The New Balloon Defining the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

It's already that time! Thursday, November 27, 2025, is Thanksgiving Day, and if you're not lining the streets of New York City, you're probably watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from your TV, laptop, or phone. But what's the best way to stream the parade? Are there new balloons this year? Here's what to know, plus the reason why this parade is super historic.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Streaming

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on NBC, which means that it streams on Peacock. The live coverage starts on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Streaming Time

The parade is set to start at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Because the parade starts when it starts, this means that you'll have to be up a bit early on the West Coast to catch the beginning of the parade.

New 2025 Thanksgiving Day Balloons

For 2025, there are five new balloons featuring the following characters:

• Buzz Lightyear
• PAC-MAN
• Shrek's Onion Carriage
• Mario
• Derpy Tiger

Yes, this is the first time Nintendo's Mario has been a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's hard to believe, but even though Mario has been around since 1981, it's taken 44 years for him to become a ballon.