As the New Year’s Eve countdown approaches in less than two weeks, the “2026 New Year’s Eve Digital Light Installation” ceremony was held at Times Square Broadway on December 18. The towering 7-foot “2026” giant digital light made its official debut, symbolizing the upcoming new year and kicking off the New Year’s Eve celebration at the end of the year.
Comprised of 589 LED bulbs, this digital light installation will be open for close-up photography by the public from now until December 22, after which it will be moved to the rooftop of One Times Square. It will officially light up at midnight on December 31 along with the descent of the New Year’s Eve crystal ball, welcoming the arrival of 2026.
Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance, stated during the event that this digital light installation ceremony is not only an important rehearsal for the New Year’s Eve celebration but also allows global visitors to experience the atmosphere of the new year in advance. “From now until December 22, there will be millions of people entering Times Square, witnessing and capturing 2026 firsthand. This is a New Year’s moment that belongs to the whole world.”
The event also welcomed the participation of Kia, a partner for the New Year’s Eve celebration for the sixth consecutive year. George Kennedy, Kia’s Manager of Product and Technology Communication, showcased the unreleased 2027 Kia Telluride at the event, symbolizing “journeying with the future.” In an interview, Kennedy mentioned, “The new year represents a fresh start, where many people contemplate what they want to do and where they want to go next year. The Telluride is a vehicle that can take you around the world and create memories. Today’s consumers value experiences, not just transportation.”
The event attracted many long-time supporters, including Teresa Hui from Brooklyn, who wore “2026” themed glasses and became one of the media’s focal points. Since 2016, she has almost annually attended the digital light ceremony, considering it a personal annual tradition. “The first time I came was purely by chance, I thought, ‘Wow, this is so cool,’ and I’ve been coming ever since for over a decade,” Teresa Hui shared. While admitting she won’t be present all night on New Year’s Eve waiting for the countdown, being able to experience the pulse of the city up close at such events makes her proud.
To conclude the ceremony, Harris led the guests and audience in a New Year’s countdown rehearsal. As the countdown “Five, four, three, two, one” sounded, the 2026 digital light instantly lit up, accompanied by continuous applause and cheers from the crowd.