Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the start of the American holiday season since 1924, making the 2026 edition the 100th parade. The procession runs through Midtown Manhattan on Thanksgiving morning — the fourth Thursday of November, falling on November 26 in 2026 — from 77th Street and Central Park West south to Herald Square, where Macy’s flagship store is located. The route is approximately 2.5 miles.

What you’ll see

The parade is famous for its giant helium balloons depicting cartoon characters, pop culture figures, and original designs. These balloons can be up to 60 feet tall and require teams of handlers to navigate around intersections and building facades. Alongside the balloons are themed floats, performances from Broadway shows and musical acts, and approximately 1,000 clowns. The parade ends with the arrival of Santa Claus’s float, traditionally signalling the official start of the Christmas season.

Balloon inflation on Wednesday

One of the most popular — and underrated — ways to experience the parade is to watch the balloon inflation on the Wednesday evening before. Balloon inflation takes place on the streets around the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West from around 1pm to 10pm on Wednesday November 25. It is free to watch and gives a fascinating close-up view of the scale of the balloons. This is significantly less crowded than the parade itself.

Watching the parade

The parade begins at 8:30am and typically finishes around noon. The route along Central Park West (77th to 59th Street) and then 6th Avenue (59th to 34th Street) is free to watch from the sidewalk. Crowds on 6th Avenue are typically thinner than those on Central Park West. Arrive by 7am for a decent sidewalk position.

NBC broadcasts the parade nationally from 9am; many New Yorkers who have seen it before simply watch from home.

Getting there

Subway is essential — many streets close to vehicles on parade morning. The B and C trains run to 72nd Street; the 1, 2, 3 trains serve 72nd and 59th Street along the Central Park West section. For 6th Avenue, the B/D/F/M lines have multiple stops along the route.

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