“世界で最も盛り上がる年越しカウントダウン”として知られる「2020 New Year’s Eve Times Square」が2019年12月31日夜から20年元日にかけて、ニューヨークのタイムズスクエアで開催された。1907年から続く歴史あるイベントに約100万人が集結、会場の様子は生中継で世界中に配信され、視聴者は約10億人にも及んだ。
カウントダウンイベントは大みそかの午後６時、年明けの瞬間にカウントダウンとともに落ちていくタイムズスクエア・ボールの点灯から始まり、年明けの瞬間まで、さまざまな趣向のイベントが各所に設営された特設ステージなどで行われた。
80年に旋風を巻き起こしたVillage Peopleによる「YMCA」のパフォーマスに始まり、ヒップホップ歌手のLL Cool Jや、タレントとしても大人気のバルルームダンサー、ジュリアン・ハフ、世界の歌姫、アラニス・モリセット、注目の若手ラッパー、ポスト・マローンなど、じつにバラエティー豊かなアーティストらが順々にステージに登場し、パフォーマンスで盛り上げた。
午後10時半過ぎにはメインステージに、韓国男性アイドルグループの「ＢＴＳ（防弾少年団）」が満を持して登場。熱狂的なファンからの熱い声援を受け、「Make It Right」「Boy With Luv」のライブパフォーマンスを披露した。
19年５月には、米ビルボード・アーティスト・チャートである「Artist 100」で首位を記録し、同チャートでグループ／デュオとして通算５週ナンバーワンを獲得するという史上初の快挙を成し遂げたＢＴＳ。米国のミュージックシーンで記録を作った彼らが、世界で一番有名と言えるイベントのメインステージに立つという偉業を成し遂げ、その存在感を見せつけた。
カウントダウン直前の11時55分には、毎年恒例となっている、ジョン・レノンの名曲「イマジン」のカバー演奏が始まり、会場が一体となって合唱が湧き起こり、カウントダウン直前の熱気は最高潮に。今年は米国のロックバンド「X アンバサダーズ」が演奏した。
同11時59分から、新年を迎えるカウントダウンでおなじみの「ボール・ドロップ」がスタート。タイムズスクエアにそびえ立つ高層ビル「ワン・タイムズスクエア」の上部から、直径12フィート（約3.7メートル）の輝くボールが60秒間かけて降下した。
長時間に及んで待ちわびた観客が一体となって60秒をカウントし、「Happy New Year」の文字が現れると同時に花火が打ち上げられ、大量の紙吹雪がタイムズスクエア全体に降り注いだ。
日本では「蛍の光」として親しまれ、欧米では祝いの場で歌われてきた「オールド・ラング・サイン」が会場に流れ、観客らは歓声と共に抱き合い、新年を心から祝った。
42丁目のブロードウェイと７番街が交わる場所に建つ、25階建てビル、ワン・タイムズスクエアのオーナーが1904年に新年を迎えるために屋上での祝めたのが始まりで、今のような形になってから114年にわたり、ボール・ドロップの祝いが同地で行われ、この伝統は今では新年を迎える普遍的なシンボルとなっている。
当日ライブ中継された映像が、タイムズスクエアの公式チャンネルで公開されている。
Times Square New Year’s Eve 2020のスケジュール
6:00 p.m. to 6:03 p.m.
Lighting and Raising the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
The celebration begins with the lighting and raising of the New Year’s Eve Ball atop One Times Square. We flip the giant switch which lights the New Year’s Eve Ball and begins its ascent accompanied by special pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.
6:04 p.m. to 6:06 p.m.
Good Riddance Day Highlights
The host of Times Square New Year’s Eve, Jonathan Bennett will share highlights from Good Riddance Day with the Times Square revelers from the Countdown Stage.
6:07 p.m. to 6:18 p.m.
SAFA Chinese Cultural Performance
The Sino-American Friendship Association (“SAFA”) presents a spectacular Chinese cultural dance performance from Dunhuang, China to begin the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration. The performance is on the Countdown Stage at Duffy Island between 46th and 47th Streets. The Chinese cultural performance will conclude with red and gold pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.
6:25 p.m.
Times Square 2020 Hats, Balloons, Scarves and Gloves
The Times Square Alliance sanitation crew clad in bright red uniforms begins to distribute tens of thousands of fun handouts to the Times Square revelers for cheering in the New Year. Planet Fitness is providing festive purple and yellow New Year’s Eve hats along with purple & yellow balloons tied with gold mylar ribbons. The Sino-American Friendship Association is providing beautiful red scarves.
