SCIENCE & TECH: How to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 2025

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is an unapologetically American tradition, larger than life and as beloved as it is eclectic, contradictory and utterly perplexing. Nothing signifies gratitude to friends and family quite like a procession of 34 balloons, 4 balloonicles, 28 floats, 14 specialty units, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands, themed primarily around film and TV characters… and candy, toys and commercials.

The 2025 edition will incoporate seven new floats, including one carrying a Demogorgon in a nod to Stranger Things season 5, and five new balloons, depicting PAC-MAN, Buzz Lightyear and more, which will float along the familiar path from Upper West Side to Macy’s on 34th Street for the very first time. Making its 68th appearance, meanwhile, is the Macy’s Rocking Horse float.

As ever, Santa Claus gets pride of place right at the back of the cavalcade, but Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade ostensibly fires the starting pistol on Black Friday. Speaking of which, there are going to be Labubus all over Manhattan.

First up on the Herald Square stage will beWicked: For Good‘s Cynthia Erivo, followed by KPop Demon Hunters stars Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, and, on their 100th anniversary, the Radio City Rockettes.

Read on for a full list of floats, balloons, performers and hosts, and to find out how to watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade online, on TV and from anywhere.

Can I watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade for free?

The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade isn’t free-to-air, but NBC is carried by OTT streamers Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu+Live TV, each of which offers a free trial to 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/month thereafter.

YouTube TV comes with a 5-day free trial, after which a basic subscription costs $62.99/month for five months, and $82.99/month thereafter.

DirecTV Stream comes with a 5-day free trial, after which the Entertainment Package costs $49.99 for the first month, and $84.99/month thereafter. Alternatively, the MySports plan also has a 5-day free trial, after which it costs $59.99/month for two months, and $69.99/month thereafter.

Hulu+Live TV comes with a 3-day free trial, after which a basic subscription costs $89.99/month.

Use a VPN to watch any 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade stream

How to watch 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in the US

The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is being shown on NBC.

Coverage begins on Thursday, November 27 at 8.30am local time in all US time zones, and the three-hour celebration starts at 9am ET / 8am CT / 5am PT. A full replay will air at 2pm ET/CT/PT.

Don’t have cable? Cord-cutting services with NBC include Sling TV – specifically the Sling Blue package from $46 per month. You can even get 50% off your first month, before returning to the original fee. There’s also Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu+Live TV.

Alternatively, viewers can live stream Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (or watch it on catch-up) via Peacock.

Peacock TV subscriptions carrying live sport start from $10.99 per month. You can also stream the NFL and Premier League football on the platform.

Outside the US for the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade? Use NordVPN to access your usual coverage.

Can I watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade anywhere else in the world?

Unfortunately, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade isn’t available to watch outside the US.

If you’re an American in Canada, the UK or Australia, however, a VPN will help you tune in. NordVPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth NordVPN review.

What you need to know about the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade hosts

• Savannah Guthrie
• Al Roker
• Hoda Kotb

2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade floats

• 1-2-3 Sesame Street by Sesame Workshop
• Big City Cheer! by Spirit of America Productions
• Big Turkey Spectacular by Jennie-O
• Birds of a Feather Stream Together by Peacock
• Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by Lego – NEW
• Camp Snoopy by Peanuts Worldwide
• Candy Cosmos by Haribo
• Colossal Wave of Wonder by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions
• The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta – NEW
• Deck the Halls by Balsam Hill
• DORA’s Fantastical Rainforest by Nickelodeon & Paramount
• Fantasy Chocolate Factory by Kinder
• Friends-giving in PopCity by PopMart – NEW
• Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party by Toys”R”Us
• Harvest in the Valley by Green Giant
• Heartwarming Holiday Countdown by Hallmark Channel
• Jolly Polly Pirate Ship by Macy’s
• The Land of Ice and Wonder by Holland America Line – NEW
• The Littlest Float by Goldfish – NEW
• Macy’s Winter Wonderland in Central Park by Macy’s
• Magic Meets the Seas by Disney Cruise Line
• Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt – NEW
• Palace of Sweets by Brach’s
• PINelope by GoBowling!
• Pasta Knight by Rao’s Homemade
• Santa’s Sleigh by Macy’s
• Tom Turkey by Macy’s
• Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix – NEW
• Wondrous World of Wildlife by Bronx Zoo
• World of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Nickelodeon & Paramount

