Thanksgiving morning in New York City belongs to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

First held in 1924, the parade marches for the 100th time on Thursday, November 26, 2026. The count runs behind the calendar because it was canceled from 1942 through 1944 during World War II. Macy's is marking the centennial with a record 100 inflatable elements, and the route typically draws an estimated 3.5 million spectators. Knowing where to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and when to get there, decides what kind of morning you’ll have.

The Parade Route and Start Time

The parade steps off at 8:30 a.m. from West 77th Street and Central Park West, beside the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. From there, the parade route runs roughly 2.5 miles: south on Central Park West to Columbus Circle, east along Central Park South, then south on Sixth Avenue through Midtown. The final turn is onto 34th Street, where the parade ends in front of Macy's Herald Square around noon.

The start time is not the time the parade reaches you. The parade moves along Central Park West from about 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and the lead units reach Sixth Avenue at 59th Street around 9:30 a.m. The farther south you stand, the later the first balloons arrive, and the later the last ones leave.

Watching From Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center

For most people, Sixth Avenue (officially Avenue of the Americas) in the upper 40s and low 50s is the natural starting point. It runs along the western edge of Rockefeller Center and past Radio City Music Hall at 50th Street, and it sits inside the long public viewing zone Macy's designates on Sixth Avenue from West 59th to West 38th streets. The avenue is wide and straight, and the balloons pass between Midtown towers: it's the kind of scale that reads as well in person as it does on television.

The trade-off is popularity. This stretch fills early, and the centennial will likely be a busier year. Macy's notes that early risers begin arriving around 6 a.m.; if you want a spot at the barricade, it's worth planning to arrive before that. The lead balloons reach Sixth Avenue at 59th Street around 9:30 a.m. and pass Rockefeller Center shortly after, so you might wait for a while before the first one comes into view.

Other Places to Watch Along the Route

Central Park West, from West 75th to West 61st streets. Public viewing here is on the west side of the avenue only. The parade passes this stretch first, so you can be done and warming up somewhere by late morning.

Sixth Avenue from the mid-40s to West 38th Street. South of Rockefeller Center, the avenue continues south toward Herald Square. Crowds here tend to build as the morning goes on, so arriving early matters more the closer you stand to 34th Street.

Where you can't watch. Several sections of the route are closed to the public, and it's worth ruling them out before you set an alarm:

  • The official start at West 77th Street and Central Park West, which is used for staging.
  • Central Park West between West 59th and West 60th streets, Columbus Circle, and Central Park South.
  • Sixth Avenue from West 34th to West 38th streets, and 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue: this is the telecast area.
  • The grandstands in front of Macy's Herald Square, which Macy's does not sell to the general public.

How to Watch on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo

NBC has televised the parade nationally since the early 1950s. The 2026 broadcast airs live on NBC and Telemundo and streams on Peacock, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. On the eve of the parade, NBC and Peacock have traditionally aired a primetime special, "Countdown to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," from the starting line.

If you don't have cable, a live-TV streaming service that carries your local NBC station will also show the parade. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo include NBC, and Sling TV carries it on its Sling Blue plan in select markets. Check your service's local channel lineup before Thanksgiving morning.

TODAY's Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker, joined by former TODAY co-anchor Hoda Kotb, have hosted the broadcast together since 2018. NBC normally announces its performers in early November.

What You'll See on the Parade Route

The 100th parade leans on its own history. Macy's has confirmed a debut Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey balloon and a reimagined Underdog, flying for the first time since 1984. Felix the Cat, the parade's first character balloon in 1927, returns, and so does the Blue Hippopotamus. A new float, Tony Sarg's Amazing Marionettes, honors the artist behind the parade's signature elements, while the Macy's All-Stars float brings back Bullwinkle, Popeye, and Olive Oyl.

Harry Potter makes its parade debut with Hogwarts Holiday, a float recreating Hogwarts’ Great Hall set for a holiday feast, and newcomers Billie Brightpaw and Tom Jr., son of Tom Turkey, join the 100th lineup. Around them come the elements the parade is built on: marching bands, clowns, performance groups, floats, and Santa Claus, who closes the parade as he has for generations.

