The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an unapologetic American tradition, larger than life and as beloved as it is eclectic, controversial and utterly confusing. Nothing says thank you to friends and family like a procession of 34 hot air balloons, 4 hot air balloons, 28 floats, 14 special units, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands, celebrating mostly movie and television characters…as well as candy, toys and commercials.
The 2025 edition will include seven new watercraft, including one with a Demogorgon as a tribute to Stranger Things Season 5and five new balloons featuring PAC-MAN, Buzz Lightyear and others, which will fly for the first time along the familiar path from the Upper West Side to Macy's on 34th Street. Meanwhile, the Macy's Rocking Horse float makes its 68th appearance.
As always, Santa Claus takes pride of place at the very end of the cavalcade, but the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade allegedly fires the starting gun at Black Friday. By the way, Labubuses will be everywhere in Manhattan.
The first to perform on the Herald Square stage will beEvil: For goodCynthia Erivo and then K-Pop Demon Hunters stars Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, as well as the Radio City Rockettes for their 100th anniversary.
Read the full list of floats, balloons, performers and presenters, and learn how to watch the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade online, on TV and from anywhere.
Can I watch the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for free?
The 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade won't air for free, but NBC is streaming on OTT streamers Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu+Live TV, all of which offer a free trial for new customers.
Fubo comes with a seven-day free trial, after which the Pro plan costs $54.99 for the first month and $84.99 per month thereafter.
YouTube TV comes with a 5-day free trial, after which the basic subscription will cost $62.99 per month for five months and $82.99 per month thereafter.
DirectTV Stream comes with a 5-day free trial, after which the entertainment package will cost $49.99 for the first month and $84.99 per month thereafter. Alternatively, the MySports plan also offers a 5-day free trial, after which it will cost $59.99 per month for two months and $69.99 per month thereafter.
Hulu+Live comes with a 3-day free trial, after which the basic subscription will cost $89.99 per month.
Use a VPN to watch any live stream of the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
How to watch the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the US
The 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be shown on the channel NBK.
The broadcast will begin on Thursday, November 27 at 8:30 a.m. local time in all U.S. time zones, with the three-hour celebration beginning at 9 a.m. ET/8 a.m. Central/5 a.m. PT. The full replay will air at 2:00 pm ET/Central/PT.
No cable? NBC's cord cutting services include Sling TV – specifically Sling blue package from $46 per month. You can even get 50% off your first month before going back to the original price. There are also Fubo, YouTube TV, DirectTV Stream And Hulu+Live.
Additionally, viewers can stream the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live (or watch it live) via Peacock.
Subscription to Pavlin TV Sports streaming starts at $10.99 per month. You can also stream NFL And Premier League Football on the platform.
Outside the US at the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Use NordVPN to access regular coverage.
Can I watch the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade anywhere else in the world?
Unfortunately, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade not available for viewing outside the US.
However, if you're an American and live in Canada, the UK, or Australia, a VPN will help you get set up. NordVPN is our recommended supplier and you can find out why in our detailed NordVPN Review.
What you need to know about the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Hosts of the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Savannah Guthrie
- Al Roker
- Hoda Kotb
Macy's 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade Floats
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street from Sesame Workshop
- Hello big city! from Spirit of America Productions
- Performance “Big Türkiye” by Jenny-O
- “Birds of the same feather” swim together, by Peacock
- Winter mountain made from Lego bricks – NEW
- Camp Snoopy from Peanuts Worldwide
- Cosmos candies from Haribo
- A Colossal Wave of Wonders from Kalahari Resorts and Conventions
- Dream generator of counting sheep from Serta – NEW
- Decorate the halls with Balsam Hill
- Fantastic rainforest DORA from Nickelodeon and Paramount
- Chocolate factory “Fantasy” from Kinder
- Gifting to friends in PopCity from PopMart – NEW
- Jeffrey's Dazzling Dance Party from Toys”R”Us
- Harvest in the valley from the Green Giant
- Hallmark Channel's Heartwarming Holiday Countdown
- Pirate ship “Jolly Polly” from Macy's
- Land of Ice and Wonders from Holland America Line – NEW
- The smallest float from Goldfish – NEW
- Macy's Winter Wonderland in Central Park from Macy's
- Magic Meets the Seas from Disney Cruise Line
- Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt – NEW
- Palace of Sweets from Brach's
- PINelope from GoBowling!
