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

Seeing your own face shine above the Pelé Store in Times Square is the whole point here, and it delivers a very particular kind of New York thrill. Your photo or video appears for 15 seconds every hour across a full day, right above the store and opposite the TKTS red steps.

I like the simple upload process and the fact that you can watch the display in person or share the livestream with people anywhere. I also like the flexibility for groups: one ticket covers a shared group image, while separate tickets let each person submit a different photo or video.

The main drawback is the short display time. Fifteen seconds goes quickly, especially in a crowded square, and the first available slot may fall at an awkward hour, even 1 am. You need to submit your file promptly, then keep your eyes open when your moment arrives.

Quick points before you book

• Your image appears 15 seconds every hour: The display repeats for 24 hours, giving you many chances to catch it.
• The billboard is easy to locate once you know the landmark: Find 1560 Broadway, above the Pelé Store and across from the TKTS red steps.
• One shared photo can include a whole group: There is no stated limit to the number of people in one image.
• You can add a personal frame and short message: Options include birthday, congratulations, and marriage proposal themes.
• The livestream helps distant family join in: Friends and relatives can watch online during the assigned display period.
• Your file must meet strict rules: Watermarks, logos, QR codes, advertising-style material, nudity, smoking, and vulgarity are not accepted.

What this Times Square billboard experience really is

This is not a guided sightseeing tour. It is a timed digital display arranged around your chosen photo or short video. You buy a place, upload your file using the code supplied after purchase, and receive confirmation of your assigned time slot within 24 hours.

Your content then appears for 15 seconds every hour for 24 hours on a large billboard in central Times Square. That means the experience is less about following an itinerary and more about planning a small personal event around one famous New York location.

The display is at 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets. Look above the Pelé Store, directly opposite the TKTS red steps. Those landmarks matter because Times Square has a forest of signs and tall buildings, and finding one particular screen can take longer than you expect.

Once you are at the right spot, you can watch the screen from Broadway. You can also use the live stream, which is especially useful if your family is at home or if your own schedule makes it hard to remain in the square.

Why 15 seconds can feel like a big event

Fifteen seconds sounds brief because it is brief. A still image has time to register, but a group needs to be ready, and a video can be over before everyone has understood what they are watching.

The useful part is the hourly repetition. You are not buying one single appearance and hoping you happen to be standing in the right place. The image is scheduled every hour throughout the 24-hour period, with 22 showtimes guaranteed in case of technical difficulties.

That repetition changes the planning. You can stop by once during the day, again after dinner, or use the livestream at home the next morning. Some families have waited through several cycles to get a clear photo or to let a child see the image more than once.

Still, set realistic expectations. You will not have time for a long speech or a polished photo shoot while the image is on screen. Get your camera ready before the display begins, and decide in advance where your group will stand. In a square full of screens, performers, pedestrians, and moving traffic, do not blink is practical advice.

Choosing the right image, video, and frame

The best submission is easy to read at a glance. A bright, clear portrait or a simple group photograph will usually communicate better than a dark image packed with tiny details.

You can choose one custom frame for each photo. Available styles include standard framing and options with 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.

That gives you several ways to shape the moment:

• A birthday portrait for a child, teenager, or adult
• An anniversary or engagement image
• A family photograph from your New York trip
• A tribute to someone important
• A short congratulations message
• A marriage proposal, provided the file follows the submission rules

A collage can work well. One family used six photographs in a single collage and found that the large screen showed each picture clearly. The warning is to avoid making the design too busy. Times Square is already visually noisy, so one strong image and a short message will often have more impact than a crowded composition.

The file cannot include watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity. A logo, QR code, web link, or anything that resembles an advertisement can also be declined. Social media links for independent professionals and freelancers are not accepted. If your idea includes promotional material, this is not the right format.

One group ticket or separate personal moments

The pricing structure matters for families and friends. At $150 per person, the experience is not a casual add-on for everyone in a large party. One ticket can cover a group photo, and there is no stated cap on the number of people who can appear in that single picture.

That makes a shared birthday, family portrait, or engagement announcement easier to justify. You can split the cost among the people in the image and create one common moment.

If each person wants a separate photo or video, you need one ticket per person. This may suit a couple celebrating different milestones, or a family that wants each child to have an individual appearance. It also changes the practical planning, since each submission will have its own content and display arrangement.

For most groups, I would start with one carefully designed image. It is simpler, less expensive, and easier to capture in 15 seconds. Buy separate tickets only when individual displays are important to the occasion.

Finding 1560 Broadway in a crowded square

The location is central, but central does not always mean obvious. The billboard is at 1560 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets, above the Pelé Store and opposite the TKTS red steps.

Use those landmarks rather than relying only on a map. Tall buildings can make navigation confusing, and one person found the spot difficult to locate at first because of the height and density around Times Square. Another had trouble finding the screen simply because the square is so large and crowded.

Give yourself extra time before the assigned display. Walk to the Pelé Store, check the screen, then choose a place with a clear view. If you arrive just before the scheduled minute, you may spend the entire display looking over shoulders or trying to work out which billboard is yours.

The area is fully accessible from Broadway, and the activity is wheelchair accessible. No transport or guide is involved, so you make your own way to the screen and decide how long to stay.