6:46 p.m. to 6:52 p.m.
FOX New Year’s Eve Performance by the Village People
The Village People perform their hit song YMCA on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
6:57 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Steve Harvey
As we approach the New Year, Steve Harvey will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 7 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. He will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year.
7:01 p.m. to 7:05 p.m.
Planet Fitness “Judgement Free” with Lucy Hale
Lucy Hale will lead the revelers in a fun “Judgement Free” moment.
7:39 p.m. to 7:49 p.m.
FOX New Year’s Eve Performance by LL Cool J
LL Cool J performs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
7:57 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Special Guests
As we approach the New Year, the Special Guests will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 8 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. They will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share their wish for the New Year.
8:01 p.m. to 8:06 p.m.
The USO Show Troupe Performance
The USO Show Troupe performs a Military Salute to honor our Armed Forces on the Countdown Stage.
8:07 p.m. to 8:11 p.m.
Planet Fitness Performance by The Marching Cobras Sapphire Danceline and Flag Unit
The Sapphire Marching Cobras Danceline and Flag Unit performs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
8:16 p.m. to 8:23 p.m.
NBC New Year’s Eve Performance by Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough performs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
8:33 p.m. to 8:41 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by Alanis Morissette
Broadway Musical “Jagged Little Pill” with Alanis Morissette perform on the Countdown Stage.
8:46 p.m. to 8:58 p.m.
Musical Performance by X Ambassadors
X Ambassadors perform their hit songs Renegades, Unsteady and BOOM on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
8:58 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Jonathan Bennett
As we approach the New Year, Jonathan Bennett will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 9 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. He will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wishes for the New Year.
9:38 p.m. to 9:44 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt performs medley of his hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
9:50 p.m. to 9:53 p.m.
Waterford Crystal Toast
9:54 p.m. to 9:57 p.m.
The Associated Press Presents 2019 Year-In-Review Video Highlights
The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news gathering organization, presents a news reel highlighting some of the most memorable events of 2019.
9:57 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Planet Fitness
As we approach the New Year, Planet Fitness spokesperson will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 10 o’clock hour accompanied by purple and yellow confetti release and colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. Spokesperson will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year.
10:01 p.m. to 10:14 p.m.
Univision’s ¡Feliz 2020!: Performance by CNCO & Yenis Bencosme
CNCO & Yennis Bencosme perform on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
10:14 p.m. to 10:17 p.m.
Barefoot Bubbly Unveils Large 6’ Bottle
10:25 p.m. to 10:32 p.m.
Univision New Year’s Eve Performance by Joss Favela featuring Mariachi Sol de Mexico
Joss Favela performs with Mariachi Sol de Mexico on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
10:38 p.m. to 10:46 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by BTS
BTS performs medley of their hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
10:57 p.m. to 11:01 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Raúl de Molina
As we approach the New Year, Raúl de Molina will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 11 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. He will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year.
11:01 p.m. to 11:08 p.m.
Univision’s ¡Feliz 2020!: Performance by Pedro Capo
Pedro Capo performs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:22 p.m. to 11:29 p.m.
FOX New Year’s Eve Performance by Lauren Alaina
Lauren Alaina performs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:38 p.m. to 11:46 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by Post Malone
Post Malone performs medley of his hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
11:55 p.m. to 11:58 p.m.
Special Musical Performance by X Ambassadors
X Ambassadors performs John Lennon’s Imagine on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:59 p.m.
The Sixty-Second Countdown
The Mayor of New York City joined by Times Square 2020 Special Guest push the Waterford crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball, and lead the final sixty-second countdown to the New Year on the Countdown Stage.
The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
The lighted Ball descends 70 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, twelve feet in diameter, weighing 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 LEDs.
12:00 a.m. — New Year’s Day
2020 Sign
At the stroke of Midnight, the lights on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year “2020” burst to life shining high above Times Square.
Times Square Confetti Release and Pyrotechnic Effects
The world-famous New Year’s Eve confetti is released from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square creating a celebratory blizzard of colorful confetti as revelers welcome the New Year accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects. The three thousand pounds of confetti includes tens of thousands of wishes from revelers around the world hoping for peace, love, good health and a better future in the new year.
12:15 a.m. — End of Show
