Time, channel, performers and more

Thanksgiving, a time for food, family and a monstrously sized Snoopy balloon parading its way toward Macy’s Herald Square. That’s right, it’s almost time for the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will kick off tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. ET on NBC — and streaming live with a three-angle multi-view option on Peacock. This year’s parade features 27 floats, 32 balloons, three ballonicles, performances from Cynthia Erivo, Country artist Lainey Wilson, and Broadway shows Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time, and Ragtime.

Before you sit down for your Turkey Day dinner with the family and get ready to do some Black Friday shopping, make sure you check out the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the parade this week.

When is the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

As the name suggests, the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held, well, on Thanksgiving Day. The parade begins Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. There will be an encore broadcast at 2 p.m. ET/PT.

How long is the Macy’s Parade?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will last roughly 3.5 hours, ending at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT before replaying on NBC in an encore at 2 p.m. ET/PT.

What channel is the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will air on NBC and stream on Peacock on Thanksgiving Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones. An encore airing of the parade will also begin at 2 p.m. on NBC. If you have access to live TV, you may be able to watch NBC for free over the air. If not, here’s what we recommend for how to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

How to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable:

Who is performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will open the parade, which will also feature performances from Country artist Lainey Wilson, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI (the singing voices of HUNTR/X from Netflix‘s KPop Demon Hunters), Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Mr. Fantasy, Foreigner, Debbie Gibson, Mickey Guyton, Christopher Jackson, Jewel, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Tiler Peck, the Radio City Rockettes, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza and Teyana Taylor.

There will also be performances from the Broadway casts of Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time and Ragtime.

What floats are in the Macy’s parade this Thanksgiving?

There will be 32 balloons, three “ballonicles,” 27 floats, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands and plenty of performances at the 2025 Macy’s parade.

2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade new floats

Six new floats are debuting at this year’s parade:

• The Land of Ice & Wonder by Holland America Line

• Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by The LEGO Group

• Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt

• Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix

• Friends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart

• The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta.

2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade balloons

In 2025, there will be four new featured character balloons making their debut in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade:

• Buzz Lightyear by Pixar Animation Studios

• PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc.

• Shrek’s Onion Carriage from Universal Pictures’ DreamWorks Animation;

Derpy Tiger and Sussie from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters will also join the line-up as a mid-sized balloon and balloonicle

Who is hosting this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of The Today Show will host NBC’s broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade again this year.

Ways to watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade free:

Want to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thanksgiving football and more on live TV this holiday season for free? Here are a few platforms offering free trials around this time of year.