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

Your picture appears in lights above the Pelé store, right in the middle of Times Square. For 24 hours, it plays for 15 seconds every hour, giving you plenty of chances to catch it in person or send the livestream to friends and family.

I like two things here: the screen is easy to pair with a classic Times Square photo, and one group image can include as many people as fit in the picture. The main drawback is simple: 15 seconds goes quickly, and the earliest available showing may fall at 1 a.m. if you want to catch the first appearance.

• A fixed Times Square address: Find the screen at 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets, above the Pelé store and across from the TKTS red steps.
• 24 hours of repeat showings: Your image appears for 15 seconds every hour, with 22 guaranteed showings if technical trouble affects the schedule.
• One image can cover a whole group: Buy one ticket for a shared group photo, or one ticket per person for separate images.
• A personal message is included: Add one custom frame and a short line of text to your photo or video.
• Friends at home can watch: A livestream lets people far from New York share the moment.
• Good for milestones: Birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, congratulations, and memorial tributes all fit the format.

What You Are Really Buying in Times Square

This is not a sightseeing tour with a guide, a route, or a long list of stops. It is a one-day digital display that turns a personal photo into a Times Square event.

That distinction matters. You pay $150 per person, but the product is not really time on a tour. It is a repeated 15-second appearance on a giant billboard, plus the fun of seeing it in one of New York’s most famous public spaces.

For a solo image, $150 is a sizeable price for a very short appearance. The value improves for a group. One ticket covers a single photo with any number of people in it, so a family, wedding party, birthday group, or group of friends can share one image rather than buying a ticket for each face.

If several people want their own photos or videos, each person needs a ticket. That is the point at which the total can rise quickly. Decide first if your group wants one shared image or several individual moments.

Finding the Screen at 1560 Broadway

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

Times Square is compact on a map but confusing on the ground. Large screens, tall buildings, crowds, and multiple storefronts can make a precise billboard hard to spot. Give yourself extra time to locate the screen, especially if you have promised a child or birthday guest a surprise.

The spot is accessible from Broadway, and the experience is wheelchair accessible. You do not need to join a group or meet a guide. You simply go to the screen during your assigned display time and watch for your image.

The TKTS red steps are a useful landmark because they are directly across the street. If you are using a map app, search for 1560 Broadway or the Pelé store rather than relying only on a general Times Square pin. Several people have found the area harder to navigate than expected.

How the 24-Hour Display Works

Your photo or video runs for 15 seconds every hour on the date you select. In practical terms, you may see it at several different times during a day and night in New York.

The exact time slot is sent after you submit your file. You receive confirmation within 24 hours, so do not treat the purchase alone as the final step. Your place is not reserved until you upload the photo or video using the code provided after purchase.

The schedule is useful for visitors with full sightseeing days. You might catch the display in the morning, return after dinner, or ask someone in another time zone to watch the livestream. You do not need to stand in Times Square for the entire day.

There is one timing catch. Some bookings begin at 1 a.m. on the first day. If you want to see the very first appearance, you could be out late after a long day in New York. You can instead plan around a later showing, since the image repeats every hour.

The stated guarantee is 22 showings within 24 hours in case of technical problems. That is a practical safeguard, though it also means you should not assume every one of the 24 possible showings will occur without interruption.

Making a Photo That Works on a Giant Screen

The screen is large enough to show a collage clearly, as one family found with a six-photo design. Still, you should choose your file with the viewing conditions in mind.

A simple image with clear faces will be easier to recognize from the street than a crowded picture with tiny details. If you add text, keep it short. You have only 15 seconds, and Times Square is full of competing lights and movement.

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

The content rules are important. Files cannot include watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgar material. A logo, QR code, web link, or anything that looks like an advertisement can be declined. Social media links from independent professionals and freelancers are also not accepted.

This is intended as a personal celebration, not a commercial billboard campaign. If your file is rejected, your carefully planned surprise may be delayed, so check it before uploading.

You can change the file if the request is made at least 24 hours before the display date and the original file has not already appeared. That gives you a useful correction window. It does not give you freedom to make last-minute changes after the display has started.

Catching Your 15 Seconds Without Blinking

A 15-second appearance sounds longer than it feels. You may be watching other screens, taking a photo, or trying to get the person being surprised to look up at the right moment.

Stand where you can see the full screen, then keep your phone ready. If you are filming the reaction, have one person watch the billboard and another watch the guest. The image may appear exactly at the assigned time, so arriving early helps.

You can stay for another hourly showing if the first attempt fails. One parent arrived at the wrong moment, then caught the image again several times. Another family waited in the square and enjoyed the surprise, but noted that you should not blink or you may miss it.

Daylight and glare can affect how the screen looks online. One person found the livestream difficult to view much of the time because of glare, while the in-person view worked better. If the moment matters, treat the livestream as a useful extra, not the only way to experience the display.

The evening can be especially effective. A teenager whose birthday display ran during the evening enjoyed seeing the pictures under the bright Times Square lights. The screen is visible throughout the day, but the classic big-screen effect is strongest after dark.