Ten marching bands were chosen from more than 100 applicants for the 2026 parade. The lineup includes the University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band, the Marching Illini from the University of Illinois, and the UConn Marching Band, which will march in the parade for the first time. The Pride of Pearland from Texas, Dobyns-Bennett High School from Tennessee, Hawaii's All-State Marching Band, and the NYPD Marching Band are also on the list.

One detail shapes where you watch: the headline musical numbers and Broadway performances are staged in front of Macy's Herald Square, inside the closed telecast area. Along the rest of the route, you'll see performers pass on floats. For the full lineup of music and Broadway stars, the broadcast is the better seat.

Make a Day of It at Rockefeller Center

Watching from Sixth Avenue puts you a short walk from the rest of the holiday season. Rockefeller Center has its own ties to the parade: 30 Rock is home to NBC and TODAY, whose anchors have hosted the broadcast for years.

Radio City Music Hall. The parade route passes directly in front of the landmarked hall, home of the Radio City Rockettes. The Rockettes are a longtime part of the parade broadcast, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is where they spend the holiday season.

Top of the Rock. Once the crowds thin out, Top of the Rock offers a view above the streets you just stood on. From the observation decks, you can look south across Midtown toward Herald Square, where the parade ended.

The Rink. The Rink at Rockefeller Center makes an easy next stop for families who still have energy after a morning outdoors.

Holiday hours can differ from the rest of the year, so it's worth checking each venue's Thanksgiving Day schedule on the Rockefeller Center website before you go.

What to Know Before You Go

  • Date and start time: Thursday, November 26, 2026, stepping off at 8:30 a.m. from West 77th Street & Central Park West.
  • Cost: Street viewing is free. Grandstand seats at Herald Square are not sold to the public.
  • Best public stretches: The west side of Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st streets, and Sixth Avenue from West 59th to West 38th streets.
  • Arrival: Macy's notes early risers begin arriving around 6 a.m. Plan on earlier for a front-row spot on Sixth Avenue.
  • Getting there: Expect street closures across the West Side and Midtown. Walking the last few blocks is the most reliable approach; check the MTA for service changes on Thanksgiving Day.
  • Weather: Late-November mornings on the route are cold and often windy. Dress in layers and bring gloves.
  • The day before: Balloon inflation takes place Wednesday, November 25, near the American Museum of Natural History, between West 77th and West 81st streets.

A century in, the parade still asks the same thing of you: get up early, find your block, and wait for the first balloon to turn the corner.

FAQs

Can I watch the parade near Rockefeller Center? Yes. Sixth Avenue runs along the western edge of Rockefeller Center and past Radio City Music Hall, and it falls inside the public viewing zone that stretches from West 59th to West 38th streets.

What time does the parade reach Rockefeller Center? Usually a little after 9:30 a.m. The parade steps off at 8:30 a.m., and the lead units reach Sixth Avenue at 59th Street around 9:30 a.m., passing Radio City Music Hall soon after. The procession keeps coming well into late morning, so there's no need to leave once the first balloon goes by.

What time should I get there? As early as you can manage. The parade steps off at 8:30 a.m., but Macy's notes that early risers start arriving around 6 a.m., and the best curbside spots on Sixth Avenue go first.

Do I need a ticket to watch? No. Watching from the street is free. Grandstand seating isn't sold to the general public.

Can I watch the performances in person? Mostly on TV. The headline musical numbers and Broadway performances are staged on 34th Street in front of Macy's Herald Square, inside the telecast area, which is closed to the public. Along the route, you'll see performers pass by on floats.

What channel is the parade on? NBC and Telemundo, with a live stream on Peacock, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. Live-TV streaming services such as YouTube TV and Sling TV also carry it through local NBC stations.

Why is 2026 the 100th parade if it started in 1924? The parade was canceled in 1942, 1943, and 1944, when the rubber and helium used for balloons went to the World War II effort. Counting only the years it actually ran, the 2026 parade is the 100th.

Can I see the balloons before the parade? Yes. The giant balloons are inflated on Wednesday, November 25, near the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. Check the Macy's parade site for hours and entry details.