The 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off in just a few hours, and if you're hoping to tune in, you've come to the right place. Below, we've gathered everything you need to know about where to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, including live streaming options for those without cable or an antenna.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a time-honored tradition, nearly as iconic as the holiday itself. Each year, tons of parade balloons, floats, musical performers, and other celebrities march through the streets of New York City while fans watch from the sidelines. Viewers at home can tune in thanks to NBC (and a few helpful streaming services).
The 2025 parade will be hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker. As always, it's expected to be a star-studded event. Wicked's Cynthia Erivo will kick things off with a performance, and Lainey Wilson, Gavin DeGraw, and Colbie Caillat are on the long list of other scheduled performers. As always, fans can also expect to see some performances from current Broadway hits. This year's Broadway line-up includes songs from Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time, and Ragtime.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about catching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, including live and encore options. Peacock is the cheapest US live streaming option for those without cable, and you can learn even more in our guide to the best Black Friday streaming deals.
*Sling TV's local channel coverage, including NBC, varies by region.
What channel is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on?
The 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on NBC in the US. The live broadcast kicks off on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET. An encore showing will air again at 2 p.m., so if you're hoping to sleep in, you can still catch the parade.
Where to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the US
If you don't have cable or an antenna, there are a few different ways to live stream the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Peacock is our top recommendation for live streaming the event since the service is the cheapest option in the US. While NBC live streaming is reserved for the Peacock Premium Plus tier (which costs $17 a month), select events — like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — are available to live stream through Peacock Premium, which costs $11 a month.
If you'd rather watch the parade through a streaming service that carries other channels beyond just NBC, a live TV streaming service can help you out. DirecTV and Sling TV are two of the best live TV streaming services we've tested that are also NBC-friendly.
DirecTV carries NBC in all of its signature plans, as well as several cheaper genre packs, including DirecTV MyNews. MyNews costs $40 a month, MySports costs $70 a month, and the signature plans start at $90 a month for the Entertainment tier. It's a good idea to check network availability on the genre packs since local channels can vary by region. DirecTV plans come with five-day free trials and often offer introductory deals.
Sling is a great budget live TV service, although NBC and local channel availability vary from region to region, so you should check to see what's accessible in your ZIP code before subscribing. NBC can be found in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, DC, and other select markets. Local channels are available in Sling Select (around 10 channels, $20-$25 a month) and Sling Blue (40+ channels, $46-$51 a month) plans.
How to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from anywhere
If you're traveling outside the US during the parade, you can still keep up with your usual watch options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that let you alter your virtual location, so your go-to websites and apps can function from anywhere. They're also instant ways to upgrade online privacy and security. Since the services we've recommended require US methods of payment, this option will work best for Americans who are simply traveling abroad at the moment.
NordVPN is our top recommendation right now. It's an easy-to-use option (even for beginners), features an impressive set of cybersecurity perks, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more in our NordVPN review, and explore some of Nord's Black Friday deals.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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