Using the Livestream for a Long-Distance Surprise

The online livestream is one of the best parts of the arrangement. Family members do not need to be in New York to share the event.

Send them the assigned time and account for time zones. New York uses Eastern Time, and a one-hour mistake can easily happen if someone is joining from the Midwest or another country. The confirmation message gives you the time, so share the exact date and local time clearly.

The livestream also helps if your own group cannot gather in Times Square. You can arrange a family celebration at home while the image appears in New York. It has been used for birthdays, an engagement surprise, and a tribute to a family member who had died.

Keep expectations realistic. A livestream image may suffer from glare or visibility problems, and the billboard appearance lasts only 15 seconds. Encourage people to join a little early and watch the full screen rather than opening the link at the last second.

Birthdays, Engagements, and Family Milestones

This experience works best when the surprise matters more than the technical details. A child seeing their face above Times Square may remember the reaction for years, even though the actual image lasts only seconds.

Birthdays are the most obvious use. It has been arranged for children turning 10, 13, 16, and 17, as well as an 80th birthday and a 40th birthday. The format also suits a family photo, since one shared image can include everyone without adding a ticket for every person.

Engagement photos make a strong choice, especially during a celebration with friends. A proposal message can also use the dedicated frame, but make sure the person involved will be comfortable with the public attention. Times Square is not a quiet setting.

The display can also mark an anniversary or honor someone who is no longer alive. A family used the livestream to share a memorial image with relatives around the world. That is a more personal use than the usual birthday surprise, and the repeated showings give family members several chances to watch.

For a collage, use a design with strong contrast and large enough faces. A screen can show several images clearly, but very small photographs or long text will lose impact.

Is $150 Worth It?

The price is easiest to justify when several people share one photo. A family can split the cost of a single display and receive repeated showings for an entire day. You are also paying for the setting, the custom frame, the text line, and the chance to share the moment online.

The calculation is less favorable if you want a separate display for every person. Multiple tickets can turn a brief novelty into a major part of your New York budget. I would compare that total with other special activities before buying several slots.

The 24-hour schedule adds value. You can see the display in person more than once, and relatives can watch from home. A single 15-second showing would feel thin for the price. Repetition makes the purchase more practical, especially if weather, crowds, or a delayed sightseeing plan causes you to miss one appearance.

This is also a poor choice if you want a long performance or a guided Times Square experience. You will not receive a walking tour, historical explanation, reserved viewing area, or extended time on screen. The appeal is the personal thrill of seeing your own image in a famous place.

Booking Timing and Small Details That Matter

After buying, upload the photo or video promptly. The slot is not held until the file is submitted, and the confirmation with your assigned time arrives within 24 hours.

Do not wait until the display date to decide on the image. You may change the file only if the new request comes at least 24 hours before the display date and the original has not yet appeared.

The activity is valid for one day, and availability determines the starting times. 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 still moving around.

Because there is no stated group-size limit for one shared image, this can work well for a large birthday group or family. The file itself is the limit: everyone must fit clearly into the chosen picture.

Who Will Get the Most From This

I would recommend it most strongly for:

• A parent planning a birthday surprise for a child or teenager
• Couples marking an engagement, proposal, or anniversary
• Families who want one shared New York memory
• Groups who can split the cost of one photo
• People with relatives abroad who will enjoy the livestream
• Anyone who values a short, highly personal event over a long tour

I would be more cautious if you dislike public attention, need a precise fixed time without any risk of confusion, or plan to buy several individual tickets. The display is public, quick, and surrounded by the constant activity of Times Square.

My Take on the Times Square Billboard Experience

Book this if your goal is a memorable surprise, not a traditional tour. The strongest value comes from one well-designed group image, a clear message, and a plan to see the screen at more than one hourly showing.

Use 1560 Broadway, the Pelé store, and the TKTS red steps as your landmarks. Upload early, check the date and time carefully, account for Eastern Time, and arrive before the assigned slot. With those details handled, $150 can buy a surprisingly powerful New York moment, especially for a child, a birthday guest, or a family watching from far away.

FAQ

How long does my photo or video appear on the billboard?

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

How many times will my image be shown?

There are 24 hourly opportunities, and 22 showings are guaranteed in case technical problems affect the schedule.

Where exactly is the billboard?

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

Can a group use one ticket?

Yes. One ticket can cover a group photo, and there is no stated limit on the number of people who can appear in one image.

Does each person need a ticket for a separate photo?

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

Can I include a message?

Yes. You can add one custom frame and a short line of text to the photo or video.

Can I watch the display online?

Yes. A livestream is available, so friends and family can watch from elsewhere.

When will I receive my display time?

You will receive confirmation of your assigned time slot within 24 hours after submitting your photo or video.

Can I change my uploaded photo or video?

Yes, provided you request the change at least 24 hours before the display date and the original file has not already appeared.

What content will be rejected?

Files containing watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity are not accepted. Logos, QR codes, links, advertisements, and social media links from independent professionals or freelancers can also be declined.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the billboard is fully accessible from Broadway and the activity is wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.