NYC: See Yourself on a Times Square Billboard for 24 Hours

A photo or video of your choice appears on a giant Times Square screen for 15 seconds every hour over 24 hours. Your billboard is at 1560 Broadway, above the Pelé store and directly opposite the TKTS red steps, so you can make a proper New York moment of it.

I like two things right away: the display repeats often enough that you can catch it several times, and relatives at home can watch through the live stream. The simple upload process also makes this an easy surprise for a birthday, engagement, anniversary, graduation, or family trip.

The catch is timing. Fifteen seconds goes quickly, and the first showing may fall at an awkward hour, even 1 am. You also need to upload your file promptly, since your time slot is not held until the photo or video is submitted.

Key details before you book

• One group photo can cover everyone: A single ticket works for one photo featuring your whole group, with no stated limit on the number of people in that image.
• Separate images require separate tickets: Buy one ticket per person if each person should have an individual photo or video.
• The screen runs 15 seconds each hour: Your file appears throughout a 24-hour period, with 22 showings guaranteed in case of technical problems.
• The billboard is easy to identify: Find it at 1560 Broadway, above the Pelé store and across from the TKTS red steps.
• You can add a personal frame and message: Choose a standard frame or one for birthdays, congratulations, or proposals, then include a short line of text.
• Your file must be clean and personal: Watermarks, brands, logos, QR codes, links, advertisements, nudity, smoking, and vulgar material are not accepted.

Your 15 seconds in the heart of Times Square

This is not a sightseeing tour with a guide, a bus, or a set route. It is a one-day digital display experience. You supply the image or video, and the screen does the rest.

For 15 seconds at a time, your chosen file appears on a large billboard in one of New York’s most famous public spaces. It repeats every hour for 24 hours, giving you many chances to catch it in person or send the livestream to people elsewhere.

That repeat schedule matters. If you arrive late, get blocked by a crowd, or simply miss the first showing, you have another opportunity in roughly an hour. You can also wait around and see it several times, as one family did while celebrating a daughter’s birthday.

The display is especially effective for a child or teenager. A birthday boy or girl suddenly seeing their own face above Times Square can turn an ordinary city day into the main event. It also works well for a parent, partner, or friend who would never expect to appear on a New York screen.

Finding 1560 Broadway above the Pelé store

The billboard sits at 1560 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets. Look above the Pelé store, directly across from the red TKTS steps.

That location is useful because the TKTS steps are one of the easiest landmarks in Times Square. The area is still crowded and full of bright signs, so give yourself time to get your bearings. One person found the location hard to reach at first because the tall buildings and dense streets made map navigation confusing. Another had to search through the size of Times Square before finding the right screen.

My practical advice is simple: do not wait until the last minute. Go to the TKTS red steps first, look across Broadway, and then check the screen above the Pelé store. The billboard is accessible from Broadway, and the location gives you a natural place to take a photo with your image behind you.

The screen can be viewed from the street, so you do not need to enter a building or join a group. There is no transportation segment or guided meeting procedure. You make your own way to the screen and plan around the assigned display time.

How the hourly display works

Your photo or video plays for 15 seconds every hour on your selected date. That is long enough for a clear image to register, but not long enough for a slow group to wander into place after the file begins.

If you want a photo of the moment, arrive early and have your phone ready. You may need to wait for the correct minute within the hour, then act quickly when the image appears. One family waited for its showing and was able to catch it several times. Another person noted that the 15-second display felt brief and wished it lasted 30 seconds.

The number of showings is a strong part of the deal. You receive 24 hours of exposure, with 22 appearances guaranteed if technical trouble affects the schedule. That does not mean your image is on screen continuously. It means you get short, repeated appearances spread across the day and night.

The first showing may not suit your sleep schedule. A showing can begin at 1 am on the first day, which is inconvenient if you have spent the day sightseeing and want to see the debut. You do not need to attend every showing. Pick one or two convenient times, then let family and friends use the livestream for the rest.

Pay close attention to the date and time confirmation. One booking contained conflicting dates between the voucher and email, creating a difficult surprise plan. Check the final assigned information carefully, and use New York local time when planning from another US time zone or another country.

Choosing a photo, video, frame, and message

You can upload one photo or video of your choice. A group photo is the economical option because there is no stated cap on how many people can appear in one image. If you want a separate photo or video for each person, you need a separate ticket for each file.

A collage can work well. One displayed image used six pictures, and the screen was large enough for the photos to remain clear. That gives you a way to include a birthday portrait, family snapshot, old memory, or several stages of a relationship without paying for multiple individual displays.

A short video is another option, but the experience details do not specify a precise video length or format. Follow the upload instructions carefully and choose a file that can communicate its message quickly. A simple, high-contrast image is likely easier to recognize from across the street than a busy design with tiny details.

You can choose one custom frame for each file. Options include a standard frame and designs for messages such as Happy Birthday, Congratulations, or Will you marry me? You can also add a short line of text within the photo or video.

Keep the design personal rather than promotional. Files with watermarks, brands, logos, QR codes, links, advertising-like material, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity will be denied. Social media links from independent professionals and freelancers are also not accepted.

The restrictions are worth reading before you buy. This screen time is intended for a personal celebration, not a business advertisement. A clean portrait with a short birthday message is a safer choice than a company logo or a graphic packed with web links.