2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade balloons

• Beagle Scout Snoopy by Peanuts Worldwide
• Bluey by BBC Studios & Ludo Studio
• Buzz Lightyear by Pixar Animation Studios – NEW
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Abrams Books
• Gabby and Pandy Paws by Gabby’s Dollhouse/Universal Pictures’ DreamWorks Animation
• Goku by Dragon Ball/Toei Animation
• Mario by Nintendo – NEW
• Marshall from Paw Patrol by Spin Master & Nickelodeon
• Minnie Mouse by The Walt Disney Company
• Monkey D. Luffy by One Piece/Toei Animation
• Noorah by The Lumistella Company
• PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc. – NEW
• Pikachu & Eevee by The Pokemon Company International
• Pillsbury Doughboy by Pillsbury
• Shrek’s Onion Carriage by Universal Pictures’ DreamWorks Animation – NEW
• Spider-Man by Marvel
• SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary by Nickelodeon
• Stuart the Minion by Illumination
• Derpy Tiger by Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters – NEW
• DORA by Nickelodeon
• Goldbear by Haribo
• Smokey Bear by U.S.D.A. Forest Service
• Acorn by Macy’s
• Blue & White Macy’s Stars by Macy’s
• Bluey’s Keepy Uppy Balloon by BBC Studios & Ludo Studio
• Gold Macy’s Stars by Macy’s
• Green Macy’s Stars by Macy’s – NEW
• Ice Crystals by Macy’s
• Poinsettia Ornaments by Macy’s
• Pumpkins by Macy’s
• Rainbow and Greybow Trouts by Macy’s – NEW
• Red “Believe” Stars by Macy’s
• Red & Green Candy Cane by Macy’s
• Red Macy’s Star by Macy’s – NEW
• Soccer Ball by Macy’s
• Yellow Macy’s Stars by Macy’s
• Cheese of a Wimpy Kid
• Frost Pips by The Lumistella Company – NEW
• Happy Hippo Triple Stack by Macy’s – NEW
• Sussie and Flowerpot by Netflix & Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters – NEW
• Lox and Java by Macy’s
• Nutcracker and Mouse King by Macy’s

2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade performers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters (Tom Turkey)
• Busta Rhymes (World of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
• Calum Scott (Master Chocolatier Ballroom)
• Captain Minnie Mouse, Captain Mickey Mouse & friends (Magic Meets the Seas)
• Christopher Jackson and the Cast of Sesame Street (1-2-3 Sesame Street)
• Ciara (Colossal Wave of Wonder)
• Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw (Palace of Sweets)
• Conan Gray
• Cynthia Erivo
• Darlene Love (Deck the Halls)
• Debbie Gibson (The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator)
• Drew Baldridge & Mickey Guyton (Heartwarming Holiday Countdown)
• Ejae, Audrey Nuna & Rei Ami as HUNTR/X
• Foreigner (Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things)
• U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin & U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace (Birds of a Feather Stream Together)
• Jewel (The Land of Ice and Wonder)
• Kool & The Gang (Wondrous World of Wildlife)
• Lainey Wilson
• Lauren Spencer Smith (Fantasy Chocolate Factory)
• Lil Jon (Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party)
• Luisa Sonza (Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest)
• Matteo Bocelli (Pasta Knight)
• Meg Donnelly (Brick-tastic Winter Mountain)
• Mr. Fantasy (Jolly Polly Pirate Ship)
• Nikki DeLoach & Kristoffer Polaha (Heartwarming Holiday Countdown)
• Roman Mejia & Tiler Peck (Master Chocolatier Ballroom)
• Russell Dickerson (Harvest in the Valley)
• Santa Claus (Santa’s Sleigh)
• Sean Evans
• Shaggy (Big Turkey Spectacular)
• Taylor Momsen
• Teyana Taylor (Birds of a Feather Stream Together)