Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: When and where to watch live, hosts, performances, floats and more

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 is gearing up for a grand celebration of its 99th edition, with new balloons, dazzling floats, and a star-studded musical lineup set to light up the streets of Manhattan and television screens across the nation.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: A Tradition Reinvented for a New Generation

Executive Producer Will Coss, speaking to TV Insider, said preparations have been underway for 18 months to create “a showstopping spectacle” that blends nostalgia with innovation. “We are the largest and hopefully most entertaining variety show on television,” Coss remarked, as per a report by TV Insider. “Friends, strangers, family come together for an opportunity to just be together.”

Scheduled to air on Thursday, November 27 at 8:30 a.m. ET on NBC, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 will once again be hosted by Today show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker, continuing a beloved holiday tradition.


The live broadcast will be followed by an encore presentation at 2 p.m. ET, ensuring viewers nationwide can enjoy the event throughout the day.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: New Balloons Take Flight

This year’s parade will debut several exciting additions to its lineup of 32 balloons, 27 floats, and more than 5,000 volunteers. Among the most anticipated new entries are video game icons Pac-Man and Mario, both making their parade debut.

Beloved character Buzz Lightyear will also return, while Shrek will soar over Manhattan in a newly designed balloon featuring characters from his upcoming film.

Coss teased that this year’s parade aims to combine “classic parade fashion” with modern technology, saying, “We’re bringing it back to our roots, but adding some new technologies. The faces will move, the arms will wave, and it’ll feel like live theatre along the parade route.”

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Floats That Capture Pop Culture

The floats will celebrate current pop culture and timeless artistry. A standout addition is the Stranger Things float, featuring an 8-foot-tall puppeteered Demogorgon from the Upside Down, designed in the parade’s traditional mechanical style.

Other highlights include a PopMart Labubu float, tapping into the global designer toy craze, and a Lindt chocolate float featuring a “ballroom scene that comes to life.” The LEGO float will include buildable scenes, allowing fans to recreate the design at home.

“We’ve made sure every float tells a story — one that brings joy to both kids and adults,” Coss said.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: A Parade of Music and Stars

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 will feature an eclectic lineup of performances across genres and generations. Among the confirmed artists are Jewel, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Shaggy, Calum Scott, Lauren Spencer Smith, and Teyana Taylor.

Broadway fans can look forward to performances from “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time,” and “Ragtime,” while the Radio City Rockettes will mark their 100th anniversary with a signature high-kick performance.

Coss added, “This year’s lineup reflects our 1-to-100 demographic — there’s something for everyone. We are the soundtrack of parade morning.”

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Marching Bands from Across the Nation

Ten marching bands from the United States and abroad will join the celebration. Highlights include Banda de Musica La Primavera from Panama, The Marching Pride of North Alabama, L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band from Texas, and The Temple University Diamond Band from Pennsylvania.

The NYPD Marching Band will also make its traditional appearance, paying tribute to the city’s resilience and spirit.

FAQs

When and where will the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 air?

The parade will air live on Thursday, November 27, 2025, starting at 8:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. CT on NBC, with an encore broadcast at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT.

Who are the hosts of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025?

The event will be hosted by Today show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker, who return to lead the festivities.