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

A birthday photo, engagement picture, or family snapshot can take a brief turn on a giant Times Square screen. For $150, your photo or video appears for 15 seconds each hour over 24 hours, so this is less a guided tour than a personal New York moment you can share with the world.

I like two things in particular: one ticket can cover a group photo with no stated limit on the number of people, and the livestream lets friends and family watch from home. The main catch is that 15 seconds goes quickly, and you need to submit your file before your display slot is reserved.

At a glance

• One image, many chances to see it: Your photo or video appears for 15 seconds every hour over 24 hours, with at least 22 showtimes guaranteed in case of technical problems.
• A precise Times Square address: Find the screen at 1560 Broadway, above the Pelé store and opposite the TKTS Red Steps.
• One ticket can include a whole group: Use a single photo featuring everyone, or buy separate tickets for individual photos or videos.
• Add a frame and a message: Choose one custom frame per image and include a short line of text.
• Share the moment remotely: Friends and family can watch the live stream online at your assigned time.

A small personal moment on a very big screen

Times Square is already full of screens competing for your attention. This experience gives your own image a short turn among them, which can make a birthday, engagement, family trip, or other milestone feel unusually public and wonderfully New York.

The appeal is not that you get a long viewing or a private space. You get 15 seconds at a time, repeated through the day, in one of the city’s most recognizable spots. That is enough to spot a clear image, take a photo, and share a bit of the moment, but you will want to know your schedule before you arrive.

The format works especially well as a surprise. A parent can put a child’s photo on the screen for a birthday, a partner can arrange an anniversary display, or a group can share an image from a trip. The display can also mark a more personal occasion, as long as the submitted file follows the content rules.

What happens from upload to billboard

This is a self-directed experience, not a walking tour with a guide or a set route. After you book, you receive a code to use when uploading your photo or video. You also choose a custom frame and may add a short line of text.

Do not leave the upload until the last minute. Your display slot is not reserved until you submit the file. You receive confirmation of your assigned time slot within 24 hours, so check the details carefully and share them with anyone joining you in person or tuning in online.

The display runs for 15 seconds every hour on your selected date. You are guaranteed 22 showtimes within the 24-hour period in case of technical difficulties. That repeated schedule means you do not need to spend a whole day planted on the sidewalk, but it does help to plan around the specific time you receive.

You can request a change to your image or video, provided you ask at least 24 hours before the display date and the original file has not already appeared. If you are arranging a surprise, submit the intended image early and double-check that it is the right one. A purchaser once had a video mix-up corrected, but it is wiser not to rely on a last-minute fix.

Finding the screen at 1560 Broadway

The billboard is at 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets, above the Pelé store and directly across from the TKTS Red Steps. Those steps are a useful landmark, but Times Square is large and the tall buildings can make map directions less clear than you expect. Give yourself a little extra time to find the exact screen.

The location is accessible from Broadway, and the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Once you reach the correct spot, look up and keep the display time in mind. The photo lasts only 15 seconds, so arrive before your assigned appearance rather than trying to rush across the square at the last moment.

There is no need to make the billboard your only stop. You can fit the viewing around other Times Square plans, then return for another hourly showing if you want a second chance to take a picture or let someone in your group see it in person. Just remember that the screen itself is part of a crowded public setting, not a reserved viewing area.

Making 15 seconds count

A short appearance asks you to keep your image simple and legible. A clear portrait, family photo, or collage with a few large images is likely easier to take in than a crowded design. One family used a six-picture collage and found the screen large enough to see the pictures clearly, but small details and long messages still have little time to register.

You may add a short line of text and choose one custom frame per image. Available frame styles include a standard option and messages such as Happy Birthday, Congratulations, or Will you marry me? Pick a design that supports the photo rather than competing with it. In a 15-second slot, the face or occasion should be the first thing people notice.

The file must not contain watermarks, brands or logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity. Logos, QR codes, links, and material that resembles an advertisement are not allowed; social media links from independent professionals or freelancers are also declined. These rules matter if you were hoping to use the screen to promote a business or direct people to a website. This is a personal display, not an advertising placement.

One group image or separate tickets

If your goal is to celebrate together, one ticket covers a single photo featuring your group, with no stated cap on the number of people in the image. That makes the $150 price easier to justify for a family or group than for one person alone. You can also upload a collage, which gives you a way to include several moments in one display.

