On a windy winter morning in New York, Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora pose for photos in front of the freshly revealed New Year’s Eve Ball.

The decorated ball, perched 25 stories high atop One Times Square, is the largest to date (fitted with 5,280 Waterford crystals and LED pucks). As photographers, journalists and publicists huddle around them in scarves and beanies, the hosts power through photo ops and interviews, sustaining the same charisma and smiles that families have grown accustomed to watching at the end of every year.

 

“Any chance we can take this interview inside?” Seacrest quipped to Variety. “What’s great is families don’t have to leave the house for all the excitement. That’s what we do. For hours.”

Seacrest and Ora may bundle up even warmer than usual. This year’s show (as the upgraded ball already indicated) is bigger than ever. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026” has been expanded by 90 minutes, marking the longest telecast in the show’s 54-year history. And for the first time, there’s a live Central Time Zone countdown from Chicago, co-hosted by Chance the Rapper, and parties across New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Puerto Rico and L.A.

Over 42 performers are set for the night, spanning more than 90 songs — a lineup that collectively boasts 925 million monthly Spotify listeners and 102 billion streams across their catalogs. Diana Ross will headline from Times Square, with additional performances from Post Malone, Chappell Roan, Ciara, LE SSERAFIM, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, and more. West Coast performers include Mariah Carey, Demi Lovato, OneRepublic, 50 Cent, Charlie Puth, and Huntr/x from “KPop Demon Hunters.”

“You just know everyone’s going to be tuning in this year,” Ora said. It’s the British singer’s third year hosting the holiday event. For Seacrest, it’s his 21st.

 

This year hits differently for Seacrest. His father, Gary, died in October after a long battle with prostate cancer. “This was a tough year. I lost my best friend,” he says, noting that time with family has reshaped what this night means to him. “People want to feel good. You can watch this show and you can feel alright for a few hours. And then you can set the scene for a big start in the new year.”

 

Ora, with a fourth studio record and tour on the horizon, is approaching 2026 with intention. “It’s about getting in tune with my creativity,” she says. “Where I want to take it next year. I’ve been so inspired by the music coming out. I just want to see where that leads.” But she’s not ready to tease the music just yet. She kindly (but firmly) shut down the opportunity to tease what the sound of her new album will be like. Seacrest grins, “New album, let’s go!”

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026” airs live Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 8/7c on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu. Produced by Dick Clark Productions, NYRE remains the nation’s No. 1 New Year’s celebration, reaching an audience 2.5 times the size of its closest competition at 11:30, CBS’ “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.”