How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade & See Buzz Lightyear Take to the Sky
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This year marks the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the celebration promises to be as grand as ever. Nearly a century after Macy’s employees first marched through Manhattan streets, the parade continues to draw massive audiences who wouldn’t dream of skipping this Thanksgiving morning tradition. Whether you’re watching for the balloons, the performances, or simply the nostalgia, figuring out how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has never been simpler—and several options won’t cost you anything.
How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at a Glance
- Streaming Options: DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV
- Channel: NBC
- Air Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
- Air Time: 8:30 a.m. ET
The parade’s first appearance in 1924 was a gamble that paid off spectacularly. Macy’s staff organized a march to Herald Square featuring festive floats, costumed workers, and live animals on loan from the Central Park Zoo. A quarter of a million people showed up to watch, instantly turning the event into an annual must-see. The parade now shares its place among America’s oldest Thanksgiving traditions.
NBC transformed the parade into a national event when it began broadcasting in 1953, bringing the Herald Square festivities into living rooms nationwide. The modern broadcast takes place from 8:30 a.m. to noon each Thanksgiving, showcasing enormous character balloons, celebrity-studded performances, and elaborate floats. Through all the changes and growth, one element remains: Macy’s employees continue to participate in the parade, honoring the workers who started the tradition nearly a century ago.
Want to watch the 2025 parade from home? Read on for your complete streaming guide, including multiple free viewing options.
How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live for Free
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on NBC. NBC is available through several streaming services that offer free trials, allowing you to watch the parade without any upfront costs. DirecTV Stream stands out as a top recommendation for comprehensive coverage, offering NBC across Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier packages with a five-day free trial, featuring monthly plans that start at $84.99 after promotional periods conclude. Fubo also delivers strong sports and entertainment coverage, with NBC included in the Pro package at $84.99 per month with a seven-day free trial, providing extensive channel options for households wanting diverse programming alongside major network content. Lastly, NBC is included on Hulu + Live TV, which offers a three-day free trial with monthly plans starting at $82.99, delivering extra value through bundling Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ with live television access.
For those unable to catch the broadcast on NBC, the parade will also stream on Peacock, though Peacock does not currently offer a free trial. Premium plans start at $10.99 per month.
- Best Overall Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: DirecTV Stream
- Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Fubo
- Best Bundle Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Hulu + Live TV
– Includes local networks and 90+ channels
– Includes local networks and 200+ channels
– Includes free Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+ plans
Where is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 held?
The 2025 parade takes place in New York City, beginning at West 77th Street and Central Park West at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day before concluding at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street around noon. The route covers 2.5 miles throughout Manhattan.
Who are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 performers?
Read on for a full list of acts performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025.
Musical Performers & Special Guests
- Cynthia Erivo
- Lainey Wilson
- EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI (the singing voices of HUNTR/X from 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
- Teyana Taylor
- Russell Dickerson
- The Radio City Rockettes
Special Appearances
- Nikki DeLoach
- U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin
- Kristoffer Polaha
- U.S. Paralympian Jack Wallace
- Special correspondent Sean Evans
Broadway Performances
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Just in Time
- Ragtime
Dance Groups & Performance Groups
- Spirit of America Dance and Spirit of America Cheer (over 1,200 dancers and cheerleaders)
Marching Bands
- Banda de Musica La Primavera (Panama)
- Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band (South Carolina)
- Damien Spartan Regiment (California)
- L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band (Texas)
- Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Marching Band
- Alcorn State University Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite (Mississippi)
- Spartans Jr Drum and Bugle Corps (New Hampshire)
- The Marching Pride of North Alabama
- Temple University Diamond Band (Pennsylvania)
- Macy’s Great American Marching Band
- NYPD Marching Band (New York)
What are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 balloons?
Read on for a full list of balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025.
New Character Balloons for 2025
- Buzz Lightyear
- Derpy Tiger (from KPop Demon Hunters)
- Mario
- PAC-MAN
- Shrek’s Onion Carriage
Returning Character Balloons
- Acorn
- Beagle Scout Snoopy
- Blue & White Macy’s Stars
- Bluey
- Candy Cane
- Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
- Disney’s Minnie Mouse
- Dora
- Gabby & Pandy Paws
- Goku
- Goldbear
- Green Stars
- Ice Crystals
- Macy’s Stars
- Marshall from PAW Patrol
- Monkey D. Luffy
- Noorah
- Pikachu & Eevee
- Poinsettia Ornaments
- Pumpkins
- Red “Believe” Stars
- Red Macy’s Star
- Smokey Bear
- Soccer Ball
- Spider-Man
- SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary
- Stuart the Minion
- The Pillsbury Doughboy
- Yellow Stars
Balloonicles
- Sussie & Flowerpot (from KPop Demon Hunters)
- Cheese of A Wimpy Kid
- Frost Pips
- Happy Hippo Triple Stack
What are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 floats?
Read on for a full list of floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025.
New Floats for 2025
- The Land of Ice & Wonder (Holland America Line)
- Brick-tastic Winter Mountain (The LEGO Group)
- Master Chocolatier Ballroom (Lindt)
- Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things (Netflix)
- Friends-giving in POPCITY (Pop Mart)
- The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator (Serta)
- The Littlest Float (Goldfish)
Returning Floats
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street
- Big Turkey Spectacular
- Birds of a Feather Stream Together
- Camp Snoopy
- Colossal Wave of Wonder
- Deck the Halls
- Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party
- Gift of Freedom
- Harvest in the Valley
- Heartwarming Holiday Countdown
- Jolly Polly Pirate Ship
- Macy’s Santaland Express
- Macy’s Winter Wonderland in Central Park
- Palace of Sweets
- Santa’s Sleigh
- Tom Turkey
- Wondrous World of Wildlife
- World of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Chocolate Factory
