New Year's Eve in Times Square 2026: getting there and back by subway
Quick answer: Watching is free, first come, first served. Last year viewing areas opened at 3 p.m., entry was only from Sixth or Eighth Avenue, and the street exits at Times Sq-42 St were closed. The subway runs a weekday schedule on Thursday December 31 and all night, and last year many lines ran extra trains.
The basics
- It's free, and you don't need a ticket.
- The ball drops at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 31.
- There are no restrooms in the viewing areas, and if you leave your spot you can't come back.
Source: Times Square Alliance: New Year's Eve FAQ.
How entry worked last year
The Times Square Alliance hasn't posted 2026 details yet. Last year:
- Viewing areas opened at 3 p.m.
- You could get in only from Sixth Avenue or Eighth Avenue, at access points on 45th, 49th, 52nd and 56th Streets.
- Seventh Avenue and Broadway were closed to traffic from 38th to 59th Streets.
So plan to arrive at a station on Sixth or Eighth Avenue, not at Times Square itself. On Sixth Avenue that's 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr or 42 St-Bryant Pk (B D F M). On Eighth Avenue it's 42 St-Port Authority (A C E) or 50 St (C E).
Source: Times Square Alliance: New Year's Eve FAQ; MTA: riding the subway.
Subway changes last year
- The street exits at Times Sq-42 St were closed.
- From 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., N, Q, R and W trains skipped 49 St and 57 St-7 Av, and uptown 1 trains skipped 50 St.
- Some entrances at 42 St-Bryant Park, 7 Av and 59 St-Columbus Circle could be closed.
- Many lines ran extra trains, and the 42 St Shuttle ran all night.
The MTA hasn't posted its 2026 plans yet, so check again that week.
Source: MTA: New Year's service (last year).
Getting home after midnight
- Subway: runs all night. New Year's Eve (Thursday December 31) is a weekday schedule, and New Year's Day (Friday January 1, 2027) is a Sunday schedule.
- Metro-North: last year Grand Central stayed open all night, with outbound Hudson, Harlem and New Haven line trains all night.
- LIRR: last year it added late trains from Manhattan on the Babylon, Montauk, Port Jefferson, Port Washington and Ronkonkoma branches.
- Alcohol: last year it wasn't allowed on LIRR or Metro-North trains and stations from noon on December 31 to noon on January 1. No 2026 ban is announced yet.
- Bikes: regular bikes aren't allowed on LIRR or Metro-North on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.
Source: MTA: New Year's service (last year); MTA published subway and bus schedules (fall 2026); MTA: LIRR and Metro-North rules; MTA: bikes on the LIRR and Metro-North.
New Year's Eve 2026: common questions
Do you need tickets for the Times Square ball drop?
No. It's free, first come, first served. Last year viewing areas opened at 3 p.m.
Which subway stations are closed on New Year's Eve?
Last year the street exits at Times Sq-42 St were closed, N, Q, R and W trains skipped 49 St and 57 St-7 Av, and uptown 1 trains skipped 50 St from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. The MTA hasn't posted its 2026 plans yet.
Does the subway run after midnight on New Year's Eve?
Yes. The subway runs all night, and last year many lines ran extra trains and the 42 St Shuttle ran all night.
How do I get into the viewing area?
Last year, only from Sixth or Eighth Avenue, at access points on 45th, 49th, 52nd and 56th Streets. Seventh Avenue and Broadway were closed from 38th to 59th Streets.
Are there restrooms in Times Square on New Year's Eve?
No, there are no restrooms in the viewing areas, and if you leave your spot you can't come back.
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- Times Square Alliance: New Year's Eve FAQ
- MTA: New Year's service (last year)
- MTA: published schedules (GTFS)
- MTA: LIRR and Metro-North rules
- MTA: bikes on the LIRR and Metro-North
Published November 7, 2026. Details were checked against the Times Square Alliance's FAQ and the MTA's New Year's service notice from last year in November 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Plan your trip in Cobblehop. Say where you're going and get one clear route, a leave-in countdown and a buzz before your stop.
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