The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is an unapologetically American tradition, larger than life and as beloved as it is eclectic, contradictory and utterly confusing. Nothing says gratitude to friends and family like a procession of 34 balloons, 4 balloons, 28 floats, 14 special units, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands themed primarily around movie and TV characters… and candy, toys and commercials.
The 2025 edition will incorporate seven new floats, including one featuring 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 the Upper West Side to Macy’s on 34th Street for the very first time. The Macy’s Rocking Horse float, meanwhile, makes the 68th appearance.
As always, Santa gets pride of place right at the back of the cavalcade, but the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade apparently fires the starting gun on Black Friday. Speaking of what is going to be Labubus all over Manhattan.
First up on the Herald Square stage will beWicked: Too 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 complete list of floats, balloons, performers and hosts, and to find out how to watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade online, on TV and anywhere.
Can I watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 2025 for free?
The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is not free to air, but NBC is carried by OTT streamers Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu+Live TV, each offering 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 plan 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 then $69.99/month.
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 the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in the US
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 2025 will appear on NBC.
Coverage begins Thursday, November 27 at 8:30 a.m. local time in all US time zones, and the three-hour celebration starts at 9 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. CT / 5 a.m. PT. A full replay will be broadcast at 2:00 PM ET/CT/PT.
Don’t have cable? Cord-cutting services with NBC include Sling TV — specifically, the Sling Blue package starting at $46 per month. You can even get 50% off your first month before going back to the original fee. There is also Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu+Live TV.
Alternatively, viewers can live stream the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (or watch it on catch-up) via Peacock.
Peacock TV subscriptions with live sports start at $10.99 per month. You can also stream 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 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 2025 anywhere else in the world?
Unfortunately, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is not available to view outside the United States.
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 cheers! by Spirit of America Productions
- Big Turkey Spectacular by Jennie-O
- Birds of a Feather Stream Together by Peacock
- Brick-tasting Winter Mountain from 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 at Balsam Hill
- DORA’s Fantastical Rainforest by Nickelodeon & Paramount
- Fantasy Chocolate Factory from Kinder
- Friend distribution 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 from 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
- The Sweet Palace of Brach’s
- PINelope from GoBowling!
- Pasta Knight by Rao’s Homemade
- Santa’s Sleigh from Macy’s
- Tom Turkey from Macy’s
- Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix – NEW
- Wonderful World of Wildlife by the Bronx Zoo
- World of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Nickelodeon & Paramount
2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Balloons
- Beagle Scout Snoopy from 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/Toi Animation
- Mario from Nintendo – NEW
- Marshall from Paw Patrol by Spin Master & Nickelodeon
- Minnie Mouse by The Walt Disney Company
- Monkey D. Luffy by One Piece/Toi Animation
- Noorah by The Lumisella 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 from Nickelodeon
- Stuart the Minion by Illumination
- Derpy Tiger by Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters – NEW
- DORA by Nickelodeon
- Golden bear from Haribo
- Smokey Bear by the USDA Forest Service
- Acorn from Macy’s
- Blue & White Macy’s Stars from Macy’s
- Bluey’s Keepy Uppy Balloon from BBC Studios & Ludo Studio
- Gold Macy’s Stars from Macy’s
- Green Macy’s Stars by Macy’s – NEW
- Ice crystals from Macy’s
- Poinsettia ornaments from Macy’s
- Pumpkins from Macy’s
- Macy’s Rainbow and Rainbow Trout – NEW
- Red “Believe” stars by Macy’s
- Red & Green Candy Cane from Macy’s
- Red Macy’s Star by Macy’s – NEW
- Football from Macy’s
- Yellow Macy’s Stars from Macy’s
- Cheese by a Wimpy Kid
- Frost Pips by The Lumisella Company – NEW
- Happy Hippo Triple Stack from Macy’s – NEW
- Sussie and Flowerpot by Netflix & Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters – NEW
- Lox and Java from Macy’s
- The Nutcracker and the Mouse King from Macy’s
2025 cast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
- Big Brothers Big Sisters (Tom Turkey)
- Busta Rhymes (World of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Calum Scott (Master Chocolatier Ballroom)
- Captain Minnie Mouse, Captain Mickey Mouse and 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)
- US Olympian Ilia Malinin and US 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 Fantastic 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 (Autumn in the Valley)
- Santa (Santa’s sleigh)
- Sean Evans
- Shaggy (Big Turkey Spectacular)
- Taylor Momsen
- Teyana Taylor (Birds of a Feather Stream Together)
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