The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returns Thursday for its 99th year, bringing floats, balloons and live performances down the streets of Manhattan and into homes nationwide. This year’s event features more than 5,000 volunteers, dozens of balloons and floats, 11 marching bands, and performances by stars including Cynthia Erivo and Darlene Love.
A brief history
The parade began in 1924 as the Macy’s Christmas Parade to drum up holiday sales, originally featuring live animals from the Central Park Zoo. Real animals were removed from the procession in 1927 for safety reasons and were eventually replaced by the oversized character balloons that are now a hallmark.
When and where
The parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. in all U.S. time zones on Thursday, Nov. 27. It starts at West 77th Street and Central Park West and follows a roughly 2.5-mile route to Macy’s Herald Square. For the best street views, spectators in New York are often advised to watch between West 59th and West 38th streets. Expect crowds: people commonly begin lining up around 6 a.m. Macy’s offers an interactive route map with recommended viewing points and areas to avoid.
How to watch
NBC and Peacock will stream the parade live on Thanksgiving morning, with an encore broadcast on NBC at 2 p.m. ET/PT. Telemundo will carry a Spanish-language simulcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. A full NBC broadcast with audio description will be available on the SAP (Secondary Audio Program) channel for blind and visually impaired viewers. The National Dog Show follows on NBC at noon.
Hosts and presentation
Hoda Kotb returns for her eighth time as co-host, joined by Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker. Kotb has described the event as feeling like home and a comforting, tradition-filled start to Thanksgiving morning.
Performers and acts
Cynthia Erivo — the Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner known for Wicked — will open with a show-stopping number. Additional performers include EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI (of KPop Demon Hunters), Darlene Love, Ciara, Colbie Caillat, Lil Jon and Busta Rhymes. Broadway productions slated to appear include Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time and Ragtime. The Rockettes will mark their 100th anniversary with a special performance. As always, Santa and his reindeer-pulled sleigh close the parade to usher in the holiday season.
Balloons and floats
Macy’s Studios is bringing back historic balloon characters from early parades alongside new additions. Look for longtime favorites such as Snoopy, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Pillsbury Doughboy and Bluey, plus newcomers including Buzz Lightyear, PAC‑MAN, Shrek’s Onion Carriage and Mario. Macy’s will also reintroduce classic elements like Rainbow and Greybow Trouts, the Happy Hippo and Freida the Dachshund.
Before Thanksgiving
NBC and Peacock will air the primetime special “Countdown to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Broadcast live from the parade’s starting point, the special offers behind-the-scenes looks at floats, balloons and bands as they prepare for the procession.
What to expect
Expect a mix of tradition and new surprises: a large volunteer effort, dozens of balloons and floats, musical numbers across genres, marching bands and festive pageantry. Whether you watch in person along the route or on TV/streaming, the parade remains a longtime Thanksgiving morning tradition for millions.