Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 Streaming Info

For many families, Thanksgiving morning begins long before the turkey hits the oven. The real kickoff is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a New York City tradition that returns for its 99th year with giant balloons, star-studded performances, and millions of viewers tuning in from home.

How to Watch and Stream the Parade

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Live coverage of the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade starts at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBC.
The broadcast will also stream on Peacock for Premium and Premium Plus subscribers.

Those without cable can livestream the parade on platforms that carry NBC, including DirecTV, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV.

DirecTV:
• $39.99 per month
• Five-day free trial
• NBC available in several packages

Peacock:
• $10.99 per month
• Premium and Premium Plus plans
• No free trial

Sling:
• $19.99 per month
• NBC available in Select, Blue and Blue + Orange plans in select markets

Hulu + Live TV:
• $89.99 per month
• Three-day free trial
• NBC included in its 95+ channel lineup

How to watch for free: Use the free trials offered by DirecTV or Hulu + Live TV to stream the parade without paying.

Start Time, Hosts, and What Viewers Can Expect

NBC’s “TODAY” anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker return to host the broadcast.

The parade coverage begins at 7:30 a.m. ET, with a special opening performance from “Wicked: For Good” star Cynthia Erivo.

Other performers include Lainey Wilson, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the singing voices featured in “KPop Demon Hunters.”

The lineup also features additional musical guests across genres, adding to the festive morning soundtrack.

Route Details and Best Places to Watch in NYC

The parade officially steps off at 8:30 a.m. ET from West 77th Street and Central Park West. It travels 2.5 miles through Manhattan and ends at Macy’s Herald Square at noon.

Crowds begin arriving by 6 a.m., especially near the most popular stretches of the route. Best viewing locations include:

• Central Park West from West 75th to West 63rd Streets
• The south side of West 59th Street between Columbus Circle and Sixth Avenue
• Sixth Avenue from West 59th to West 38th Streets

Spectators should avoid Sixth Avenue between West 34th and West 38th Streets, where access is limited.

Balloons, Floats, and This Year’s Performers

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This year’s parade showcases 34 giant balloons, 28 floats, 28 performers, 11 marching bands, 33 clown crew, and nine performance groups. Here’s the balloon map.

Cynthia Erivo will open the broadcast with a special number. Lainey Wilson will perform outside Herald Square as she wraps her sold-out “Whirlwind World Tour.”

EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI will also appear, along with Ciara, Callum Scott, Colbie Caillat, Russell Dickerson, Darlene Love, Busta Rhymes, Lauren Spencer Smith, and “Hamilton” actor Christopher Jackson.

Six new floats join the parade this year:

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• 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 POP CITY by Pop Mart
• Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta

Fan favorites return as well, with Santa’s Sleigh once again closing the parade at Herald Square.

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