From Broadway icons to pop superstars and animated favorites, the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade rolls out its most star-packed lineup yet—complete with 34 balloons, 28 floats, and showstopping performances that headline America’s favorite holiday tradition.
America’s Holiday Stage: Why the Parade Lineup Has Fans Buzzing
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is more than a New York mainstay—it’s where tradition, pop culture, and spectacle unite. Now in its 98th year, the 2025 edition promises one of the most ambitious lineups to date, affirming the parade as a national barometer of entertainment, nostalgia, and cultural diversity. The broadcast kicks off at 8:30 a.m. across all time zones on both NBC and Peacock, ensuring millions can share in the spectacle no matter where they spend Thanksgiving morning.
This year, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Hoda Kotb return to host, guiding viewers through a dazzling cavalcade of 34 towering character balloons, 28 engineered floats, 33 clown crews, and 11 top-tier marching bands. As in years past, the parade’s immense scale is only matched by the variety and stature of its musical lineup—an aspect that has turned the event into a can’t-miss showcase for fans of every generation.
Headliners: Who’s Performing at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade?
- Cynthia Erivo launches the parade with a Broadway anthem, fresh from her acclaimed turn as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good [Entertainment Weekly].
- Teyana Taylor, R&B innovator and star of One Battle After Another, adds contemporary flair.
- Kool & the Gang inject funk classics for all generations.
- Foreigner rocks out on the Stranger Things float, linking musical nostalgia and Netflix buzz.
- Busta Rhymes, Lil Jon, Lainey Wilson (2023 CMA Entertainer of the Year), Gavin DeGraw, Jewel, Taylor Momsen, and Ciara round out the pop, rock, and hip-hop roster.
- International and crossover performers—Luísa Sonza, Matteo Bocelli, Shaggy, and virtual group HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters—highlight the parade’s global reach [Entertainment Weekly].
The event also welcomes ballet stars Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia, pop-country favorites Colbie Caillat and Mickey Guyton, and the legendary Radio City Rockettes, who continue their 100th-anniversary celebration.
Broadway Takes Center Stage
The parade’s live Broadway performances are always a highlight, with casts turning Manhattan’s streets into a musical stage. For 2025, expect spotlight numbers from:
- Just in Time: Starring Jonathan Groff in a show lauded by critics for its dynamic energy and as a tribute to ’60s icon Bobby Darin [Entertainment Weekly].
- Ragtime: Featuring Joshua Henry, whose powerhouse vocals anchor this revival [Entertainment Weekly].
- Buena Vista Social Club and A Chorus Line: The Next Generation: Each deliver classic and contemporary Broadway spectacle.
Floats, Balloons, and Where to Spot Your Favorite Stars
The synergy of performer and float delivers some of the parade’s most unforgettable moments. Here’s where to find this year’s stars:
- Busta Rhymes: World of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Chocolate Factory (Nickelodeon/Paramount)
- Foreigner: Upside Down Invasion (Netflix’s Stranger Things)
- Cynthia Erivo, Debbie Gibson, Drew Baldridge, Gavin DeGraw, Shaggy, and Lil Jon are featured across flagship and branded floats from Hallmark, Brach’s, Toys”R”Us, and more.
- Special mention to EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami (HUNTR/X, KPop Demon Hunters), adding animation-inspired spectacle.
Massive balloons—34 in all—will preside over the festivities, while fans anticipate appearances by classic giants and newcomers, showcasing the parade’s role in reflecting emerging fandoms and streaming hits.
Fan Culture, Theories, and Community Traditions
The Macy’s Parade is a yearly lightning rod for fan speculation, both in terms of crowd-pleasing surprise guests and internet-driven campaigns for new floats and character balloons. Social media has fueled traditions like watching for a surprise cameo, tracking the parade’s cast announcements, and debating which new TV, movie, or video game characters are honored in oversized balloon form.
This year, nods to Stranger Things and Dragon Ball Z reflect the power of fandom to influence parade content, while the spotlight on Broadway’s next generation echoes passionate calls for more live theatre exposure in mainstream events.
Many viewers also participate in annual traditions—some recreating recipes inspired by parade floats, others keeping watch lists or bingo cards to track performer appearances. These rituals are a testament to how the parade functions as both a media event and a personal family tradition.
Broadcast Reach: How to Watch
Catching the action is easier than ever: the parade airs live on NBC and streams simultaneously on Peacock (8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in all time zones), with an encore airing at 2 p.m. ET. Each year, millions tune in, making the parade not only a celebration for those in New York but a foundational part of the American holiday experience [Entertainment Weekly].
For fans and families coast-to-coast, the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade provides a unique blend of tradition and timely spectacle—from Broadway and pop to viral icons and pop-culture parodies—making it the event that captures the heart of Thanksgiving.
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