Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Turns 100 on Nov. 26 With New Mickey

The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade steps off on the morning of Nov. 26 in Manhattan, and viewers nationwide can watch on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. Disney announced on its Parks Blog that a brand-new Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey balloon will make its debut in the parade.

The first parade took place in 1924 and was then called The Macy’s Christmas Parade, according to Disney. The route runs from the Upper West Side to Midtown Manhattan, a journey of over 2 miles.

The Disney balloons and floats

Disney lists four attractions in this year’s lineup:

• Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, a new balloon. Mickey Mouse first flew as a balloon in 1934, and this is the first time this version of the character joins the parade as a balloon.
• Spider-Man, which first appeared as a balloon in the 1987 parade.
• Buzz Lightyear, a balloon that first launched in 2008.
• Disney Cruise Line’s float “Magic Meets the Seas,” back for a second year with Captain Mickey Mouse, Captain Minnie Mouse and friends.

Disney says it has taken part in 90 of the parades. The full 2026 lineup, with other new and returning entries, is listed on the Macy’s parade website.

What Balloonfest is

Balloonfest is an annual event held at the start of November, a few weeks before Thanksgiving. New balloons are inflated and ready to fly there, often for the first time outside a contained test flight environment. It is also where handlers learn how to guide the balloons along the parade route. Disney said the Mickey balloon has been cleared to fly this year.

Disney had unveiled the Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey balloon on Aug. 13, when it was inflated for the first time at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim during D23 Day. The balloon is hand-painted, according to Disney.

What this means for families visiting New York

For families in the city, Macy’s Herald Square has a 100th Parade Shop on the mezzanine level. Disney describes it as stocked with tote bags, headwear, pins, jackets, ornaments and bag charms, along with the Macy’s and Disney 2026 Holiday Collection. It also has parade memorabilia such as posters, costumes and props, and a timeline of when popular character balloons launched.

The holiday collection, which has over 100 pieces, includes pajamas, outerwear, matching sets, ear headbands and Loungefly backpacks. Some items are available now on macys.com and at the Herald Square flagship store. The full collection arrives in select Macy’s stores nationwide later this fall.

The parade is also on social media. Macy’s uses @macys and the hashtag #MacysParade, and more information is at macys.com/parade.

Source: Disney Parks Blog