The Ultimate 2025 Guide: What Channel Is The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade And How To Stream It Live

Planning your Thanksgiving morning schedule around the biggest holiday spectacle in America? As of today, December 12, 2025, the official broadcast details for the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are locked in, ensuring you won't miss a single giant balloon, dazzling float, or star-studded performance. This year's parade promises to be an unforgettable event, continuing a nearly century-old tradition that brings the magic of New York City right into your living room.

The crucial question—"What channel is the Macy's Day Parade?"—has a clear answer: The exclusive home for the live broadcast remains the same, but your streaming options are better than ever. Get ready to tune in for the official start time and prepare for a morning filled with music, excitement, and iconic characters floating high above the streets.

The Official Channels and Live Streaming Options for the 2025 Parade

The 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Whether you prefer the traditional broadcast on cable or the convenience of a modern streaming service, there are multiple ways to catch the entire event live.

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The Main Broadcast Channel: NBC

The official, exclusive television home for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the NBC television network. For decades, NBC has been the go-to channel, providing high-quality coverage of the floats, marching bands, and performances from the heart of Manhattan. The broadcast typically features hosts from the network's flagship morning show, the Today show, offering commentary and interviews with the performers.

• Channel: NBC (National Broadcasting Company)
• Live Start Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
• End Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
• Time Zone Note: The parade is broadcast live in all time zones, running from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in your local time, ensuring everyone can watch the spectacle during their Thanksgiving morning.

The Official Live Stream: Peacock

For those who have cut the cord or prefer to watch on a mobile device, tablet, or smart TV, the official live stream is available exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service. This is the easiest and most reliable way to stream the parade live without a cable subscription. The Peacock stream is fully synchronized with the NBC broadcast, providing the same high-quality coverage.

Spanish Language Broadcast: Telemundo

Viewers who prefer a Spanish-language broadcast can tune into Telemundo. Telemundo provides dedicated coverage of the parade, making the annual tradition accessible to a wider audience.

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How to Stream the Macy's Parade Without Cable

If you don't have a traditional cable TV package, you still have several excellent options to watch the live broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Streaming the parade has become increasingly popular, offering flexibility and convenience.

Subscription-Based Live TV Services

Many popular live TV streaming services carry the NBC channel in their packages, allowing you to watch the parade live just as you would with cable. These services typically require a monthly subscription but offer a wide array of other channels as well. Popular options that include NBC often are:

• YouTube TV
• Hulu + Live TV
• FuboTV
• Sling TV (in select markets)

The Encore Presentation

Can't wake up early enough or need to focus on cooking the turkey? NBC typically airs an encore presentation of the parade later in the day. For 2025, an encore broadcast is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET. This is a great option for catching all the highlights and performances after your Thanksgiving meal.

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2025 Parade Highlights: Balloons, Floats, and Star Performers

The 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to feature a spectacular lineup of entertainment, ensuring high topical authority for the year's event. The parade is known for its sheer scale, featuring 34 giant character balloons, four "balloonicles" (vehicle-powered balloons), and 28 dazzling floats.

New and Returning Giant Balloons

The star attractions of the parade are always the colossal character balloons. While classic favorites like Snoopy, Pikachu, and SpongeBob SquarePants are expected, new additions and returning fan favorites make the 2025 lineup particularly exciting. Confirmed and rumored key balloon entities for the 2025 parade include:

• Buzz Lightyear (a new addition)
• Derpy Tiger From K-Pop Demon Hunters (a new addition)
• Mario (a new addition)
• Pac-Man
• Shrek's Onion Carriage
• Goku
• Bluey
• Minnie Mouse
• Tom Turkey (The iconic lead float)

Star-Studded Musical Performances

The parade is also a major showcase for top musical talent, with performances taking place on various floats along the route. The 2025 lineup is packed with entities across multiple genres, giving the event a wide appeal. Confirmed and rumored performers for the 99th Annual Parade include:

• Cynthia Erivo (of Wicked: For Good)
• Ciara
• Foreigner
• Lil Jon
• Kool & the Gang
• Busta Rhymes
• Mickey Guyton
• Teyana Taylor
• Jewel
• Luisa Sonza

Marching Bands and Floats

In addition to the main headliners, the parade features spectacular themed floats and some of the nation's best high school and college marching bands. The precision and energy of the marching bands and the creative artistry of the 28 floats are a core part of the parade's appeal, showcasing the spirit of the holiday season.

The History and Route of the Macy's Tradition

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the world's largest parades and a beloved American institution. The event first took place in 1924, making this the 99th annual iteration. This long history adds significant cultural weight to the tradition, connecting generations of families across the country.

The Parade Route

The parade traditionally begins on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, near the American Museum of Natural History. It then travels south along Central Park West and turns onto Central Park South. The final leg of the route takes it down 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) before culminating in front of the flagship Macy's Herald Square store at 34th Street. The route is a major logistical feat, requiring thousands of volunteers and police officers to manage the crowds and the massive balloons.

Key Entities and Logistics

The sheer number of entities involved in the production is staggering. Beyond the performers and balloons, the event includes:

• Over 5,000 Volunteers
• Dozens of Clowns
• Dance and Performance Groups
• The Macy's Santa Claus Float (The official arrival of Santa marks the start of the Christmas season)
• The Macy's Parade Studio (Where all the floats and balloons are designed and stored)

The Macy’s Balloon Inflation Event, held the night before Thanksgiving near the Museum of Natural History, is a popular pre-parade tradition that draws huge crowds and is often covered on local news channels, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the giant characters before they take flight.

Final Checklist: How to Watch the 2025 Parade

To ensure you don't miss the start of the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, here is a quick summary of the essential viewing details:

• What Channel: NBC (National Broadcasting Company)
• What Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in your local time zone
• How to Stream: Live on the Peacock streaming service
• Spanish Option: Telemundo

Set your alarms, prepare your coffee, and enjoy the biggest and most exciting parade of the year!