The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, one of the world’s largest and most iconic parades, returns to the streets of Manhattan on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, heralding the start of the holiday season. Running from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET, the parade begins on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and concludes at Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square, offering a festive spectacle for both in-person attendees and viewers across the nation.
This year’s parade features an impressive lineup of 32 balloons, three balloonicles, 27 floats, four specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, and numerous performance ensembles. Macy’s continues its tradition of keeping the parade fresh with pop culture-inspired additions. Seven new floats will debut, including the Labubu-themed Pop Mart float, a Stranger Things-inspired “Upside Down Invasion” float with an eight-and-a-half-foot Demogorgon puppet, and LEGO’s Brick-tastic Winter Mountain, designed entirely from real LEGO bricks. Other notable floats include The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta, the Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder by Holland America Line, Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt, and the Littlest Float from Goldfish.
In addition to floats, four new giant balloons will take to the skies for the first time: Buzz Lightyear from Pixar Animation Studios, PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco, Shrek’s Onion Carriage from DreamWorks Animation, and Mario from Nintendo. These additions promise to delight fans of all ages and complement the parade’s classic favorites.
Macy’s executive producer Will Coss highlighted the parade’s role in American holiday traditions: “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the official kickoff to the holiday season and has been part of the nation’s stories and traditions for generations. On Thanksgiving morning, larger-than-life character balloons, awe-inspiring floats, and showstopping performances will create unforgettable moments and lasting holiday memories for millions of spectators in New York City and across the country.”
The parade also features a lineup of musical performances from a diverse range of artists. Tony Award-winning “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will open the parade, performing a special number one week after the release of Wicked: For Good. Other performers include Ciara, Shaggy, Colbie Caillat, Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, 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, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza, and Teyana Taylor. Country artist Lainey Wilson will perform in front of Macy’s in Midtown Manhattan, adding to the parade’s star-studded lineup.
NBC will broadcast the parade live starting at 8:30 a.m. ET, with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker returning to cover the event. Despite leaving Today in early January, Kotb returns for one day to co-host the parade. Peacock will offer a Multiview feature, including Float View, which provides a ride-along experience on the iconic Tom the Turkey float, and High-Rise View, offering a bird’s-eye perspective of the parade. Additionally, NBC will provide live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program (SAP) channel to ensure accessibility for blind and visually impaired viewers.
The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade blends long-standing traditions with fresh, pop culture-inspired elements, promising a dynamic, family-friendly celebration that captures the magic of the holiday season for viewers in New York City and around the world.
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