Thanksgiving 2026 in New York: high anticipation for an event celebrating its 100th anniversary

On Thursday, November 26, 2026, Thanksgiving Day, New York hosts the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the event that has officially kicked off the holiday season in the United States for a century. For the anniversary, Macy’s has announced a record-breaking edition, with more than 100 giant balloons and inflatables, a lineup of debut characters, and new floats celebrating the parade’s history.

If the math doesn’t seem to add up, there’s a reason. The first parade took place in 1924, but it was suspended from 1942 to 1944 because of World War II: that’s why the 100th edition is only happening this year.

In this article you’ll find all the announced new additions, the schedule, tips for seeing it in person, and how to watch it on TV.

Macy’s 2026 Parade: the new giant balloons

The balloons have been the parade’s signature since 1927. For the centennial edition, nine new creations are making their debut, featuring beloved children’s characters and tributes to the parade’s history.

• Bluey – Everyone’s favorite cartoon pup is back with a brand-new balloon, wearing a festive Christmas cracker crown. At 47 feet (14.4 m) tall, she’s one of the largest of the new additions.
• Buckaroo Bob the Minion – Bob trades his overalls for cowboy gear and rides a giant banana as his bucking bronco. He stands about 39 feet (12 m) tall.
• Hello Kitty Big Apple – Japan’s most famous kitty makes her Manhattan debut in blue overalls and her signature red bow, standing about 34 feet (10 m) tall.
• Joe Cool and Woodstock – Snoopy returns as his alter ego Joe Cool, together with his pal Woodstock. It’s the ninth Snoopy balloon in parade history and, at 55 feet (nearly 17 m), the tallest of the new balloons.
• Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey – Mickey Mouse floats down the route in the red robe and wizard’s hat he wore in Fantasia. It’s his 21st appearance as a parade balloon, just ahead of the character’s 100th birthday in 2028.
• Billie Brightpaw – Macy’s newest character: a little bear with a glowing red star on her paw that guides her on her adventures.
• Underdog – The superhero dog from the classic cartoon returns to the parade for the first time in 42 years.
• Earl the Squirrel – Earl comes from Universal Studios Florida, where he became a holiday tradition after chewing through the blue lights on the park’s Christmas tree.
• Macy’s Blueprint Stars – A fleet of giant stars decorated with original technical drawings from the 1970s, a tribute to the designers who shaped the parade’s history.

Alongside the newcomers, many classic balloons will be back, but Macy’s will only confirm the full lineup closer to the event.

The new parade floats

The floats are celebrating the anniversary too, with several nods to the parade’s past.

• Macy’s Parade All-Stars – A float that brings together some of the parade’s most famous faces: Popeye, Olive Oyl and Swee’Pea, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Bullwinkle J. Moose. The original Popeye balloon dates back to 1957.
• Tony Sarg’s Amazing Marionettes – A tribute to puppeteer Tony Sarg, who helped shape the parade in the 1920s and inspired its very first balloons. The float shows him working the strings of a miniature parade.
• Hogwarts Holiday – The Great Hall of Hogwarts, complete with a holiday feast and a giant Sorting Hat, inspired by HBO’s new Harry Potter series. It’s likely to be the most photographed float of the year.
• Mr. Peanut’s Power Plant – Planters celebrates its 120th anniversary with a float starring Mr. Peanut, complete with peanut-shaped confetti.
• Purina Dog Chow Salute to Service Dogs – A float dedicated to the service dogs that help military veterans.
• Rounding out the new additions are DoorDash‘s Dashing All the Way and GEICO‘s Road Trip to Parade!, featuring the Gecko, Maxwell the Pig, the Caveman and the Camel.

How to Watch the Parade Live in New York

The parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. ET and wraps up around noon in front of Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square, on 34th Street. Watching along the route is free.

The route. In recent years, the parade has started at West 77th Street and Central Park West, headed south along the park to Columbus Circle, turned onto Central Park South, then continued down Sixth Avenue and along 34th Street to Herald Square. Macy’s hasn’t released the official 2026 map yet, so check the parade’s website in the days before the event.

Our tips:

• Get there very early. To snag a front-row spot along Central Park West, you’ll need to arrive at dawn, at least two hours before the start. The final stretch near Herald Square is reserved for TV cameras and invited guests, so it’s not a good place to watch.
• Dress in layers. In late November, New York temperatures usually range between 41 and 55 °F (5–13 °C), but standing still for hours in the early morning feels much colder. In 2018, the thermometer dropped to 19 °F (-7 °C), the coldest parade on record.
• Skip the paid bleachers. There are no official grandstand tickets: seats sold online or by street vendors are not authorized by Macy’s.
• Keep an eye on the wind. In strong gusts, the balloons may fly lower or stay grounded. The decision is made the morning of the parade.
• Museums are closed. Many museums close on Thanksgiving Day, including the Met and the American Museum of Natural History, so plan your visits for Wednesday or Friday.

Beat the crowds: the balloon inflation. The day before the parade, the balloons are inflated outdoors around the American Museum of Natural History, between 77th and 81st Streets, and you can see them up close for free. In 2025, the event ran from 1 to 6 p.m., with entry at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. For 2026, it’s scheduled for Wednesday, November 25, but official hours haven’t been announced yet.

How to watch it on TV

The parade airs live on NBC and Telemundo and streams on Peacock starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones.

Watching from outside the US? NBC and Peacock are generally available only in the United States, so the easiest way to follow along is through the parade’s and NBC’s official social media channels, which share photos and videos of the highlights during and after the parade.

Thanksgiving in New York: what to do in the days around the parade

Thanksgiving week officially kicks off New York’s holiday season. If you’re in town, here are the events to mark on your calendar.

• Friday, November 27 – Black Friday. Herald Square, Fifth Avenue and SoHo are packed with shoppers all day: if you’re not there for the sales, steer clear of these areas.
• The Dyker Heights lights. This Brooklyn neighborhood, famous for its over-the-top holiday displays, is celebrating 40 years of the tradition, which began at the Spata family home on 84th Street. The lights are expected to switch on right after Thanksgiving and stay up until early January. The most spectacular blocks are between 11th and 13th Avenues, from 83rd to 86th Streets. Read our guide to visiting Dyker Heights on your own or on a tour.
• The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The tree arrives on November 7 and will be lit on Wednesday, December 2, during the traditional ceremony. It will stay on display until January 9, 2027.

Planning your trip? Also check out our guide to what to see in New York and our tips for New York in November. Traveling from abroad? Read how to stay connected with an eSIM for the USA and how to choose the right travel insurance.

2025 parade photo gallery

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