New Year's Eve Press Credentials

Every year, members of the media from around the country and the world come to Times Square for the iconic Ball Drop. The Press Credentials Office (PCO) with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) will issue the necessary press credentials to eligible members of the press seeking to cover the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.

What can I access with these press credentials?

Members of the press with a valid MOME PCO-issued Press Card (either Standard or Single Event) can use this credential to gain access to the emergency access lanes on New Year's Eve, subject to NYPD approval. Interviews may be conducted at the rear or the sidewalk side of each viewing area but not in the emergency access lanes.

Interviews/filming may be suspended at any time by the NYPD due to safety concerns.

I have an official NYC press card. Can I use that?

A MOME PCO-issued Standard Press Card with a photo is sufficient to gain access to the event. If you have a valid Standard Press Card, you do not need to take any further action. Please note, City of New York Reserve Press Cards will not be accepted at this event.

Applying for a Single Event Press Card

Members of the press without a MOME PCO-issued Standard Press Card can apply for a MOME PCO-issued Single Event Press Card that would allow them to access the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop event only. This process is different from years past, so please read carefully and refer to the MOME PCO Single Event Press Card rules and application process linked below.

See MOME PCO Press Card Application Information

The application requires two steps. You must apply separately for a Single Event Pre-Registration and for the event you seek to cover. The Pre-Registration application must be approved before you can apply for a Single Event Press Card.

To be eligible to receive a Single Event Press Card, a member of the press must:

Complete a pre-registration process by submitting a pre-registration application and 6 or more articles, commentaries, books, photographs, videos, films, or audios published, broadcast, or cablecast within the 24 months immediately preceding the Single Event Press Card pre-registration application, sufficient to show that the applicant covered, in person, 6 or more events occurring on separate days.
Submit a completed Single Event Press Card application by providing the description (New Year’s Eve Times Square 2025), the date (12/31/2024), and the location of the Single Event (Times Square).

PLEASE NOTE:

Pre-registration can take up to 30 days to process. As such, we recommend that you begin the pre-registration process as soon as possible.
Members of the press must apply for a Single Event Press Card (pre-registration and press card) for Times Square New Year’s Eve by Dec 20, 2024.
The Single Event Press Card will only be valid for the duration of the event, expiring at midnight Dec 31, 2024.
All Single Event Press Cards must be returned in person to the PCO within 3 business days of the expiration date on the Single Event Press Card — in this case, by end of day on Friday, January 3, 2025.
All City of New York Press Card holders are expected to follow MOME PCO guidelines. See all Press Card guidelines.
If your pre-registration and Single Event Card applications are accepted, MOME PCO will provide instructions regarding the timeline and pick up of your Single Event Press Card.

Please submit Single Event Press Card applications by Thursday, Dec. 21, 2024 to ensure your application is processed. PCO accepts applications through its online portal.

Submit your application

We recommend that you visit the PCO webpage for complete information on how to obtain a City of New York Press Card.

Visit the PCO Webpage

Please email the PCO at presscredential@media.nyc.gov with any questions you may have.