Times Square New Year's Eve by subway: Thursday, December 31, 2026
Quick answer: Don't aim for Times Sq-42 St. In 2025 its 42nd Street entrances closed at about 10 am, and nearby stations like 49 St and 57 St-7 Av were skipped from about noon. Instead, ride to a station a few blocks away, such as 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr on the B D F M, and walk to an entry point on Sixth or Eighth Avenue. In 2025 the viewing areas opened at 3 pm and filled on a first-come basis.
Outside Midtown to Times Square viewing areas
- B
- D
- F
- M
- Take the B, D, F or MAvoid the stations right at Times Square
- Get off at 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller CtrSixth Avenue, station with elevators
- Walk to an entry point on Sixth Avenue45th, 49th, 52nd or 56th Street in 2025
- Go through NYPD screening into a viewing area
Times and entry points from the 2025 celebration. 2026 plans aren't published yet.
Getting there
The 2026 plans from the MTA, the NYPD and the Times Square Alliance aren't out yet, so this page uses how last year's celebration worked. You can't walk straight into Times Square on New Year's Eve. In 2025 everyone came in through NYPD entry points at 45th, 49th, 52nd and 56th Streets, on both Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue, and the viewing areas filled from 43rd Street northward. So pick the avenue first, then a station near it:
| Entering from | Station | Lines | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Avenue | 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr | B D F M | Yes |
| Sixth Avenue | 57 St | F M | Yes |
| Sixth Avenue | 42 St-Bryant Pk | B D F M 7 | No |
| Eighth Avenue | 50 St | C E | Downtown platform only |
| Eighth Avenue | 34 St-Penn Station, then walk north | A C E | Yes |
| Either, from the east | Grand Central-42 St, then walk west | 4 5 6 7 | Yes |
Coming by commuter rail: Penn Station (LIRR and NJ Transit) is about a 15-minute walk south of the Eighth Avenue entry points. Grand Central (Metro-North) is a walk west along 42nd Street, then north to an entry point.
Station and street closures
The MTA and the NYPD publish their New Year's Eve plans in late December. In 2025:
- At Times Sq-42 St, the 42nd Street entrances closed at about 10 am. The 41st Street entrances stayed open.
- From about noon until just after midnight, trains didn't stop at 49 St or 57 St-7 Av in either direction, and uptown 1 trains didn't stop at 50 St on Broadway.
- Some entrances at 42 St-Bryant Pk, 5 Av, 7 Av, 59 St-Columbus Circle and 57 St-7 Av could also be closed.
- Side streets started closing at 4 am. At about 11 am, Seventh Avenue and Broadway closed to traffic from 38th to 59th Street. From about 4 pm, Sixth and Eighth Avenues closed to cars and general foot traffic too, with marked crossings at 41st, 44th, 47th, 50th, 54th and 57th Streets. Once the streets close, you can't cross Broadway or Seventh Avenue.
How the night works
- In 2025 the viewing areas opened at 3 pm. The ball went up the pole at about 6 pm and dropped at midnight.
- Everyone is searched at the entry points. People who decline the search aren't let in.
- There are no public restrooms and no food vendors in the viewing areas. If you leave, you can't get back to your spot.
- Not allowed in 2025: backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, lawn or folding chairs, picnic blankets, large coolers, alcohol, drones and weapons.
- The NYPD expected more than a million people in 2025. Dress for hours outside in the cold.
Going home after midnight
When the ball drops, about a million people head for the same few stations. In 2025 the MTA ran extra trains overnight on the 1 2 3 4 5 7 C D G L N Q R and kept the S 42 St Shuttle running all night. Some tips:
- Walk a few blocks out of the crowd before you go underground. Stations on Sixth Avenue, at Penn Station or at Grand Central are easier than the ones on Seventh Avenue.
- After midnight the B and M aren't running. On Sixth Avenue, use the D or F.
- In 2025 the LIRR added 12 trains back to Long Island overnight, Metro-North ran outbound trains all night from Grand Central, and NJ Transit added trains from Penn Station after midnight.
- In 2025 alcohol wasn't allowed on the LIRR or Metro-North from noon on New Year's Eve to noon on New Year's Day, and NJ Transit didn't allow drinks of any kind on board.
- On New Year's Day the subway runs a Sunday schedule.
Accessibility
- The Times Square Alliance runs a designated viewing area for people with disabilities. It fills up well before the night, so check the Alliance's New Year's Eve page early.
- Stations with elevators near the entry points: 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr, 57 St on Sixth Avenue, 34 St-Penn Station, Grand Central-42 St and 34 St-Herald Sq. 50 St on Eighth Avenue has an elevator on the downtown platform only.
- 42 St-Bryant Pk and 7 Av (B D E) have no elevators.
- Elevators can be out of service. Check the MTA's elevator and escalator status before you go.
Common mistakes
- Planning to come up at Times Sq-42 St. Its main entrances close in the morning and the crowds above are fenced off.
- Arriving after dark and expecting to get in. The viewing areas can fill hours before midnight.
- Bringing a backpack. In 2025 backpacks and large bags weren't allowed at all.
- Leaving for food or a restroom. You can't get back to your spot.
- Heading for the nearest station at 12:01 am. Walk a few blocks first and the trip home is much faster.
Times Square New Year's Eve by subway: common questions
What subway station should I use for Times Square on New Year's Eve?
Use a station a few blocks away, such as 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr on the B, D, F and M for the Sixth Avenue entry points. In 2025 the Times Sq-42 St entrances on 42nd Street closed at about 10 am.
What time should I get to Times Square for the ball drop?
In 2025 the viewing areas opened at 3 pm and filled first come, first served. Many people arrive in the afternoon.
Is the subway running after midnight on New Year's Eve?
Yes. The subway runs all night, and in 2025 the MTA added extra trains overnight on many lines and ran the 42 St Shuttle all night.
Can I bring a backpack to Times Square on New Year's Eve?
No. In 2025 backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, chairs, coolers and alcohol weren't allowed, and everyone was searched at the entry points.
Which stations near Times Square are accessible on New Year's Eve?
47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr, 57 St on Sixth Avenue, 34 St-Penn Station, Grand Central-42 St and 34 St-Herald Sq have elevators.
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with the MTA, NJ Transit, the Times Square Alliance or the event organizers. Check their pages for the latest:
- Times Square Alliance: New Year's Eve FAQ
- MTA: service alerts
- NJ Transit
- MTA: elevator and escalator status
Dates and times from the organizers' announcements. Station accessibility from the MTA's station data. Where a 2026 plan isn't published yet, this page says which earlier year a detail comes from. Checked November 7, 2026. Check live service before you go.
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