- Pasta Knight from Rao's Homemade
- Santa's Sleigh from Macy's
- Tom Türkiye from Macy's
- Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things from Netflix – NEW
- The Wonderful World of Wildlife from the Bronx Zoo
- World of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Nickelodeon and Paramount
Balloons for the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Snoopy the Beagle Scout from Peanuts Worldwide
- Bluey from BBC Studios and Ludo Studio
- Buzz Lightyear from Pixar Animation Studios – NEW
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid from Abrams Books
- Gabby and Pandy Paws from Gabby's Dollhouse/DreamWorks Animation from Universal Pictures
- Goku from Dragon Ball/Toei Animation
- Mario from Nintendo – NEW
- Marshall from Paw Patrol from Spin Master and Nickelodeon
- Minnie Mouse from The Walt Disney Company
- Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece/Toei Animation
- Nura from Lumistella
- PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc. – NEW
- Pikachu and Eevee from The Pokemon Company International
- Pillsbury Doughboy by Pillsbury
- Shrek's Onion Wagon from DreamWorks Animation from Universal Pictures – NEW
- Marvel's Spider-Man
- SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary from Nickelodeon
- Stuart Mignon by Illumination
- Netflix's Derpy Tiger and Sony Pictures Animation's KPop Demon Hunters – NEW
- DORA from Nickelodeon
- Golden Bear from Haribo
- Smoky Bear from USDA Forest Service
- Acorn from Macy's
- Macy's Blue and White Stars from Macy's
- Bluey's Keepy Uppy Balloon by BBC Studios and Ludo Studios
- Macy's Gold Stars from Macy's
- Macy's Green Stars from Macy's – NEW
- Ice crystals from Macy's
- Poinsettia Ornaments from Macy's
- Pumpkins from Macy's
- Rainbow and Gray Trout from Macy's – NEW
- Red “Believe” stars from Macy's
- Macy's Red and Green Lollipop
- Macy's Red Star from Macy's – NEW
- Soccer ball from Macy's
- Macy's Yellow Stars from Macy's
- Wimp's Cheese
- Frost Pips from Lumistella – NEW
- Happy Hippo Triple Stack from Macy's – NEW
- “Sassy and the Flowerpot” from Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation's KPop Demon Hunters – NEW
- Lox and Java from Macy's
- The Nutcracker and the Mouse King from Macy's
Entertainers for the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters (Tom Türkiye)
- Busta Rhymes (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Calum Scott (Master Chocolatier Ballroom)
- Captain Minnie Mouse, Captain Mickey Mouse and Friends (“Magic Meets the Seas”)
- Christopher Jackson and the actors of “Sesame Street” (1-2-3 “Sesame Street”)
- Ciara (Colossal Wave of Miracles)
- Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw (Palace of Sweets)
- Conan Gray
- Cynthia Erivo
- Darlene Love (Deck the Halls)
- Debbie Gibson (Counting Sheep Dream Generator)
- Drew Baldridge and Mickey Guyton (Soulful Countdown to the Holidays)
- Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as HUNTR/X
- Alien (Invasion Upside Down: Stranger Things)
- American Olympian Ilya Malinin and American Paralympian Jack Wallace (“Birds of a Bird Together”)
- Jewel (Land of Ice and Wonders)
- Cool and the Gang (Wonderful World of Wildlife)
- Laney Wilson
- Lauren Spencer Smith (Fantasy Chocolate Factory)
- Lil Jon (Jeffrey's Dazzling Dance Party)
- Luisa Sonza (Dora's Fantastic Rainforest)
- Matteo Bocelli (Pasta Knight)
- Meg Donnelly (Brick Winter Mountain)
- Mister Fantasy (Merry Polly's Pirate Ship)
- Nikki DeLoach and Kristoffer Polaha (Heartbreaking Countdown to the Holidays)
- Roman Mejia and Tiler Peck (Master Chocolatier Ballroom)
- Russell Dickerson (Harvest in the Valley)
- Ded Moroz (Santa's sleigh)
- Sean Evans
- Shaggy (play “Big Turkey”)
- Taylor Momsen
- Teyana Taylor (Birds of the same Feather Together)
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