Where to Watch the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The short answer

The 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. It runs 2.5 miles, from 77th Street and Central Park West to Macy's Herald Square on 34th Street. Public viewing is free along designated parts of the route and is managed by the NYPD.

The parade is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon, and the NBC broadcast starts at 8:30 a.m. Grandstand seats are not sold to the public, so a spot on the sidewalk is your ticket.

Where the public can watch

For a first-timer, the best-value stretch is Central Park West between West 75th and West 61st Streets. It is near the start and avoids the heavier crowds toward the end of the route. The next best is Sixth Avenue between West 59th and West 38th Streets.

Several spots are off limits to the public, either because of the TV broadcast or reserved seating. Steer clear of these:

• Central Park West at West 77th Street
• Central Park West between West 60th and West 59th Streets
• Central Park South between Columbus Circle and Sixth Avenue
• Sixth Avenue between West 38th and West 34th Streets
• West 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

• Central Park West & West 66th StreetA curb on the open stretch of Central Park West, near the start.
• Columbus CircleWhere the parade turns; catch the tail end as it heads east.

What time to get there

Plan to be at your spot by about 6:30 a.m., and closer to 6:00 if you want the front curb on Central Park West. Streets are closed to traffic, and subway stations near the route can be restricted, so scout your walk the day before.

If the curbs near 66th Street are full by 7:00, move to Sixth Avenue in the 50s. The parade starts on the Upper West Side, so it reaches Sixth Avenue later in the morning. Standing on the east side of the street, facing west, keeps the rising sun behind you.

What to bring

You will stand or sit in the cold for hours, with no bathrooms along the route. Pack for that.

• Warm layers, thermal socks, gloves and a hat
• A foam pad or small folding seat, and hand warmers
• A thermos of something hot, plus snacks that are easy to eat
• A charged phone and a bag for your own trash
• A plan for restrooms: cafes and restaurants nearby are your best option

Balloon inflation on Wednesday, Nov. 25

The balloons are prepared on Manhattan's Upper West Side the day before, and watching is a good first-timer move. Macy's has said public access details will come later, so check macys.com before you go. In recent years it ran from 1 to 6 p.m., with entry at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue.

Nearby side streets close, and bags are checked at entry. Go in the afternoon and you will see the balloons take shape as the light fades. The American Museum of Natural History sits beside the staging area, which makes it an easy pairing.

• Levain BakeryBuy cookies the night before to tuck in your pocket for the wait.

The rest of Thanksgiving Day

After the parade, walk back to your hotel and thaw out. Museums and most shops are closed, and subways run a reduced schedule, so plan to walk.

In the evening, Bryant Park Winter Village is open for a post-dinner stroll. Our day-by-day plan puts balloon inflation on Wednesday, the parade on Thursday and the Rockettes on Friday.

• Keens SteakhouseHistoric steakhouse for a classic holiday dinner; reserve ahead.
• Bryant Park Winter VillageGlowing kiosks and skating, open on Thanksgiving night.