The 2026 Rose Parade is set to round out its annual floral spectacle with a grand finale featuring Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist, Capital Cities and DEK of Hearts, America’s newly crowned Mic Drop winner on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Joining the performers will be 24 dancers tearing through a range of styles – from flappers to hip-hop – against a convoy of era-spanning classic cars, according to the Tournament of Roses’ Dec. 19 press release announcing the finale.
Also read: Rose Parade 2026 lineup: Your guide to every float, band and equestrian unit, in order
If it’s the first you’re hearing of Capital Cities or DEK of Hearts — or you need a refresher — here’s who they are, what they’re known for and what they’re up to now:
Capital Cities
Capital Cities is an indie pop duo set to perform their multi-platinum 2011 hit “Safe and Sound” at the parade, known for earning the duo a Grammy nomination and eventually becoming one of the most Shazam’d songs in history, according to the release.
The duo, formed in 2010 in Los Angeles, is composed of 44-year-old Ryan Merchant and 47-year-old Sebu Simonian.
They’re just shy of 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with several songs over the 10 million streams mark. Their latest release, “So Be So Mine,” is a high-tempo, alt-pop three-track EP that came out in late September.
DEK of Hearts
DEK of Hearts, a country trio from Nashville, earned their spot in the finale through a first-of-its-kind competition on NBC’s “The Voice.”
This is the first year The Voice has featured the competition, called Mic Drop, where each of the show’s four coaches – Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan and Reba McEntire – were given a “Mic Drop” button to use for a contestant they deem the best during the Knockouts round.
Then, viewers at home got to vote for which Mic Drop contestant they wanted to perform at the Rose Parade. Voting for the Mic Drop competition occurred from Nov. 24 to Nov. 28.
DEK of Hearts just released their debut single, “Taillights.” It delivers a dual-perspective breakup with powerhouse vocals, catchy hooks and raw emotion, according to the band’s website.
The “DEK” in the band’s name refers to each of the members’ first names: Dylan John, Emily Clapp and Kollin Bailey.