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

Make Times Square your stage. For $150 per person, you can place a photo or short video on a large billboard at 1560 Broadway, directly above the Pelé store and across from the TKTS red steps. I especially like the 15-second display every hour for 24 hours, plus the live stream that lets family and friends watch from anywhere.

The upload process is simple, and you can add a frame and a short message for birthdays, engagements, congratulations, or marriage proposals. The main catch is timing: the display lasts only 15 seconds, and a very late starting slot, such as 1 a.m., may be awkward if you want to see it in person.

Key details before you book

• The exact billboard location: Find it at 1560 Broadway, between West 46th and 47th Streets, above the Pelé store and opposite the TKTS red steps.
• Repeated showtimes: Your image appears for 15 seconds every hour over a 24-hour period, with 22 showings guaranteed if technical problems occur.
• One photo can include a whole group: A single ticket works for one group photo, with no stated limit on the number of people pictured.
• Separate images need separate tickets: Buy one ticket per person if you want individual photos or videos.
• A live stream shares the moment: Friends and family can watch online, even if they are far from New York.
• Submit your file quickly: Your display date is not reserved until you upload the photo or video using the code sent after purchase.

What this Times Square billboard experience really is

This is not a guided tour or a long attraction. It is a timed digital display built around one small but thrilling moment: your image appears in the middle of Times Square, then returns once an hour for the rest of the day.

The billboard is above the Pelé store at 1560 Broadway, between West 46th and West 47th Streets. It faces the famous TKTS red steps, so you have a clear landmark to aim for. Once you reach the steps, look across Broadway for the screen above the store.

The location matters. Times Square is packed with huge screens, shops, theaters, and people moving in every direction. Your display is not hidden in a side street or tucked inside a building. You can watch it from Broadway, take pictures in front of it, and send the live stream to people who could not join you in New York.

That setting gives a basic photo or video more force. A birthday picture that might feel ordinary on a phone suddenly appears above one of the most recognizable public spaces in the United States.

Uploading your photo or video

After purchase, you receive a code for submitting your file. You must upload the photo or video before the display date is reserved. This is the most important practical step, so I would complete it right after booking rather than leaving it for later.

The upload process has been easy for many people, including those using photo collages and short videos. One family used a collage of six pictures, and the screen was large enough for the images to remain clear. That makes a collage a good choice for a birthday or family celebration, as long as the pictures are arranged in a clean, readable way.

You can choose one custom frame for each submission. Available styles include standard designs and messages such as:

• Happy Birthday
• Congratulations
• Will you marry me?

You can also add a short line of text within the photo or video. Keep your message brief. A billboard is seen from a distance, and the display is only 15 seconds long. A few clear words will work better than a long paragraph in tiny lettering.

You may change the photo or video later, but the request must be made at least 24 hours before the display date, and the original file must not have appeared yet. That rule gives you some flexibility, but it is not a last-minute editing service.

Choosing one group photo or several individual displays

The booking setup is fairly simple. One ticket covers one photo or video display. If your group wants to appear together, one photo can include everyone, with no stated cap on the number of people pictured.

That is the best value for a family, couple, or group of friends who want one shared memory. A carefully made group photo can include children, parents, grandparents, or an entire birthday party without requiring a ticket for every person.

If each person wants a separate image, you need one ticket per person. This distinction matters at the $150 price point. A single group photo costs less than buying several individual displays, while separate tickets let each person have their own moment.

For a surprise, a single strong image is usually enough. Choose a picture where the face is easy to see, avoid cluttered backgrounds, and make sure the person being surprised will recognize it instantly.

The 24-hour display and the brief 15-second moment

Your photo or video appears for 15 seconds every hour on the selected date. That sounds short, and it is. You should not expect a long advertisement-style presentation or enough time for a large group to pose, wave, and take several perfect pictures.

The repeated showings are what make the experience work. Instead of getting one chance, you have many chances across a full day and night. The information promises 22 showtimes within 24 hours if technical problems occur, so you can reasonably expect repeated opportunities, though you should not treat every hour as an absolute guarantee.

One useful detail from a past experience is that the image can appear at a particular minute within the hour. A display may be scheduled for the sixth minute, for example. When you arrive, check the assigned time carefully and be ready before it begins. Do not wait until the last second to look up from the crowd.

Some people choose to watch more than once. One family waited around and caught the display three times. That is a sensible plan if you want photographs from different positions or if the first showing is spoiled by a passing crowd, glare, or someone stepping in front of your camera.

The short running time is the clearest limitation. One person wished the display lasted 30 seconds instead of 15. I agree that 15 seconds can feel rushed, especially when you are trying to see the screen, alert your family, and take a picture at the same time.

Seeing it in Times Square

The billboard is easy to reach once you know the landmarks, but finding one particular screen in Times Square can take patience. Tall buildings and multiple digital signs can make map directions less useful, and the square is so crowded that you may need a few minutes to get your bearings.

Use the TKTS red steps as your anchor. The billboard is directly across from them, above the Pelé store. This is more useful than relying only on a map pin.

Arrive early enough to find the screen and choose a viewing position. Times Square is a public space with constant foot traffic, so your sightline may change from one moment to the next. The screen is fully accessible from Broadway, and the location is wheelchair accessible.

The best viewing conditions can vary during the day. A past birthday tribute was easier to see in person than through the online camera because glare affected the web image. If the live stream looks washed out, do not assume the billboard itself is a failure. Screen glare and camera angle can make the online picture less clear.

For your own photos, include the screen and the people watching it. The reaction is often as important as the billboard itself, especially for a child or birthday honoree. A person who feels shy about attention may not enjoy being photographed in the middle of Times Square, so think about the personality of your guest before planning a large surprise.

