The Definitive Guide: What Channel Is The 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade On This Year?

The answer you need for your Thanksgiving morning tradition is clear: The 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live on NBC and Telemundo on Thursday, November 27, 2025. This iconic holiday spectacle, which marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season, is a must-watch event for millions of families across the United States, and knowing the precise channel and time is essential for planning your holiday morning. The broadcast will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in all time zones, ensuring everyone can catch the floats, balloons, and musical acts as they march through New York City.

The 2025 parade is set to be a spectacular celebration, featuring a dazzling array of giant character balloons, elaborate floats, and star-studded musical performances. For the first time, the entire broadcast will also be available to stream live on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, providing a convenient option for those who have cut the cord or prefer to watch on a mobile device. This comprehensive guide will break down every way to watch, from traditional cable to modern streaming services, ensuring you don't miss a single moment of the 99th annual event.

The Essential 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Viewing Guide

To make sure your holiday viewing is seamless, here are the critical details regarding the date, time, and official broadcast channels for the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2025. This information is current as of December 2025, making it the most up-to-date schedule available.

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• Event Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
• Live Broadcast Channel: NBC (English) and Telemundo (Spanish)
• Live Streaming Platform: Peacock
• Start Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
• End Time: 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
• Encore Presentation: An encore presentation is typically shown in the afternoon, often around 2:00 p.m. ET, for those who missed the live broadcast.
• Duration: The parade runs for a full 3.5 hours of live entertainment.

How to Stream the Parade Without Cable (Cord-Cutter Options)

The days of needing a traditional cable subscription to watch the Macy's Parade are long gone. Thanks to NBCUniversal’s digital platforms and various live TV streaming services, cord-cutters have multiple ways to tune in for the 2025 spectacle. The primary and most direct streaming option is through Peacock.

Peacock Streaming:

Peacock is the official streaming home for the event. The entire live broadcast, including the exclusive content and performances, will be available to stream through the Peacock app and website. This is often the most reliable and highest-quality digital stream available.

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Live TV Streaming Services:

Because NBC is the official broadcaster, any live TV streaming service that carries your local NBC affiliate channel will allow you to watch the parade live. These services are excellent alternatives to traditional cable and include:

• Hulu + Live TV
• YouTube TV
• FuboTV
• Sling TV (via the "Blue" package in select markets)
• DirecTV Stream

Many of these services, like FuboTV, offer a free trial period, which you can strategically use to watch the parade for free before committing to a subscription.

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Parade Hosts, Musical Acts, and Featured Performers

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is not just a procession of balloons; it's a major entertainment event featuring top-tier talent. The 2025 lineup is packed with entities that add significant topical authority to the event, ensuring a high-energy broadcast.

The Official Hosts:

The broadcast will be helmed by the familiar faces of NBC's Today show. The official hosts guiding viewers through the 99th annual event are the beloved duo of Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker. They will provide commentary, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights throughout the morning.

Star-Studded Performance Lineup:

The 2025 parade will feature a wide range of musical and theatrical performances, with acts representing country, pop, rock, and Broadway. Key performers scheduled to appear include:

• Lainey Wilson (Country Star)
• Cynthia Erivo (Star of the movie Wicked)
• Ciara
• Gavin DeGraw
• Mickey Guyton
• Foreigner
• Kool & the Gang
• Busta Rhymes
• Calum Scott
• Christopher Jackson
• Drew Baldridge
• Matteo Bocelli
• Colbie Caillat
• Meg Donnelly
• Mr. Fantasy
• The iconic Radio City Rockettes

New Balloons, Floats, and the Official Parade Route

The heart of the Macy's Day Parade is its spectacular collection of giant balloons and intricate floats. The 99th edition in 2025 promises to deliver with a total of 34 balloons and 27 floats, including several exciting new additions.

The Newest Giant Character Balloons

Each year, Macy's debuts new character balloons that become instant holiday favorites. For 2025, the new additions showcase popular characters from movies, video games, and animated series, adding a fresh visual element to the parade. New balloons to look out for include:

• Buzz Lightyear from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story
• Mario from Nintendo (a highly anticipated video game character debut)
• PAC-MAN (another classic video game icon)
• Derpy Tiger from the animated series KPop Demon Hunters
• Shrek's Onion Carriage (a new take on a classic Dreamworks character)
• A variety of returning favorites, such as Beagle Scout Snoopy and Bluey.

The Official 2025 Parade Route

While most viewers will be tuned into NBC or Peacock, understanding the 2.5-mile parade route is key for those watching in person or simply curious about the logistics of the massive event. The route remains largely consistent with recent years, starting in the Upper West Side and concluding in Herald Square.

The parade steps off at 8:30 a.m. ET from its starting point at West 77th Street and Central Park West.

From there, the procession travels south along Central Park West to Columbus Circle.

It then turns east onto West 59th Street and proceeds to Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas).

The parade continues south down Sixth Avenue until it reaches West 34th Street.

The grand finale takes place at the iconic Macy's Herald Square (34th Street), where the performers conclude their acts and Santa Claus officially arrives to usher in the holiday season.

Whether you choose to watch on the official NBC broadcast, stream live on Peacock, or tune in via a cable-alternative service, the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 27, 2025, is poised to be an unforgettable kickoff to the holiday season.