Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026: the route, and where to stand

The route on a map

Green is where the public can watch; red is where you can’t. Herald Square — Sixth Avenue from 34th to 38th Street and 34th Street to Seventh Avenue — is the TV broadcast zone, closed to spectators.

Route, viewing areas and inflation streets as published for 2025 (NBC New York, West Side Rag, NYC street-closure notice). We’ll redraw the map when Macy’s posts 2026.

Parade day, and the day before

Parade

Thursday, November 26, 2026, from 8:30am. In 2025 it ran 8:30am to about noon, roughly three and a half hours.

On TV

NBC, Peacock and Telemundo from 8:30am in every time zone (Macy’s, August 2026).

Balloon inflation

Wednesday afternoon before the parade, free, no ticket: 1–6pm, line from noon, entry closed at 6pm, rain or shine. Enter at W 72nd St & Columbus Ave; exit at W 81st St & Central Park West.2025 detail · 2026 not out yet

Street closures

Central Park West 72nd–86th Sts from Wednesday night to 3pm Thursday; Sixth Ave 23rd–42nd Sts 2am–3pm and 42nd–58th Sts 5am–3pm; W 59th St Fifth Ave–Columbus Circle 1am–5pm; W 34th St Fifth–Eighth Aves from 9pm Wednesday.2025 detail · 2026 not out yet

Subway

Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving; some trains skipped 81 St–Museum of Natural History and 57 St from 4 to 11am; extra early service on the 1 and the 42 St Shuttle.2025 detail · 2026 not out yet

The 100th

A record 100 inflatables, including returning classics — Felix the Cat, a reimagined Underdog, the Blue Hippopotamus — a new “Joe Cool” Snoopy, and new floats. Macy’s says the parade began in 1924 and skipped 1942–44.

Tips

From Macy’s, the City and last year’s coverage.

• DoWatch from Sixth Avenue for roomSixth Ave between Central Park South and 38th St is 20-odd blocks of public viewing — more space than Central Park West.
• DoBe there by 6amMacy’s says viewing on Central Park West opens as early as 6am; the front rows fill fast.
• Don’tDon’t aim for Herald SquareThe finish is the broadcast zone — no public viewing, and the grandstand seats aren’t sold.
• DoGo to the inflation the day beforeFree on the Wednesday afternoon outside the Natural History Museum — the balloons up close, without the parade crowd.
• Don’tLeave the big bag at homeAt the 2025 inflation, backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, chairs, alcohol and drones were banned.
• Heads upSubways run a Sunday scheduleSome stations near the route skip stops in the morning and exits close — walk a block or two away to board.

The parade in pictures

More this season