The Ultimate 2025 Guide: 5 Ways To Watch The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Channel, Start Time, & New Streaming)

The 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to be a spectacular kickoff to the holiday season this year, 2025, and knowing exactly where to tune in is crucial for your Thanksgiving morning. This guide provides the most current and essential details for watching the iconic event, from the official broadcast channel to the latest streaming innovations, ensuring you don't miss a single giant balloon or star-studded performance. The beloved tradition, which takes place on Thursday, November 27, 2025, will once again be broadcast live from New York City, bringing its signature blend of massive character balloons, intricate floats, marching bands, and A-list entertainers directly to your living room. Whether you prefer traditional cable, a streaming service, or even a free over-the-air signal, we've broken down every viewing option for the 99th edition of this American institution.

The Official 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Broadcast Details

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has a long-standing broadcast home, making it easy for millions of families across the country to find the live telecast. This year is no different, but with a major new streaming feature that promises to change how cord-cutters experience the event.

Primary Channel and Start Time

The official and exclusive national broadcast of the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live on NBC. * Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025 (Thanksgiving Day). * Start Time: The parade officially begins at 8:30 a.m. ET. * Duration: The live coverage runs until 12:00 p.m. ET. * Time Zone Note: The broadcast is aired live in the Eastern Time Zone (ET) and then tape-delayed for viewers in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time Zones to ensure it starts at 8:30 a.m. local time everywhere. For those with cable or a simple antenna, tuning into your local NBC affiliate is the most straightforward way to catch the entire 3.5-hour spectacle.

Groundbreaking Streaming Option: Peacock's Multiview

For the first time ever, the 2025 parade will offer a revolutionary viewing experience on the streaming platform Peacock. * Platform: Peacock, NBC's streaming service. * Viewing Mode: The parade will stream live and on-demand, but the most exciting new feature is the multiview mode. * What is Multiview? This new technology allows viewers to watch the main parade broadcast while simultaneously viewing other perspectives, such as a dedicated camera on a specific float, a close-up of a musical performance, or an angle focused solely on the giant balloons. This is a game-changer for fans who want a more customized and interactive viewing experience. This new streaming option makes Peacock the definitive platform for the most dynamic and in-depth coverage of the 99th Annual Parade.

How to Watch the Parade Without Cable (4 Essential Options)

If you've cut the cord and don't subscribe to traditional cable television, you still have multiple reliable ways to stream the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live on November 27, 2025.

1. Peacock Subscription

As the official streaming home of NBC, Peacock is the simplest and most feature-rich way to watch. A subscription will grant you access to the live NBC feed, the on-demand replay, and, crucially, the new multiview experience. This is the only platform offering the innovative multiview feature.

2. Live TV Streaming Services

NBC is included in the channel lineups of several popular live TV streaming services. If you already subscribe to one of these, you're all set: * Hulu + Live TV * YouTube TV * FuboTV * Sling TV (in markets where it carries NBC) * DIRECTV Stream A free trial for one of these services is also a popular option for those who only need access for Thanksgiving Day.

3. NBC's Website or App

You may be able to stream the live parade broadcast directly through the official NBC website or the NBC app. However, this often requires a login with a valid cable or live TV streaming subscription.

4. Digital Antenna (The Free Option)

For the absolute cheapest option, a simple, one-time purchase of a digital TV antenna can pick up the local NBC broadcast signal for free, provided you live in a good reception area. This is a completely legitimate and free way to watch the parade in high definition.

Star-Studded Lineup: Performers and Entities to Watch

A huge part of the parade's topical authority and appeal is the incredible roster of musical artists and Broadway stars who perform on the floats. The 2025 lineup is packed with talent, adding significant excitement to the broadcast.

Featured Musical Performers

The 99th Annual Parade features a diverse array of artists across multiple genres: * Cynthia Erivo: The *Wicked: For Good* star is a major highlight. * Busta Rhymes: Performing on the *World of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* float. * Ciara: The multi-platinum singer. * Kool & the Gang: Bringing classic funk and soul. * Jewel: The celebrated folk-pop artist. * Lainey Wilson: A major star in country music. * Lil Jon: The iconic rapper and producer. * Darlene Love: The Queen of Christmas, known for her holiday classics. * Christopher Jackson: Broadway veteran and star of *Hamilton*. * Calum Scott: The English singer-songwriter. * Conan Gray: The popular pop artist. * Taylor Momsen: The frontwoman of The Pretty Reckless. * Matteo Bocelli: The Italian tenor. * Colbie Caillat: The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter. * Gavin DeGraw: The rock and pop artist. * Meg Donnelly: Star of *Zombies* and *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series*. * Drew Baldridge: The rising country star.

Parade Entities and Spectacles

Beyond the musical acts, the parade is famous for its visual spectacles, which will all be prominently featured on the NBC and Peacock broadcasts: * Giant Character Balloons: Look for returning favorites and new additions to the massive balloon lineup. * The Tom Turkey Float: A parade staple that traditionally leads the way. * Broadway Performances: Expect exclusive previews from hit Broadway shows, often performed right in front of Macy's Herald Square. * Marching Bands: Over a dozen of the nation's top high school and college marching bands will be performing. * Floats: Intricate and colorful floats from sponsors like McDonald's, Kinder, and various holiday-themed entries. * Santa Claus: The grand finale, marking the official start of the Christmas season. Make sure to set your alarms for 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 27, 2025, and prepare for the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC or Peacock, especially if you want to try out the exciting new multiview streaming experience.