New York City's iconic New Year's Eve Ball Drop will feature significant changes for the 2026 celebration, marking its first major alteration in over a century. The ball will display red, white, and blue lights, accompanied by an additional confetti release and other patriotic elements. The original ball, introduced in 1907, weighed 700 pounds and measured five feet in diameter. The current 'Constellation Ball' is much larger, spanning 12 feet and weighing nearly 12,000 pounds.