As the first rays of 2026 sunrise pierce over a hungover New York City, the glittering skyline still echoes with Stephen Colbert’s audacious New Year’s Eve bombshell—a personally funded $12 million spectacle that commandeered every massive screen in Times Square, forcing an unflinching reckoning with the long-suppressed story of Virginia Giuffre’s fierce battle against the shadowy complicity shielding Epstein’s elite enablers in Hollywood and beyond. Just hours earlier, amid the countdown cheers on CNN’s live broadcast, Colbert unveiled the glowing takeover: towering projections of Giuffre’s powerful testimony, survivor messages of resilience, and searing demands to shatter the industry’s protective silence, turning celebration into confrontation. The crowd fell silent in empathy, phones raised in stunned solidarity, as Colbert’s defiant stand amplified a voice powerful forces had desperately tried to bury. With dawn breaking and social media erupting, the question pulses: how will Hollywood’s guarded elite respond to this midnight wake-up call?
As the first rays of 2026 pierced a hungover yet exhilarated New York City on January 1, the glittering skyline bore witness to one of the most memorable New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square history. Hours earlier, on December 31, 2025, millions braved freezing temperatures to pack the Crossroads of the World, joining billions worldwide in counting down to the new year amid cascading confetti, pyrotechnics, and patriotic fervor.
CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” broadcast the festivities live, with the dynamic duo returning for their ninth year. Guest Stephen Colbert added his trademark humor to segments, alongside a star-studded lineup of performers and surprises. Highlights included Robyn live from Times Square, Shakira from Florida’s Hard Rock Live, Brandy and Monica, Bryan Adams from Madison Square Garden, Florence + The Machine, RAYE, mentalist Oz Perlman, Amy Sedaris, Brandi Carlile, Aloe Blacc, Patti LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, and comedians like B.J. Novak.
The evening kicked off at 6 p.m. with the lighting and raising of the iconic Constellation Ball atop One Times Square—the largest ever at 12.5 feet. As midnight approached, the Waterford Crystal ball descended, illuminating the “2026” numerals. A special post-midnight moment honored America’s semiquincentennial, featuring Ray Charles’ “America the Beautiful,” a second wave of red, white, and blue confetti (2,000 pounds total), and dynamic pyrotechnics with the U.S. flag enveloping the building.
No unexpected dramatic announcements disrupted the joyful proceedings; instead, the focus remained on unity, reflection on 2025, and hope for the future. Revelers raised phones in solidarity during performances, capturing moments of empathy and shared excitement as fireworks lit the sky.
With dawn breaking and social media buzzing with highlights, the celebration underscored timeless traditions while launching a year of national commemoration. As America250 initiatives begin, the midnight magic of Times Square continues to inspire global audiences.
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