The upload step is the part you control

After purchase, you receive a code for uploading the photo or video. Your time slot is not reserved until the file has been submitted, so do not treat the booking as finished when payment is complete.

The upload process has been easy for many people, but the timing rule is firm. Submit the file as soon as you can. If you wait too long, you may have to move to another date or lose the chance to use the planned showing.

You can change the photo or video, but only if the request arrives at least 24 hours before the display date and the original file has not yet appeared on the billboard. That gives you some flexibility if you select the wrong family picture or spot a mistake in the text.

One person accidentally submitted the wrong video and had it corrected, but I would not rely on a last-minute fix. Review the image, spelling, frame, and date before you submit. If the display is part of a surprise, handle the upload privately and keep the assigned time handy.

A confirmation of the assigned time slot arrives within 24 hours. Share that information with relatives and friends so they can watch from home. The online option is important for anyone who cannot join you in New York, especially for family celebrations spread across different countries.

Watching it in Times Square or online

Seeing your image on a live Times Square screen is the heart of the experience. The street setting gives the moment its force: your family picture is surrounded by the noise, lights, and scale of Broadway, rather than viewed on a private screen.

Arrive before the assigned time. Times Square is crowded, and the screen can be hard to locate quickly. Once you find it, position yourself where the billboard is visible and keep your camera ready. Do not blink, and do not expect the image to remain for a long conversation or a leisurely portrait.

The livestream adds a second way to enjoy the display. Send the link and time to grandparents, distant friends, or a partner who is not on the trip. This turns a local surprise into a shared event without asking everyone to be physically present.

The online feed may not always be perfect. Glare made the image difficult to see on the livestream for one person, who found the in-person view much better. If the display matters deeply, make seeing it at the billboard your priority and treat the livestream as a useful extra.

Is $150 a good value?

At $150 per person, this is not a cheap attraction. You are paying for a brief digital appearance, not a full day of entertainment or a guided tour.

The value improves when one group ticket covers a single image with many people in it. A family can appear together in one photo, then watch the display in Times Square and share the livestream without buying an individual ticket for every face.

It is also better value for an important occasion than for a routine visit. A 16th birthday, 40th birthday, proposal, engagement trip, 80th birthday, or memorial tribute gives the screen time emotional weight. The billboard itself is the souvenir, and the recorded photographs or video you take become the lasting keepsake.

The repeated schedule helps justify the price. Your file is not shown once and gone. You receive appearances throughout 24 hours, and the guaranteed 22 showings provide some protection against technical problems.

Still, you should be comfortable with the short running time. If you want a long video, a private event, or a guaranteed uninterrupted viewing, this is not that product. The experience is a quick burst of attention in a public place.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend it most for someone who enjoys a surprise and will appreciate the theatrical side of New York. Children and teenagers often respond strongly to seeing their own face on the screen, while parents enjoy capturing the reaction.

It is also a good fit for long-distance family celebrations. The livestream lets people at home join a birthday or anniversary without flying to New York.

Couples can use a favorite engagement photo or a proposal frame. Friends can display a group picture during a bachelorette trip. A family can mark a major birthday or remember someone important with a respectful personal image.

You may want to skip it if your schedule is tight, you dislike waiting in crowded public spaces, or the person you are surprising would feel uncomfortable with public attention. The screen is large, the location is busy, and the 15-second appearance leaves little room for a hesitant reaction.

Booking, cancellation, and access

The experience is valid for one day, and you select availability when booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your New York dates are not fully settled.

The billboard is wheelchair accessible from Broadway. There is no guide or walking route to manage, so you can choose how long to remain at the location and which showings to attend.

The most important booking task is uploading the file. Use the code received after purchase, submit the image or video promptly, and confirm the assigned date and time before telling anyone about the surprise.

Should you book the Times Square billboard?

Book it if you want a memorable, highly personal moment and have a clear occasion to mark. The strongest use is a birthday or family surprise, where the reaction matters more than the length of the display.

I especially like the group-photo option, the repeated hourly appearances, and the livestream for people far away. Just plan ahead, arrive early at the TKTS red steps, check the local time, and remember that 15 seconds disappears quickly.

At $150, this is an indulgence, not a bargain attraction. For the right person, though, a face in Times Square can be worth far more than another standard souvenir.

FAQ

Where is the Times Square billboard located?

It is at 1560 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets, above the Pelé store and directly across from the TKTS red steps.

How long does the photo or video appear?

It appears for 15 seconds every hour over a 24-hour period on the selected date.

How many showings are guaranteed?

You are guaranteed 22 showings within the 24-hour period in case of technical difficulties.

Can a group use one ticket?

Yes. One ticket can be used for a single group photo, and there is no stated limit on the number of people who can appear in that photo.

Do I need more than one ticket for separate photos?

Yes. You need one ticket for each person if you want separate photos or videos displayed.

Can I add a message?

Yes. You can include a short line of text and choose one custom frame for each photo. Available frame types include standard, birthday, congratulations, and marriage proposal designs.

What content is not accepted?

Files cannot include watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, vulgarity, QR codes, links, or advertising-like material. Social media links from independent professionals or freelancers are also declined.

Can I change my uploaded photo or video?

You can request a change at least 24 hours before the display date, as long as the original file has not yet appeared on the billboard.