M&T Bank Presents: Buffalo BallDrop New Year’s Eve Celebration

On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 10pm, Roosevelt Plaza in Downtown Buffalo will come alive with music and an awesome fireworks display. The 37th Annual City of Buffalo New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Celebration at Iskalo Development’s Electric Tower, presented by M&T Bank, is sponsored by Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon and the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Place, and the Police Athletic League of Buffalo. Festivities kick off at 10pm on New Year’s Eve at Roosevelt Plaza. DJ Jickster of 97 Rock will serve as the host of the event, which will include live music, from The Strictly Hip and Will Holton, and a large fireworks display.

The Buffalo Ball Drop is an important fundraiser for the Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Inc. The event is produced in partnership with the City of Buffalo, Iskalo Development Corporation.

Special thanks to our sponsor family, who make the event possible including Presenting Sponsor M&T Bank and Entertainment Sponsors, AAA Western and Central New York, Big Ditch Brewing Co., Clementine Gold Group, and Frey Electric Construction Co., Try-It Distributing. Thank you to Fireworks Sponsors, including Avalon Development, Buffalo Auto Show, Mental Health Advocates, Northland Workforce Training Center, Lippes Mathias, Uniland Development, as well as Media Partner, 97 Rock.

Live music will feature Buffalo’s own The Strictly Hip, renowned for their masterful tribute to the music of The Tragically Hip and their sold-out performances across North America. The celebration will culminate at midnight with the ceremonial Ball Drop and a dynamic fireworks display by SkyLighters of WNY, illuminating the Downtown skyline.

“New Year’s Eve in downtown Buffalo is a tradition that brings our community together,” said Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon. “This celebration reflects the spirit of our city — welcoming, vibrant, and full of pride — and we encourage residents and visitors alike to join us as we ring in 2026 together.”

“M&T Bank is proud to continue our longstanding sponsorship of Buffalo’s New Year’s Eve celebration,” said Tracy Woodrow, M&T Bank Chief Administrative Officer and WNY Regional President. “For nearly four decades, the Buffalo Ball Drop has been one of the region’s signature traditions. By drawing thousands of people downtown, the spectacular event not only creates lasting memories but also supports local businesses. Shared experiences like this strengthen connections among neighbors and highlight the energy and spirit that make this gathering such a special way to welcome the new year.”

“Buff alo Place Inc. and our Board of Directors are proud to partner with the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Police Athletic League, and Iskalo Development to present the 38th Annual Buffalo Ball Drop and Fireworks celebration,” said Michael T. Schmand, Executive Director of Buffalo Place Inc. “Made possible through the generous support of our Presenting Sponsor, M&T Bank, this beloved New Year’s Eve tradition will once again bring our community together in the heart of Downtown Buffalo to welcome 2026 in celebratory fashion.”

“The annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop brings our community together to celebrate the start of a new year and invest in Buffalo’s youth,” said Nekia Kemp, Executive Director of the Police Athletic League of Buffalo. “We are incredibly grateful to this year’s sponsors for supporting both this event and Buffalo PAL. Their generosity directly impacts the lives of the young people we serve through year-round sports, education, and enrichment programs — offered at no cost to families — in safe recreation spaces across the City of Buffalo.”

“Iskalo Development is excited to host another spectacular New Year’s Eve Ball Drop event at the Electric Tower,” stated Paul B. Iskalo, Founder and President of Iskalo Development Corp. “This joyous annual gathering of residents and visitors is one of our community’s greatest traditions. Each year, we look forward to welcoming fellow Western New Yorkers to Downtown’s Electric District to celebrate our great city and ring in the New Year.”

“Clementine Gold Group is proud to support PAL’s youth winter programming and the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, a celebration that brings people together downtown and rings in a new year with joy, connection, and community spirit,” said Ekua Mends-Aidoo, President of Clementine Gold Group.

“As a long-time sponsor of the Buffalo New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, Frey Electric is proud to support the community we’ve called home for generations,” said James Waddell, Marketing Communications Manager for Frey Electric. Thanks to the continued generosity of event sponsors, proceeds from the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop support the Police Athletic League.

Special thanks to our sponsor family, who make the event possible including Presenting Sponsor M&T Bank and Entertainment Sponsors, AAA Western and Central New York, Big Ditch Brewing Co., Clementine Gold Group, and Frey Electric Construction Co., Try-It Distributing. Thank you to Fireworks Sponsors, including Avalon Development, Buffalo Auto Show, Mental Health Advocates, Northland Workforce Training Center, Lippes Mathias, Uniland Development, as well as Media Partner, 97 Rock.