Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Marching band during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
See it live in NYC, starting right outside of Central Park!
The 100th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place on Thursday, November 26, 2026 from 8:30 AM to 12 Noon, EST, with a record 100 inflatable elements marching down the route. The broadcast starts at 8:30 AM in all time zones on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock.
Parade Lineup
Macy’s has announced the following for the 2026 centennial parade as of November 4, 2026:
New balloons
- Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey: a Disney balloon inspired by Fantasia, 92 years after Mickey’s first parade balloon in 1934.
- Joe Cool and Woodstock: a debut balloon pairing Snoopy’s Joe Cool persona with Woodstock.
- Bluey: a new design with Bluey wearing a Christmas cracker crown.
- Hello Kitty: a new balloon holding a red apple.
- Earl the Squirrel: Universal Orlando’s holiday character in his first Macy’s balloon.
- Buckaroo Bob the Minion: a debut balloon from Illumination’s Minions.
- Billie Brightpaw: a Macy’s original holiday character.
- Macy’s Blueprint Stars: a debut set of star balloons.
- Underdog: a reimagined balloon back for the first time since 1984, after appearing in every parade from 1965 through 1984.
Returning after decades
- Felix the Cat: the first character balloon in parade history, introduced in 1927.
- Blue Hippopotamus: a balloon last seen after the 1931 parade.
Other returning balloons
Buzz Lightyear, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dora, Gabby and Pandy Paws, Goku, KPop Demon Hunters’ Derpy Tiger, Mario, Marshall from PAW Patrol, Noorah, PAC-MAN, Pikachu and Eevee, Shrek’s Onion Carriage, Smokey Bear, SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary, Spider-Man, and the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Balloonicles
Balloonicles are balloons built around a small self-powered vehicle steered by a driver at the base. This year’s lineup includes a new Levi’s balloonicle, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Cheese of a Wimpy Kid, Frost Pips, Happy Hippo Triple Stack, and KPop Demon Hunters’ Sussie.
New floats
- Macy’s Parade All-Stars: Bullwinkle J. Moose, Olive Oyl, Popeye, Swee’Pea, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
- Tony Sarg’s Amazing Marionettes: a tribute to puppeteer Tony Sarg with re-created versions of his original characters and a puppet of Sarg himself.
- Dashing All the Way by DoorDash
- Hogwarts Holiday, a Harry Potter float
- Mr. Peanut’s Power Plant
- Purina Dog Chow Salute to Service Dogs
- Road Trip to Parade by GEICO
Other floats
1-2-3 Sesame Street, Big Turkey Spectacular, Birds of a Feather Stream Together, Brick-tastic Winter Mountain, Candy Cosmos, Colossal Wave of Wonder, Deck the Halls, Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest, Friends-giving in POPCITY, Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party, Heartwarming Holiday Countdown, Disney Cruise Line’s Magic Meets the Seas, Master Chocolatier Ballroom, Pasta Knight, PINelope, The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator, The Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder, Tom Turkey, Wondrous World of Wildlife, and Santa’s Sleigh, which closes the parade.
Marching bands
- Dobyns-Bennett High School Marching Band, Kingsport, Tennessee
- James F. Byrnes High School Marching Band, Duncan, South Carolina
- Nā Koa Ali’i Hawai’i All-State Marching Band, Hawai’i
- Pride of Pearland Marching Band, Pearland, Texas
- The Marching Minutemen, Concord Community High School, Elkhart, Indiana
- The University of Alabama “Million Dollar Band,” Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- The University of Connecticut Marching Band, Storrs, Connecticut
Clown crews
Thirty-one clown crews join the route, from the Alphabet Clowns and Keystone Cops to the Funny Firefighter Brigade and the Turkey Tech Players & Sports Fans.
Specialty units
Lox and Java, a pair of trycaloons (balloons ridden on tricycles) styled as an everything bagel with lox and a cup of coffee, ride alongside Cookie and Crouton, a pigeon pair. Rainbow Trout, Greybow Trout, and Wigglefoot, early parade balloons that Macy’s reimagined for 2025, return with the Mouse King and Nutcracker.
Macy’s full parade lineup shows the list as it grows. Subscribe to our free email newsletter to be notified when more details are released.
Parade Route
The parade begins on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street.
There are 2.5 miles of designated public viewing areas along the parade route:
- Starting Point: W. 77th Street & Central Park West
- From Central Park West: Parade marches south down Central Park West for 18 blocks to Columbus Circle.
- From Columbus Circle: Parade turns onto Central Park South and heads east to 6th Avenue.
- From Central Park South & 6th Avenue: Parade turns onto 6th Avenue and heads south to 34th Street.
- 6th Avenue: Parade marches south down 6th Avenue for 25 blocks to 34th Street.
- 34th Street: Parade turns west onto 34th Street to 7th Avenue.
- Ending Point: Macy's Herald Square at 34th Street & 7th Avenue
Best Spots for Watching the Parade
The best place to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is along Central Park West near the start of the parade route. This area, between West 75th Street and West 61st Street, offers prime viewing and helps you avoid the heavy crowds toward the parade’s end. It’s important to arrive early, around 6 AM, to secure a good spot.
After the parade passes Central Park West, the next best viewing area is along 6th Avenue between West 59th Street and West 38th Street. These locations provide excellent vantage points while helping you avoid the congestion that builds closer to Macy’s Herald Square at the parade’s conclusion.
Following these tips will give you a more enjoyable and less chaotic experience watching this iconic holiday event.
Areas To Avoid: No Public Viewing
The following areas are either restricted for public viewing, or limited by the national television broadcast, so make sure to steer clear of these locations:
- Central Park West & W. 77th Street
- Central Park West between W. 60th & W. 59th Streets
- Central Park South between Columbus Circle & 6th Avenue
- 6th Avenue between W. 38th & W. 34th Streets
- W. 34th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues
Planning Ahead: Road and Street Closures
Check here for information about Thanksgiving Day Parade street closures.
Parade Hosts
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In 2025, hosts were Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker.
Parade Performances
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In 2025, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade featured a star-studded lineup of musical artists, Broadway productions, dance groups, and special guests:
- Cynthia Erivo, Lainey Wilson, Foreigner, Ciara, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Busta Rhymes, Shaggy, Mickey Guyton, Teyana Taylor, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Christopher Jackson, Lauren Spencer Smith, Calum Scott, Jewel, Debbie Gibson, Meg Donnelly, Taylor Momsen, Mr. Fantasy, Darlene Love, Drew Baldridge, Luísa Sonza, Roman Mejia, and Tiler Peck.
- Broadway productions: Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time, Ragtime, and appearances by the Radio City Rockettes.
- KPop Demon Hunters’ HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI) perform alongside marching bands, dance groups like Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE, Native Pride Productions, and Spirit of America Cheer and Dance Stars.
- The parade also includes special appearances from Nikki DeLoach, U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin, Kristoffer Polaha, U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace, and Sean Evans.