LeVar Burton, Billie Jean King, Buzz Aldrin, Shirley Temple, Vin Scully and Mickey Mouse. An interesting lineup of public figures to some, but they all share one thing in common — they’ve each held the title of Grand Marshal at the Pasadena Rose Parade.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, yet another will be officially announced for the 2026 Tournament of Roses.
Typically, the Grand Marshal has some tie to that year’s Rose Parade theme.
The 2026 theme is “The Magic in Teamwork,” which could be interpreted in quite a few different ways. It could focus on the magic, perhaps a famous magician or someone who goes by the term as a nickname, and then when you look at teamwork, it could be about sports, perhaps a prominent athlete.
You can see the Tournament of Roses’ hints and Easter eggs have got us thinking back here in the newsroom. Who might it be? Who might be the next name on a beloved list that extends all the way back to 1890? Who will be the personification of the mega-parade’s theme in this next incarnation of the Tournament of Roses?
As someone who grew up watching the Rose Parade on TV each New Year’s Day, because I was raised by a mother who grew up attending the parade each year, covering the Pasadena tradition has become one of my favorite things about kicking off the new year.
Since becoming a core part of Southern California News Group’s digital coverage of the parade in recent years, its become a fun pastime in the newsroom to play a guessing game of who the Grand Marshal could be. This year I’ve been asked to once again put my detective skills to the test and see if I can come up with some guesses for who the 2026 Grand Marshal could be.
So, without further ado, here are my best guesses, plus an extra theory, just for fun. I could be right, or I could be completely off course, but we won’t know for sure until Oct. 8.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson embodies this year’s Rose Parade theme to a T.
Not only does he come from a profession that heavily relies on teamwork to find success, but his name is Magic. Additionally, he has a special tie to Los Angeles, playing for the Lakers for over a decade, not to mention his ownership stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Besides all that, Johnson was also a co-captain of the 1992 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team, known as the “Dream Team,” and dreams can be pretty magical, if you ask us.
His athletic, leadership, entrepreneurial and social contributions make him, dare we say, a “slam dunk.”
Neil Patrick Harris
While Neil Patrick Harris is probably best known for his acting roles in “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “How I Met Your Mother,” fans are probably well aware that the actor is also a magician. He has also been involved with the Magic Castle, including being President of the Academy of Magical Arts from 2011 to 2014.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
Last year there was a Wicked float to promote the digital release of the film. With Wicked: For Good coming out this November, it would only feel full circle to have the two stars of the film, Cytnhia Erivo and Ariana Grande be co-Grand Marshals. Erivo and Grande star as Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland, two witches who become roommates at Shiz University.
The film is based of the Broadway hit musical “Wicked” and draws inspiration from the “Wizard of Oz.” The second film picks up a few years after Erivo’s “Defying Gravity” finale, where she discovers the Wizard of Oz doesn’t hold the true powers she thought he did. Elphaba has spent years in hiding, studying the Grimmerie, a magical spell book, learning how to utilize her magical powers, while Glinda has spent years in the spotlight and being used for political power in Oz.
The film’s finale number “For Good” sees the two friends reuniting for what could be the last time, and sharing with one another that while they cannot say if they’ve been changed for the better because of the other, they have been changed for good. And in a way, doesn’t Wicked embody the theme of “The Magic in Teamwork”?
Lin Manuel Miranda
2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of “Hamilton,” the musical crafted by Lin Manuel Miranda, who also played the title role in the original Broadway cast as well as the filmed production of the show.
Since the project first premiered, Miranda has gone on to work for Disney, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Most notably he’s been the songwriter for “Moana” and “Encanto.” “Encanto” in particular ties Miranda to the 2026 Rose Parade theme as the premise of the film focuses on a family that each receives magical gifts from a miracle.
Gustavo Dudamel
Gustavo Dudamel has been the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since the 2009-2010 season. He is one of only 11 Philharmonic conductors to have held the title of music director.
The LA Phil is reminiscent of the 2026 Rose Parade theme, as one could describe the orchestra as the magical sound of musicians coming together and working as a team.
As anyone who witnessed the LA Phil’s sunset set at Coachella will tell you, it was a magical experience and also showcased the harmony of collaboration as Laufey, LL Cool J, Nastasha Bedingfield, Cynthia Erivo and more joined the orchestra on stage.
Additionally, the 2025-2026 season will mark Dudamel’s last with the LA Phil as the Star Maestro is set to take over the podium for the New York Philharmonic in 2026, so it would be a special year for him to hold the Grand Marshal title.
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman
After over 25 years, “Practical Magic” is getting a sequel. The project wrapped up filming last month and is set to be released in September 2026. It would only be fitting to have one or both of the stars of the film take on the role of Grand Marshal.
Los Angeles-area Firefighters
What’s more magical than a hero? Just a few days after the 2025 Rose Parade, Los Angeles faced an unthinkable travesty: two catastrophic fires.
Communities, including those in Pasadena, Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, are still recovering from the devastating loss.
But despite the hardship the region has faced this year, residents in the city of L.A. and in Altadena area have rallied together to help those impacted and share their gratitude for first-responders.
Earlier this year, Los Angeles-area firefighters were honored at the Grammy Awards, as well as FireAid, a televised charity concert. The two events raised nearly $125 million for relief efforts. While the 2026 Rose Parade is expected to shine a light on those impacted by the fires, it would be pretty magical to see the team of local firefighters be recognized as the 2026 Grand Marshal.
Pitbull
This might seem random, but the Rose Parade just launched its TikTok account and one of the 13 users they follow is Pitbull.
This could mean nothing, but it could also be an Easter egg for the 2026 Rose Parade, hidden in plain sight.
In addition to his pop music career, Mr. Worldwide has also focused on philanthropy, including spearheading the SELF 1st Foundation which focuses on empowering the next generation through education.
Additionally, it raises funding for educational initiatives nationwide. Pitbull — Armando Christian Pérez — is also viewed as the ultimate hype man at his concerts, referencing his own lyrics as inspiration to help bring the crowd together.
BONUS GUESS: Taylor Swift
Each year, I go into Swiftie Easter egg mode when it comes up with inventing theories as to why Taylor Swift could be the Grand Marshal. Starting with the first word of the theme “magic.” You know what’s magical? Fairytales. You know who has a song called “Today was a Fairytale?” Taylor Swift. And if we want to focus on teamwork, you know what requires a team of hard-working individuals coming together? A sold out, two-year long, worldwide tour aka The Eras Tour.
Swift clearly trusts the team of dancers who joined her on stage each night because not only did she rehearse “The Tortured Poets Department” with them ahead of the album’s release so that they could incorporate the album into the tour, she also reunited the gang for her latest music video “The Fate of Ophelia” from her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
And finally, after Swift was able to repurchase her masters earlier this year, she announced that while she wouldn’t be rerecording her sixth studio album “Reputation,” she would be releasing the vault tracks from it.
When could these songs be released you ask? Well it seems fitting that they would be released on New Year’s Day, given that’s one of the names of the songs on the album, which she also performed with “New Romantics” on her Aug. 9 Eras Tour show at SoFi Stadium, where she announced her last re-record, “1989 (Taylor’s Version). Do you know what also happens on New Year’s Day? The Rose Parade.
I rest my case.