If you want each person to have an individual photo or video, plan on buying a ticket for each separate display. The difference is worth sorting out before you book: one shared image is a group moment, while separate tickets give each person their own appearance. For a birthday surprise, an image of the person being celebrated may have more impact than a busy group shot.

The experience is not a private event and does not include a guide, transport, or an on-site host as described here. Its value is the screen time, the location, the chance to watch in person, and the livestream. Think of the ticket as a memorable add-on to a New York visit, not a full-day sightseeing activity.

In person or on the livestream

Seeing the image overhead is the main event, and the location puts it in a setting most people will recognize at once. The screen is above the Pelé store and across from the red steps, so your picture gets a distinctly Times Square backdrop. The area can be hard to navigate, though, and locating the screen may take a little patience.

The online livestream is useful if your family or friends cannot come to New York. Share the assigned time slot so they know when to watch. It also gives you a way to include people who are far away in the celebration, without asking them to rely on a photo taken from the street.

Do not assume the livestream will show your image as clearly as it looks in person. Glare can affect the online view, while the screen may be easier to appreciate from the sidewalk. If seeing it clearly matters to you, try to be there in person; use the livestream as a welcome extra rather than your only way to view the display.

Is $150 good value?

At $150 per person, this is a premium novelty, not a bargain attraction. You are paying for one photo or video to appear 15 seconds per hour over a full day, plus a custom frame and a line of text. The repeated showings and livestream make the price more substantial than a single flash on screen, but the display itself remains brief.

The value improves when one ticket covers an image of several people. A family or group can share the moment without buying an individual ticket for everyone, as long as a single group photo suits the occasion. If each person wants a separate image, the total can rise quickly.

I would consider it worthwhile if the display marks a birthday, engagement, anniversary, family milestone, or surprise that matters to you. It is harder to recommend as a casual add-on if you have no particular image or occasion in mind. The memory and the reaction of the person you surprise are the point; the screen time alone is not a full afternoon’s entertainment.

The experience has a 4.5 rating from 635 bookings, and the strongest recurring themes are the simple upload process, the surprise factor, and the pleasure of seeing the image appear at the promised time. Practical snags are also worth noting: it can take time to find the screen, and the short slot is easy to miss if you arrive late.

Who should book it

This works best for people who enjoy a playful public gesture and have a specific photo or occasion to celebrate. Children and teens often make natural subjects for birthday displays, while a group photo can turn a shared trip into a keepsake. It can also suit someone marking a personal event who wants to include family and friends who cannot be there in person.

It is less suited to anyone who dislikes attention. The image appears in a public place, and although the screen time is short, the subject may feel conspicuous. You can choose a group photo instead of a single portrait, but the display is still meant to be seen.

Before booking, decide who or what the image should feature, check that your file meets the content rules, and leave time to upload it. Once you receive the assigned slot, share it and plan to reach 1560 Broadway early enough to get your bearings. The show lasts seconds; the preparation is what helps you enjoy them.

FAQ

How long does the photo or video appear?

It appears for 15 seconds every hour over 24 hours on the selected date. At least 22 showtimes are guaranteed in case of technical difficulties.

Where is the billboard?

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

Can one ticket include a group photo?

Yes. One ticket can be used for a photo featuring your group, and there is no stated limit on how many people can appear in one image.

Do I need a separate ticket for each person?

You need a ticket for each separate photo or video you want displayed. A single group image can include multiple people.

Can I add a message or choose a frame?

Yes. You can choose one custom frame per photo and include a short line of text. Frame options include a standard style and messages such as Happy Birthday, Congratulations, or Will you marry me?

How do I reserve my display slot?

After purchase, use the code you receive to upload your photo or video. Your slot is not reserved until you submit the file, and confirmation of your assigned time slot arrives within 24 hours.

Can I change the photo or video after uploading it?

You can request a change if you do so at least 24 hours before the display date and the original file has not already appeared on the billboard.

Can friends and family watch online?

Yes. The display can be viewed through a livestream online, and you can share your assigned time slot with friends and family.

What kinds of files are not allowed?

Files cannot include watermarks, brands or logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity. Logos, QR codes, links, advertising-like material, and social media links from independent professionals or freelancers will be declined.