The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to once again usher in the holiday season, captivating millions across the nation. On Thursday, November 27, 2025, New York City will come alive with its iconic spectacle of larger-than-life balloons, imaginative floats, and star-studded performances. This cherished annual event promises a morning filled with festive cheer, whether you’re watching from the streets of Manhattan or the comfort of your home.
How to Watch the Parade
The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live nationwide on NBC, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET in all time zones and concluding at 12 p.m. ET. For those who miss the live broadcast, an encore telecast will be shown at 2 p.m. ET/PT. The familiar faces of TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will return to host the main broadcast, guiding viewers through the 3.5-hour procession. A Spanish-language simulcast will also be available on Telemundo, hosted by Andrea Meza, Aleyda Ortiz, and Clovis Nienow.
Streaming options abound for cord-cutters. Peacock will offer a live stream of the entire parade, including a unique Multiview experience with three distinct camera angles: a traditional primary view, a rider’s perspective from the Tom the Turkey float, and an overhead high-rise view of the route. Other live TV streaming services like Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling will also carry the NBC broadcast. Many of these platforms offer free trials for new users, providing an opportunity to watch the parade without a cable subscription. Additionally, Walmart+ members can access Peacock Premium as part of their membership. For visually impaired viewers, the NBC broadcast will feature live audio description via the SAP channel.
Parade Route and Grand Scale
The parade will follow its traditional 2.5-mile route, commencing at West 77th Street and Central Park West. It will then proceed to Columbus Circle at Central Park South before making its way to Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square on 34th Street. This year’s grand procession will feature an impressive lineup, including 32 giant balloons, three “balloonicles” (hybrid balloon-vehicles), 27 floats, four specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, and numerous performance ensembles. More than 5,000 volunteers will be on hand to ensure the event runs smoothly.
Star-Studded Performances and Appearances
The 99th parade boasts a spectacular roster of talent. Cynthia Erivo, star of “Wicked: For Good,” will kick off the festivities with a show-stopping opening number. Country artist Lainey Wilson is slated to perform her hits from the main stage in Herald Square.
Other musical and dance performances will feature:
- EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI (the singing voices of HUNTR/X from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters)
- Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Mr. Fantasy, Foreigner, Debbie Gibson, Conan Gray, Mickey Guyton, Christopher Jackson, Jewel, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Tiler Peck, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza, and Teyana Taylor
Broadway enthusiasts can look forward to performances from the casts of “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time,” and “Ragtime.” The world-famous Radio City Rockettes will also deliver a special routine, celebrating their 100th anniversary. Special appearances will include Nikki DeLoach, U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin, Kristoffer Polaha, U.S. Paralympian Jack Wallace, and “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans as a special correspondent.
Exciting New Balloons and Floats
Each year, the parade introduces fresh attractions, and 2025 is no exception. Four new featured character balloons will make their debut:
- Buzz Lightyear by Pixar Animation Studios
- PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc.
- Shrek’s Onion Carriage from Universal Pictures’ DreamWorks Animation
- Mario by Nintendo
Additionally, Derpy Tiger and Sussie from Netflix’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters” will join the lineup as a mid-sized balloon and balloonicle, respectively. Six new floats will also be unveiled, including “The Land of Ice & Wonder” by Holland America Line, “Brick-tastic Winter Mountain” by The LEGO Group, “Master Chocolatier Ballroom” by Lindt, “Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things” by Netflix, “Friends-giving in POPCITY” by Pop Mart, and “The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator” by Serta. These new additions will parade alongside beloved classics, including Santa’s Sleigh.
“Countdown to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” Special
The excitement begins the night before Thanksgiving with the “Countdown to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” primetime special. Airing on Wednesday, November 26, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, this hour-long program will be hosted by Melissa Peterman. Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the preparations, including interviews with performers like Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, and Jewel, and a sneak peek at the new LEGO float and a debuting California marching band.
A Tradition Enduring Through Time
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, first held in 1924, is the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States. It has only been paused briefly during World War II (1942-1944) when resources like rubber and helium were diverted for the war effort. This year’s parade is produced by Universal Television in conjunction with Done + Dusted Inc., with Katy Mullan and Liz Kelly serving as executive producers.
While the parade promises a day of joy, it’s worth noting the broader context of online service stability. Just the day before the parade, on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the popular game Fortnite experienced a global outage, affecting thousands of players with login and matchmaking issues. This incident, reported by digitaltrendstoday.com, follows other significant disruptions in recent months, including widespread cloud infrastructure failures at Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure in October 2025. Such events underscore the complexities of maintaining vast online systems, even as major live events like the Macy’s Parade continue to bring communities together.
Despite the cold, wintry conditions expected in New York City, the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is poised to deliver an unforgettable start to the holiday season, creating lasting memories for millions.
