⏱️ · First published 2026-10-23
🌶️ Pop culture › Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026
By The Trends Incoming team
The 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is Thursday, Nov 26, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock. Time, channel, route, the record 100 inflatables and the new balloons, with sources.
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Macy's 100th Thanksgiving Day Parade: how to watch, route and every new balloon
The 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is Thursday, Nov 26 at 8:30 a.m. on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock, with a record 100 inflatables. Time, route and the new balloons announced so far.
The quick version
The 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. It airs live on NBC and Telemundo and streams on Peacock, Macy's says. The parade steps off at West 77th Street and Central Park West and ends at Macy's Herald Square around noon. Macy's is marking the centennial with a record 100 inflatable elements. Everything below comes from Macy's or the sources linked at the bottom, and we say so when it doesn't.
| Date | Thursday, November 26, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Start time | 8:30 a.m. in all time zones |
| Where to watch | NBC, Telemundo, Peacock (per Macy's) |
| Start | West 77th Street and Central Park West |
| Finish | Macy's Herald Square, around noon |
| Route length | About 2.5 miles |
| Inflatable elements | Record 100 (per Macy's) |
| Performers | Not announced yet, as far as we can find |
| Last checked | Oct 23, 2026 |
Hallmark Christmas movies on Thanksgiving weekend
Settling in after the parade? Hallmark has two new Countdown to Christmas premieres a night on Nov 27, 28 and 29. See the full Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 schedule.
Thanksgiving dinner deals
Lidl feeds up to 10 for $35.86 (Lidl Plus), Aldi feeds 10 for under $39 and Target feeds 6 for $30. Compare them all in our Thanksgiving 2026 dinner deals guide.
Veterans Day closures and free meals
Before Thanksgiving comes Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov 11: post offices and the Federal Reserve are closed. See our verified Veterans Day 2026 free meals and deals list.
How to watch the parade
- On TV: NBC and Telemundo, from 8:30 a.m. in every time zone.
- Streaming: Peacock carries it live. Check Peacock's current plan requirements before the day.
- Without cable: an antenna that picks up your local NBC station, or a live TV streaming service that includes it. Check your local lineup.
- Follow along: Macy's uses the hashtag #MacysParade.
The route, step by step
| 1 | Start at West 77th Street and Central Park West, beside the American Museum of Natural History |
|---|---|
| 2 | South on Central Park West to Columbus Circle |
| 3 | East on Central Park South to Sixth Avenue |
| 4 | South on Sixth Avenue to 34th Street |
| 5 | West on 34th Street to Seventh Avenue, finishing at Macy's Herald Square around noon |
Where to watch in person, and when it reaches you
Rockefeller Center's guide says the parade moves along Central Park West from about 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and the lead units reach Sixth Avenue at 59th Street around 9:30 a.m. The farther south you stand, the later the first balloons arrive. Public viewing is on Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st streets (west side of the avenue only) and on Sixth Avenue from West 59th to West 38th streets. Not open to the public: the staging area at the start, Columbus Circle and Central Park South, Sixth Avenue from West 34th to West 38th streets, and 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. The guide says early arrivals start around 6 a.m. and the route typically draws an estimated 3.5 million spectators.
The 100th parade: what's new
Macy's says the centennial lineup has a record 100 inflatable elements. Here is what has been announced so far.
| Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey | New Disney balloon. Good Housekeeping calls it Mickey's 21st parade version in 92 years. New for the 100th |
|---|---|
| Underdog | Reimagined, and Macy's says it's his first flight since 1984. Returns |
| Bluey | New balloon inspired by the "Christmas Swim" episode, 47 feet long, 27.8 feet wide and 47.2 feet tall, per BBC Studios and Macy's (Oct 5). New for the 100th |
| Hello Kitty | New balloon holding a giant red apple, about 28.4 feet wide, 33.5 feet long and 33.6 feet tall, per CBR citing Sanrio. First parade in nine years. Returns |
| Joe Cool and Woodstock | Snoopy's campus persona in dark shades and a red sweater, with Woodstock under his arm, per CBS New York (Sept 16). New for the 100th |
| Felix the Cat | Returns; Macy's says he was the first character balloon in the parade, carried on sticks in 1927. Returns |
| Blue Hippopotamus | The balloon never recovered after the 1931 parade returns. Macy's says more details are coming. Returns |
| Billie Brightpaw | A bear, described by Macy's as the parade's newest companion. New for the 100th |
| Tom Jr. | Son of the parade's Tom Turkey. New for the 100th |
| Macy's All-Stars float | Bullwinkle J. Moose, Olive Oyl, Popeye, Swee'Pea and Sonic the Hedgehog, per Macy's. |
| Tony Sarg float | "Tony Sarg's Amazing Marionettes" honors the parade's early creative force, per Macy's. |
Macy's says more balloon and float announcements are coming, so this list will grow. We add each one only after Macy's or the brand announces it.
Performers
We haven't found an official performer list yet. When NBC and Macy's publish one, we'll add it here with a link to the announcement.
Parade facts
The parade was first held in 1924. The count runs behind the calendar because it was canceled from 1942 through 1944 during World War II, per Rockefeller Center. The official page is macys.com/parade.
Last checked October 23, 2026. We update this page when Macy's or NBC announces something new.
More for Thanksgiving week
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🎆 Next up, New Year's Eve: New Year's Rockin' Eve 2027 airs Thu Dec 31 from 8 p.m. ET on ABC and, for the first time, Disney+. Plus ball drop times in every US time zone.
Quick answers
What time is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026?
It steps off at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2026, from West 77th Street and Central Park West, and airs from 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. It ends at Macy's Herald Square around noon, per Rockefeller Center's guide.
What channel is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on?
Macy's says the 100th parade airs on NBC and Telemundo and streams on Peacock, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones.
How can I watch the Macy's parade without cable?
Peacock streams it, and NBC airs it, so a TV antenna that gets your local NBC station works. Live TV streaming services that include your local NBC station should carry it too, so check your local channel lineup. Peacock's own plan requirements can change, so check Peacock before the day.
What new balloons are in the 100th Macy's parade?
Macy's confirms a record 100 inflatable elements, including a new Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey, a reimagined Underdog (first flight since 1984), Billie Brightpaw, Tom Jr. and a returning Blue Hippopotamus. Announced separately: a new Bluey balloon (Oct 5), a Hello Kitty balloon (Oct 13) and Joe Cool with Woodstock (Sept 16).
Who is performing at the Macy's parade 2026?
We haven't found an official performer list yet. We'll add it here when NBC and Macy's announce it. Performers are typically announced closer to the parade.
What is the Macy's parade route?
South on Central Park West from 77th Street to Columbus Circle, east on Central Park South to Sixth Avenue, south on Sixth Avenue to 34th Street, then west on 34th Street to Seventh Avenue and Macy's Herald Square, about 2.5 miles.
Why is this the 100th parade if it started in 1924?
The count runs behind the calendar because the parade was canceled from 1942 through 1944 during World War II, per Rockefeller Center.
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