Thanksgiving 2026 New York: Macy’s Parade and Black Friday

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The parade leaves at 8:30am New York time from 77th Street and Central Park West. It runs down Central Park West, along Central Park South, then up Sixth Avenue to Herald Square, where it arrives around noon. According to NBC News, the route is about 4 km (2.5 miles). For a UK reader, the easy reference is 1:30pm in London.

The 2026 edition is the 100th, not the 102nd as is sometimes written. The first parade dates from 1924, its centenary was celebrated in 2024, and there was no parade during the war, from 1942 to 1944. To mark the occasion, Macy’s launched a 100-day countdown in a press release dated 18 August 2026, which announces Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Underdog back above the skyline for the first time since 1984, and Felix the Cat. The 2026 list of performers and presenters had not yet been published when this was written.

NBC broadcasts the parade live from 8:30am, with a repeat around 2pm, according to the channel’s information for the 2025 edition. The viewing zones NBC published for 2025 give an idea of the best spots: the west side of Central Park West, between 75th and 63rd Streets, for the start; Sixth Avenue, from 59th to 38th Street, for the busiest zone. There is no public viewing between 59th and 60th Streets. Macy’s had not yet published the 2026 route when this was written, so check the official parade page before you go.

The balloons are inflated the day before, free of charge, near the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West. In 2025, this inflation session took place on Wednesday 26 November, from 1pm to 6pm, according to CBS News and NBC New York. For 2026, Wednesday 25 November is only a working assumption, not confirmed. No official grandstand tickets have been found for 2026: the grandstand seats sold by resellers on the street or online are not official, and it is best not to buy them.

Highlights

• Departure at 8:30am (New York time), arrival around noon at Herald Square.
• Free access along the route, no booking needed.
• Giant balloons, floats, marching bands and dancers, broadcast live by NBC.

The parade in rain, wind and cold

Macy’s applies a “rain or shine” policy: the parade goes ahead in the rain and the cold. The real limit is the wind. According to AccuWeather, the character balloons are not inflated if gusts exceed 34 mph (about 55 km/h) or if the average wind exceeds 23 mph (about 37 km/h). Only the balloons are pulled: the parade carries on. The decision is made on the day, with no advance notice, which matters if you are coming for one particular balloon.

The parade’s history puts this in perspective. In 1971, torrential rain kept the balloons on the ground for the whole parade. In 2006, the wettest day brought around 44 mm of rain. In 2018, the thermometer dropped to -7 °C during the parade, according to NBC New York.

To prepare, the November averages for Central Park, published by the National Weather Service, give an average temperature of about 5 to 13 °C across the month.

Highlights

• The parade goes ahead even in the rain, with no postponement.
• Only the character balloons are pulled if the wind is too strong.
• Pack layers, gloves and waterproof shoes.

Shopping on Friday 27 November

Black Friday is the Friday right after Thanksgiving. In the US it marks the start of the holiday shopping season, when stores launch their biggest sales. It is not a public holiday, so most shops are open as usual, but government offices are closed on the Thursday. The weekend of 27 to 29 November is packed with sales and promotions.

Macy’s Herald Square, at 151 West 34th Street (address to be confirmed on macys.com), is the largest Macy’s store in the United States, according to Wikipedia. The 2026 opening hours for Thursday evening and Black Friday had not been published when this was written. Macy’s has opened on the evening of Thanksgiving in the past, but do not assume it: check the hours before you go. Expect long queues, especially in the toy and cosmetics departments.

The other shopping streets are Fifth Avenue, with its window displays and Saks Fifth Avenue, Lexington Avenue for Bloomingdale’s, then SoHo and Chelsea for independent boutiques and brands, which are generally open on Friday. The opening hours of these stores were not checked for 2026.

One budget point to keep in mind: the price on the tag does not include the 8.875% sales tax, as NYC Tourism explains. Discounts are often shown before tax, and your card’s foreign exchange fees are added to the total. Keep your receipts, and check the returns policy before you buy.

Highlights

• Macy’s Herald Square, the flagship on 34th Street.
• Fifth Avenue, SoHo and Chelsea for brands and independent boutiques.
• 8.875% sales tax to add to the price on the tag.

Four days between the parade, shopping and markets

Thursday 26 November. The parade in the morning, then brunch in a hotel or a neighbourhood restaurant, booking recommended. In the afternoon, head to Rockefeller Center: the tree goes up in early November, and its lighting is announced for Wednesday 2 December according to a secondary source.

Friday 27 November. A day of shopping between Herald Square, SoHo and Chelsea Market. Museum hours vary this week, so check them before you set off. At the end of the day, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for the view over Manhattan.

Saturday 28 November. Take the Staten Island Ferry, which is free, at sunrise or sunset. Then stroll around Central Park, between Bethesda Terrace and Strawberry Fields. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular should run from early November to early January, according to the season announcements: to be confirmed.

Sunday 29 November. Brunch in Greenwich Village or Brooklyn, then Christmas markets: Union Square, Bryant Park Winter Village and Columbus Circle. The opening dates of these markets remain approximate.

For a view over the city, the 86th floor of the Empire State Building starts at $46 on the official site, and the combined ticket for the 102nd and 86th floors starts at $81. If your stay falls in the autumn, our New York Marathon 2026 spectator guide covers similar transport and budget tips.

Highlights

• Staten Island Ferry, free, about 25 minutes per crossing.
• Central Park, Bethesda Terrace and Strawberry Fields.
• Christmas markets at Union Square, Bryant Park and Columbus Circle.

Getting around on parade day and at the weekend

According to NY1, for the 2024 edition, the subway ran on the Sunday timetable on Thursday and the streets were closed in the morning. 72nd Street was served by lines 1, 2 and 3, 79th Street by line 1, and 59th Street-Columbus Circle by lines A, C and D. The 2026 timetables had not been published when this was written.

From JFK airport, the yellow taxi runs on a flat fare of $70 to Manhattan, plus tolls, surcharges and tip. As Thursday 26 November is a public holiday, there is no rush-hour surcharge. The AirTrain costs $8.75 to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then you take the subway, as Wikipedia describes.

The Staten Island Ferry is free and takes about 25 minutes each way. It passes the Statue of Liberty.

Highlights

• Flat-rate taxi from JFK to Manhattan at $70, excluding tolls and tip.
• AirTrain JFK at $8.75 to Jamaica or Howard Beach.
• Staten Island Ferry free, about 25 minutes per crossing.