Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora on the longest ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ ever
On a windy winter morning in New York, Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora pose for photos before the newly unveiled New Year’s Eve ball.
The decorated ball, 25 stories high atop One Times Square, is the largest yet (equipped with 5,280 Waterford crystals and LED pucks). As photographers, journalists and publicists huddle around them in scarves and hats, the hosts conduct photo shoots and interviews, maintaining the same charisma and smile that families have grown accustomed to at the end of each year.
“Any chance we can get this interview in?” Seacrest joked Variety. “The great thing is that families don’t have to leave the house because of all the excitement. That’s what we do. For hours.”
Seacrest and Ora may become even warmer than normal. This year’s show is (as the upgraded ball indicated) bigger than ever. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026” has been extended by 90 minutes, marking the longest broadcast 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 in New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Puerto Rico and LA
More than 42 artists are lined up for the evening, with over 90 songs – a line-up that together counts 925 million monthly Spotify listeners and 102 billion streams in 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 artists include Mariah Carey, Demi Lovato, OneRepublic, 50 Cent, Charlie Puth and Huntr/x of “KPop Demon Hunters.”
“You just know that everyone is participating this year,” Ora said. It’s the third year the British singer has hosted the holiday event. For Seacrest, it is his 21st.
This year things are going to be different for Seacrest. His father, Gary, died in October after a long battle with prostate cancer. “This has been a tough year. I’ve lost my best friend,” he says, noting that time with family has reshaped what the night means to him. “People want to feel good. You can watch this show and you can feel good for a few hours. And then you can set the tone for a big start into the new year.”
Ora, with a fourth studio album and tour in prospect, approaches 2026 with intention. “It’s about getting in touch 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 that leads.” But she’s not ready to tease the music 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 on Wednesday, December 31 at 8/7c on ABC, with streaming the next day 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 a.m.: CBS’ “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.”
