Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026:The 100th Parade Guide and Car Service Plan
The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marches through Manhattan on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and it is expected to draw the biggest crowds in its history. Here is the route, what is new for the centennial, how balloon inflation works the night before, where to watch, and how to plan a drop-off and pickup from Manhattan, Long Island or the airport.
- 01Date, time and routeThe parade takes place on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, 2026.
- 02What is new for the 100th paradeMacy's has been revealing new balloons for the centennial through 2026.
- 03Balloon inflation the day beforeOn Wednesday, November 25, the giant balloons are inflated on the streets around the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side.
Date, time and route
The parade takes place on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, 2026. NBC’s broadcast has started at 8:30 AM Eastern in recent years, and the parade usually ends around noon at Macy’s Herald Square. The route runs about 2.5 miles, starting at West 77th Street and Central Park West, heading south along Central Park West to Columbus Circle, east along Central Park South, then down Sixth Avenue to Herald Square on 34th Street. Herald Square itself is reserved for the TV broadcast and ticketed guests.
What is new for the 100th parade
Macy’s has been revealing new balloons for the centennial through 2026. Announced so far, according to Parade.com, are a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, Joe Cool and Woodstock from Peanuts, Underdog returning for the first time in more than 40 years, and a brand-new Hello Kitty. Performers had not been announced at the time of writing. Expect extra crowds from visitors who travel in just for the anniversary, so plan your arrival earlier than you would in a normal year.
Balloon inflation the day before
On Wednesday, November 25, the giant balloons are inflated on the streets around the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. It is free to watch and is one of the best Thanksgiving traditions for families, but the viewing line can be long, and streets around the museum close to traffic. Macy’s confirms the exact hours and viewing entrance in November, so check macys.com before you go.
Balloon inflation night is also one of the busiest travel evenings of the year, because it falls on the same Wednesday as the Thanksgiving airport rush. If you are visiting from Long Island or New Jersey, a car that drops you a few blocks away and waits for your text is far easier than parking on the Upper West Side.
Where to watch
- Central Park West, in the 60s and 70s: the classic free viewing area near the start of the route. Arrive very early for the front row.
- Sixth Avenue: long stretches of free viewing in Midtown, usually a little less crowded than Central Park West.
- Herald Square: reserved for the broadcast and ticketed viewers only.
- Hotel rooms and private viewing: some hotels and offices along the route offer window views. Our chauffeurs can take you to and from the hotel door on the side streets that stay open.
Bring warm layers, snacks and something to sit on. Late November mornings in Manhattan are often cold and windy.
Road closures and drop-off zones
The NYPD closes the route and many cross streets from early Thanksgiving morning, and closures around the museum start on Wednesday for balloon inflation. Cars cannot get close to the route while it is closed. The NYPD publishes the official closure list in the days before the parade, and our dispatch team plans every drop-off around it.
In practice, the best drop-off and pickup points are a few avenues away from the route: Columbus Avenue or Amsterdam Avenue for Central Park West, and Fifth Avenue or Seventh Avenue for Sixth Avenue, depending on closures that morning. Agree on a pickup corner before you get out of the car and text your chauffeur when you start walking back. Your chauffeur will wait nearby, so you are not searching for a ride in a huge crowd.
Coming from Long Island
From Nassau County, plan to leave by about 5:30 AM to reach a drop-off point before the closures and find a good spot. From Suffolk County and the North Shore, leave earlier. The highways are often quieter early on Thanksgiving morning, but the last mile into Manhattan is slow once closures begin. A private car means no early LIRR connection with children and folding chairs, and no parking garage near the route.
After the parade, many families go straight to Thanksgiving dinner with relatives. Book a timed pickup and add the dinner address as a second stop, so the whole morning runs as one trip.
Thanksgiving week airport travel
The parade falls in the busiest airport week of the year at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. Wednesday, November 25 and Sunday, November 29 are expected to be the peak days. If you are flying in for the 100th parade, book your airport pickup early and share your flight number so your chauffeur can track it. Our Thanksgiving week airport guide has a day-by-day plan, and our guide to how early to leave for JFK covers departure timing. Arriving at JFK? See the JFK terminal guide for where car services pick up during construction.
Booking a car for parade day
MZ RIDE runs private sedans, SUVs and Sprinter vans for the parade, with door-to-door service from Manhattan hotels, Long Island, New Jersey and the airports. See our Thanksgiving Day Parade car service page for options. Thanksgiving morning books up early, so reserve as soon as your plans are set.
Before Thanksgiving comes Halloween: see our Village Halloween Parade 2026 guide for the Oct 31 route and drop-off points.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Thursday, November 26, 2026. NBC’s broadcast has started at 8:30 AM Eastern in recent years, and the parade usually ends around noon.
Is 2026 the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Yes. The 2026 parade is the 100th, and Macy’s has announced new balloons for the anniversary, including a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey and a new Hello Kitty.
When and where is balloon inflation?
On Wednesday, November 25, around the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. Macy’s confirms the exact hours and entrance in November.
Can a car service drop me off at the parade route?
Not on the route itself, because streets close from early morning. Your chauffeur drops you a few avenues away, such as Columbus Avenue or Fifth Avenue, and picks you up at a corner you agree on.
What time should I leave Long Island for the parade?
From Nassau County, leave by about 5:30 AM. From Suffolk County, leave earlier, to reach a drop-off point before the closures.
Can I book a car from the parade to Thanksgiving dinner?
Yes. Book a timed pickup after the parade and add your dinner address as a second stop.
Sources: Parade.com (updated Aug 13, 2026) on the 2026 date and new balloons; NBC broadcast times from recent years. Balloon inflation hours, performers and NYPD street closures for 2026 had not been published when this guide was updated on October 27, 2026; check macys.com and NYC.gov before you go.
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