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The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is back with festive and massive balloons, floats, balloons, balloonicles, marching bands and performances recording artists, such as Busta Rhymes, HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters, Ciara, Cynthia Erivo, Gavin DeGraw, Lainey Wilson, Teyana Taylor and others.
On Thursday, Nov. 27, Macy’s 99th celebration goes through its traditional 2.5-mile route throughout Manhattan — from the Upper West Side to Midtown — with a start time of 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET. It broadcasts on NBC and livestream on Peacock.
At a Glance: How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Online
- When: Thursday, Nov. 27 starting at 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
- Stream online: DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue, Peacock
The easiest way to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable is by signing up for Peacock, as well as DirecTV, which comes with a five-day free trial.
This year, pop culture franchises and brands get their names in front of live spectators. Characters from Marvel, Disney, Nintendo, Bluey, Pokemon and many more movies, TV shows and popular brands join the parade.
Below, keep reading to find out more ways to stream the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade online, the performance lineup and other information.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: Date, Time, Location
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in New York on Thursday, Nov. 27. The festivities run from 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET through 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET. The parade airs live on NBC and livestreams on Peacock.
Below, keep reading for more on how to stream the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade online with and without cable, including for free.
Who Is Performing at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
There are live performances from top recording artists at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, including Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Colbie Caillat, Foreigner, Gavin DeGraw, HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters, Jewel, Kool & the Gang, Shaggy, Teyana Taylor, Darlene Love, Debbie Gibson, Lainey Wilson, Lil Jon, Matteo Bocelli and many others.
The procession also features marching bands from across the country, crown crews and performance groups; get more details here.
How to Stream the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Online
Looking for ways to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade online? For those who haven’t yet subscribed to a streaming platform or are looking to cut the cord, below are a few ways to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade online without cable, including for free when you sign up for a new subscription.
DirecTV
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC with DirecTV. All of the cable alternative’s packages offer NBC, along with more than 90 channels — such as CBS, ABC, AMC, Bravo, CNBC, Disney Channel, ESPN and others.
The streamer has a free trial available, which only lasts for five days, but that’s more than enough time to watch the NFL game. You can cancel or keep the service after the free trial is over, with prices starting as low as $49.99 for the first month of service ($89.99 per month afterward) for the Entertainment package with the streamer’s current deals.
Peacock
Peacock is the home of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Not a Peacock subscriber? The streamer has an ad-free Peacock Premium package for $10.99 monthly (or $109.99 yearly). Otherwise, the ad-supported plan is $16.99 monthly (or $169.99 yearly). Aside from the parade, you’ll get access to originals such as Poker Face, Love Island USA, The Traitors, Ted and others; hit movies like How To Train Your Dragon (2025), The Phoenician Scheme, Megan 2.0, Honey Don’t! and others; live sports and entertainment from NBC Sports; and more than 50 “always-on” streaming channels.
Hulu + Live TV
To livestream the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade online on NBC, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV is another fantastic option. The streaming service has access to more than 95 other live channels — including BET, CNN, Food Network and more — starting at $89.99 per month and comes with Hulu’s entire streaming library, as well as Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited. Hulu is currently offering a three-day free trial to try before you commit.
Sling
Sling might be a good fit to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC — and the live TV streaming service is on sale for half off your first month of service. With Sling Blue, which includes NBC. The streaming plan comes with other news, entertainment and sports channels, such as Fox, Discovery Channel, FS1, MSNBC, NFL Network, SYFY, National Geographic and others.
Please note: Pricing and channel availability varies from location-to-location.