Watching from the live stream

The online live stream is one of the strongest parts of the package. It lets relatives and friends watch from another city or country, which turns a local Times Square moment into a shared event.

Send the assigned date and time to your family as soon as you receive it. Time zones matter. One person from the Midwest pointed out that New York was an hour ahead, a small detail that could cause someone to miss the display.

The stream also helps if your group cannot all reach Times Square at the right moment. Grandparents, friends, or relatives abroad can watch the image appear online. For a memorial, anniversary, or major birthday, that added reach can make the $150 feel more worthwhile.

Still, the online view is not always perfect. Glare and camera visibility can affect what you see. I would treat the live stream as a useful extra, not a substitute for the billboard itself.

Using the experience for birthdays and surprises

Birthdays are the natural match for this activity. It has been used for children turning 10, 13, 16, and 17, as well as adults celebrating milestone birthdays such as 40, 50, and 80.

The reactions can be especially strong for teenagers. Several families described children becoming speechless or amazed when they saw their own face on the screen. A Sweet 16 celebration fits the setting well because Times Square already feels theatrical and larger than everyday life.

It also works for a partner, parent, or close friend. A birthday surprise for a wife, husband, girlfriend, or mother gives you a personal reason to visit the billboard rather than simply taking another Times Square photo.

The custom frame helps shape the mood. A birthday frame feels festive, while a simple photo may be better for an anniversary or tribute. For a proposal, make sure the person being surprised is comfortable with a public display before selecting the marriage message.

The experience can also carry a more serious meaning. One family used it to honor a daughter who had died, then shared the live stream with relatives around the world. That use is clearly more personal than a typical holiday photo, but it shows how the screen can serve as a public tribute.

Is $150 a fair price?

At $150 per person, this is not a cheap Times Square activity. You are paying for a digital display, not a full day of entertainment or a private space.

The value depends on how many people use the moment and why it matters to you. For one person making a birthday surprise, the price may feel high. For a group using one shared photo, the cost becomes easier to justify because one ticket can include everyone in the image.

The 24-hour run adds value. Your image is not shown just once and forgotten. You can see it during the day, return at night, and share several showings with people online. One family found the display especially appealing in the evening, when the surrounding screens were lit against the dark.

The strongest value comes from a major occasion: a milestone birthday, engagement, proposal, family reunion, or meaningful tribute. If you are simply passing through Times Square and want a novelty, the cost may be harder to defend.

The package includes the billboard display, one custom frame, and one line of text. There is no separate mention of printed photos, a photographer, transportation, or a guided escort. Plan to take your own pictures and make your own way to the location.

Timing, date problems, and practical planning

You receive confirmation of your assigned time slot within 24 hours. Read both the voucher and the confirmation email carefully. A date mismatch has caused confusion before, with one document showing the 11th and another showing the 13th. The display ultimately appeared on the confirmed date, but the surprise plan had to change.

I would not tell the guest the exact plan until you have confirmed the final date and time. If you are arranging a birthday surprise, build your schedule around the confirmed display rather than an early booking receipt.

Check the time zone if you are coordinating with family outside New York. Also note that the first showing could fall at 1 a.m. depending on the assigned schedule. That may be fine for night owls, but it is not ideal if you have spent the day sightseeing and want to be fresh for a celebration.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which helps if your New York plans are still shifting. The booking is valid for one day, and you should check availability for the starting times offered.

Files cannot contain watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgar language. Logos, QR codes, links, and material that looks like an advertisement can also be declined. Independent professional or freelancer social media links are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this to you if you enjoy creating a big public surprise and already have a meaningful photo or short video ready. It is particularly well suited to families with children, couples marking an engagement or anniversary, and people celebrating a major birthday.

It is also a good choice if loved ones cannot visit New York but still want to take part through the live stream. The experience reaches beyond the people standing on Broadway.

I would be more cautious if you dislike crowds, feel uncomfortable with public attention, or expect a long presentation. Fifteen seconds passes quickly, and Times Square can make it difficult to hold a perfect viewing position.

You should also think carefully about the image itself. A low-quality photo, tiny message, or busy collage may lose impact on a huge screen. Use a bright, clear image with faces that can be recognized quickly.

Should you book the Times Square billboard?

Book it if the moment has real personal meaning. The best use is not a random selfie, but a birthday, proposal, engagement, family celebration, or tribute that gives you a reason to gather at 1560 Broadway and share the moment with people elsewhere.

The repeated hourly displays, simple upload process, custom frame, and live stream make the $150 easier to defend for a special occasion. Just submit your file promptly, confirm the final date, account for time zones, and arrive early because the 15-second showing will be over before you know it.

FAQ

Where is the Times Square billboard located?

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

How long does my photo or video appear?

Your photo or video appears for 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours on the selected date.

How many showings are guaranteed?

You are guaranteed 22 showtimes within 24 hours in case of technical difficulties.

Can a whole group appear in one photo?

Yes. One group photo can include any number of people, with no stated limit.

Do I need more than one ticket for separate photos?

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

Can I add a message to the display?

Yes. The package includes a short line of text, and you can choose one custom frame for each photo.

Can friends and family watch online?

Yes. A live stream is available, so people around the world can watch the display online.

When must I upload my photo or video?

You should upload it using the code sent after purchase. Your slot is not reserved until the file is submitted. Changes must be requested at least 24 hours before the display date and before the file has appeared.

What content will be rejected?

Files containing watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity can be denied. Logos, QR codes, links, and material resembling an advertisement are also not accepted.

Is the billboard wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The billboard can be accessed from Broadway and the experience is wheelchair accessible.