Thanksgiving Parade Broadcast Time and Network Schedule
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, produced by Macy's and NBCUniversal, airs live on NBC and Peacock starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thanksgiving Day. The parade route runs along Central Park West and Seventh Avenue in New York City, with broadcasts anchored by NBC's morning team. Viewers can check local NBC station listings for exact start times in their time zone, as some affiliates may air a slightly delayed feed or pre-show coverage.
CBS also airs a competing Thanksgiving parade, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade simulcast partner coverage and other specials, often starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The CW and local PBS stations may carry additional parade-related programming, but NBC remains the primary broadcaster for the flagship Macy's event. Streaming options include Peacock, where the NBC broadcast is available live and on demand for subscribers.
How to Watch the Thanksgiving Parade on TV and Online
To watch the parade on traditional television, tune into NBC on most major cable and satellite providers, including Xfinity, DirecTV, Dish Network, and Spectrum. Antenna users can receive NBC over the air in most markets on channel 4 or the local NBC affiliate frequency. For cord-cutters, Peacock offers a live stream of the NBC broadcast, and some virtual MVPDs such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV carry NBC in their base packages.
Online viewers can stream the parade on Peacock, which requires a subscription that includes live NBC access. The NBC Sports app and website also provide a live stream for authenticated pay-TV subscribers. On social media, NBC and Macy's post highlights, behind-the-scenes clips, and parade footage on platforms such as YouTube and X, though full live coverage remains on the broadcast and Peacock streams.
Parade Route, Floats, and Performance Schedule
The parade route begins at West 77th Street and Central Park West, proceeds south along Central Park West, then turns east on 62nd Street, continues along Seventh Avenue, and ends at Herald Square near Macy's flagship store on 34th Street. The route features large character balloons, marching bands, floats, celebrity performances, and Broadway show acts, with NBC cameras positioned along the entire path for live coverage.
The parade typically begins with the opening ceremony and balloon inflation earlier in the morning, with the main broadcast starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Floats and balloon characters are sponsored by major brands, and the event draws millions of in-person spectators and television viewers annually. For the latest lineup of performers, balloons, and floats, NBC and Macy's publish updated schedules closer to the event date.