The Sino-American Friendship Association (“SAFA”) will present a Chinese cultural dance performance from Henan, China.

The highly anticipated ceremony will also be broadcast for television and internet audiences. Like last year, there will be an interactive Virtual New year's Eve app, which will be available for download starting Dec. 18, with livestreams starting Dec. 31.

On Dec. 31, you can watch a livestream of the celebration and choose your view of Times Square from multiple camera feeds and watch celebrations from around the world to ring in 2022.

How to Watch the Times Square Ball Drop 2022 on TV 

Networks will air their New Year's Eve TV specials. So once you put the little ones to bed (or when they inevitably fall asleep even though they try so hard to stay up), tune in to one of several broadcasts to ring in 2022, which will be announced soon. Here’s what we know so far:

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2022

Where to watch: ABC, Dec. 31, 8pm
Hosted by: Ryan Seacrest, Liza Koshy, Ciara, Billy Porter, with DJ D-Nice and Jessie James Decker as Powerball Correspondent
Performers and guests: To be announced