Your Stay-In Guide to Watching the 2025 Ball Drop and Every NYE Special Tonight
New York carries a certain energy on New Year’s Eve, but staying home has become the move for many people who want comfort, clarity, and full control of the night. With 2026 only hours away, the lineup of live broadcasts and streaming specials makes it simple to build an entire celebration from the couch. Here is Silly Nice’s full guide to watching the ball drop and tapping into every major program airing tonight.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest
ABC returns with Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, a mainstay of New Year’s television. Seacrest is joined by Rita Ora as co-host, and the show expands across several cities including Chicago, Las Vegas, Nashville, and New York.
Chance the Rapper hosts from Chicago and handles the first Central Time Zone countdown. Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough cover Las Vegas. New York’s portion features a set from Diana Ross along with Maren Morris, Ciara, Little Big Town, 50 Cent, Demi Lovato, Mariah Carey, Chappell Roan, and Post Malone.
The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and is available the next day on Hulu. Audio streams run through iHeartRadio’s stations and app.
New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen
CNN’s annual New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen continues its streak with a loose, conversational format that many viewers tune into yearly. The lineup includes Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Jerry O’Connell, with musical performances from Shakira, Florence + the Machine, and Patti LaBelle.
The show airs live at 8 p.m. ET on CNN. It can also be streamed through Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and cable authentication apps.
Nashville’s Big Bash on CBS
CBS brings the country lineup with New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, hosted by Bert Kreischer and HARDY. Performers include Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, CeCe Winans, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Gretchen Wilson, Rascal Flatts, Zach Top, Marcus King, Megan Moroney, Riley Green, and Brooks & Dunn. Keith Urban returns strictly as a performer this year.
The event airs at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS and streams on Paramount+. Fans of modern country music will find this one of the strongest lineups of the night.
NBC’s A Toast to 2025!
NBC offers a reflective primetime special with A Toast to 2025!, hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. The program revisits major cultural moments of the year, with appearances from Ethan Slater, Tiffany Haddish, Bobby Moynihan, Jim Gaffigan, Loni Love, and Chris Mann.
The special runs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on NBC.
Jonas Brothers’ Samsung TV Plus Countdown
Samsung TV Plus brings a free, subscription-free New Year’s Eve special led by the Jonas Brothers live from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Anyone with a Samsung device can open the app and tune in instantly.
How to Watch the Official Times Square Ball Drop
The centerpiece of the night remains the Times Square ball drop. The official livestream begins at 6 p.m. ET on TimesSquareNYC.org, with full coverage also available on the Times Square X page. Viewers can also watch through Hulu, fuboTV, and YouTube TV.
The Times Square stream features performances, interviews, and hourly countdowns until the midnight moment, with no commercial breaks interrupting the final drop.
Bringing Silly Nice Into a Stay-At-Home NYE
A quiet celebration at home sets the stage for a smooth entry into 2026. Whether the night is built around performances, comedy, year-end recaps, or the direct Times Square feed, this year’s lineup offers something for every style of viewer.
For New Yorkers looking to elevate the night, Silly Nice products are available at licensed dispensaries and through licensed delivery partners throughout the state. All current locations stocking Silly Nice can be found at sillynice.com/menu. It’s the easiest way to source high-quality New York cannabis without stepping away from the countdown.
New Year’s Eve is a moment of transition, and for many people, the best view of the ball drop is right from the couch with the right setup, the right people, and the right products on hand.