Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora pose for a photo in front of the newly unveiled New Year’s Eve Ball on a windy winter morning in New York.
At 25 stories atop One Times Square, this decorated ball is the largest ever (fitted with 5,280 Waterford crystals and LED packs). As photographers, journalists and publicists crowd around them in scarves and beanies, organizers flex their muscles through photo shoots and interviews, maintaining the same charisma and smiles that families are accustomed to seeing at the end of every year.
“Can we do this interview indoors?” Seacrest quipped to Variety. “The great thing is that families don’t have to leave the house to get excited. That’s what we do. For hours.”
Seacrest and Ora may bundle even warmer than usual. This year’s show is bigger than ever (as evidenced by the already upgraded bowl). “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026” has been expanded to 90 minutes, making it the longest telecast in the show’s 54-year history. And for the first time ever, there will be a live Central Time Zone Countdown from Chicago, co-hosted by Chance the Rapper and parties in New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Puerto Rico and Los Angeles.
The night will feature over 42 performers performing over 90 songs. Its lineup boasts a combined 925 million monthly Spotify listeners and 102 billion streams across its catalog. Diana Ross will headline from Times Square, with additional performances from Post Malone, Chapel Lawn, Ciara, LE SSERAFIM, Little Big Town, Maren Morris and more. West Coast performers include Mariah Carey, Demi Lovato, OneRepublic, 50 Cent, Charlie Puth and Hunter/x from “KPop Demon Hunters.”
“Everyone will be watching this year,” Ora said. This is the third year the British singer has hosted the holiday event. This will be the 21st time for Seacrest.
This year has been different for Seacrest. His father Gary passed away in October after a long battle with prostate cancer. “It’s been a tough year. I lost my best friend,” he said, noting that time with his family changed the meaning of the night for him. “People want to feel good, and this show can make you feel okay for a few hours and get you ready for a great start to the new year.”
Ora is approaching 2026 with intention, with a fourth studio record and tour on the horizon. “It’s about being in tune with my creativity,” she says. “Where I want to go next year. I’m so inspired by the music that’s coming out. I just want to see where it leads.” But she’s not ready to tease music just yet. She kindly (but firmly) shut down the opportunity to tease what the new album would sound like. Seacrest grinned and said, “New album, let’s go!”
“Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026” will air live on Wednesday, December 31st at 8/7pm on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu. Produced by Dick Clark Productions, NYRE remains America’s No. 1 New Year’s extravaganza, drawing an audience 2.5 times larger than its closest competition, CBS’s “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” at 11:30 p.m.