Planning the day around your display

The assigned time is the detail most likely to affect your plans. Your image shows every hour for 24 hours on the selected date, but the first appearance may come at an inconvenient time. One person found the first display began at 1 am after a long day in New York.

You do not need to see the first showing to get value from the booking. The repeated hourly schedule lets you choose a more sensible visit, perhaps during daylight and again after dark. Evening can feel especially dramatic because the screen is part of the full Times Square glow, but daytime may make it easier to photograph the display without as much glare.

Check the confirmed date and time carefully. There was a case where the voucher and email showed different dates, creating confusion and spoiling the surprise plan. If anything looks inconsistent, contact support before your chosen day rather than assuming the latest message is correct.

The upload deadline also matters. Your slot is not reserved until you submit the photo or video. You receive a code immediately after purchase, and you should use it without delay. A late upload can mean waiting for another date, even if you have already paid.

You can change the photo or video if the request is made at least 24 hours before the display date and the original content has not yet appeared. That gives you a useful safety net if you choose the wrong image, but it is not a last-minute editing service.

Watching in person and using the livestream

The in-person version is the most memorable because you can see the screen, the square, and the reaction of the person being surprised all at once. It works particularly well for birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, and family occasions.

A child may understand the scale immediately when their face appears above one of the busiest public spaces in the city. The surprise also works from a distance: family members can watch the livestream online and share the moment even if they are not in New York.

The livestream is useful, but do not treat it as a perfect substitute for standing below the billboard. Outdoor screens can suffer from glare, and one person found the image difficult to see on the online feed much of the time. The display looked better in person.

If friends and family are watching remotely, send them the assigned date and time zone. New York is one hour ahead of the US Midwest, a small detail that caused confusion for one customer. Share the time clearly, then ask viewers to join a few minutes early.

For your own recording, take a short video rather than trying to capture one still photograph. You can record the screen, the person’s reaction, and the surrounding Times Square setting in one clip. Keep the phone ready before the image begins because 15 seconds passes fast.

Is $150 a fair price?

At $150 per person, this is expensive for a simple digital display, but the price is not really buying screen time alone. You are paying for a public celebration in one of New York’s most recognizable places, repeated through a full 24-hour period, with a custom frame, a line of text, and access to a livestream.

The value is strongest when the display marks an occasion that would otherwise require a separate gift or event. A 13th or 16th birthday, an 80th birthday, an engagement, or a family tribute can justify the cost because the image becomes part of the day rather than a random advertisement.

The value is weaker if you simply want to see your face on a screen for a few seconds. The display itself lasts only 15 seconds each hour, and you may need to wait around in a crowded area to catch it clearly. The price also rises quickly if several people want separate images.

One shared group ticket makes the numbers more reasonable. If everyone is happy to appear in one photograph, the same screen time can create a common memory without buying an individual booking for every person.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your New York schedule is still moving, but they do not remove the need to submit your file promptly once you are ready to keep the reservation.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this for someone who wants a strong surprise rather than a standard attraction. It suits:

• Parents planning a birthday moment for a child or teenager
• Couples marking an engagement, anniversary, or proposal
• Families wanting one shared photograph in Times Square
• Visitors celebrating a milestone with relatives at home
• Friends arranging a memorable surprise during a New York trip
• Anyone planning a tribute that can be expressed respectfully in one image

It is less suitable if you dislike crowds, need a long display, or want a guided experience with history and commentary. There is no host leading you around Times Square. You handle the upload, find the screen, and make your own moment around the scheduled appearance.

The experience also depends heavily on the quality of your file. A sharp, well-composed image with limited text will usually make a stronger impression than a complicated design. Take time to prepare it before booking, especially if the occasion cannot be repeated.

My advice before you submit

Prepare the final image first. Check faces, brightness, cropping, and spelling in the message. If you are using a video, keep it short and make sure the important action happens immediately.

Use a group image if you want the best value. Buy individual tickets only when the separate appearances are part of the surprise.

Write down the assigned date and time in New York time, then share it with anyone watching online. Keep the confirmation email and voucher together, especially since date information needs to match.

On the day, arrive early at 1560 Broadway. Find the screen above the Pelé Store, stand opposite the TKTS red steps, and test your view before the next hourly showing. If you miss one, you have another chance later.

Should you book this Times Square display?

Book it if you want a personal celebration tied to a famous New York setting, especially for a birthday, engagement, family milestone, or surprise. The repeated hourly displays, custom frame, group-photo option, and livestream give you more flexibility than a single one-time appearance.

Think twice if $150 feels high for 15 seconds, if you need a guaranteed first showing at a convenient hour, or if your plan depends on a complex image that could be rejected. For the right occasion, though, a clear photograph above the TKTS steps can turn an ordinary Times Square visit into a story you will keep telling.

FAQ

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

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

Where is the billboard located?

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

Can a whole group appear in one photo?

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

Can family and friends watch from home?

Yes. You can share the online livestream and the assigned time with people who cannot be in Times Square.

What content is not allowed?

Files cannot include watermarks, brands, logos, nudity, smoking, or vulgarity. Logos, QR codes, links, advertising-style content, and social media links for independent professionals or freelancers can also be declined.

Can I change my uploaded photo or video?

You can request a change at least 24 hours before the display date, provided the original photo or video has not yet appeared on the billboard.