Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: How to watch without cable, who’s performing and more

When is the Macy’s Day Parade?

Coverage of the Macy's Day Parade begins at 8:30 a.m. ET and will run until 12 p.m. on NBC. There will be an encore broadcast at 2 p.m. ET.

Where to watch the Macy’s Day Parade

Parade coverage will air on NBC. If you do not have NBC available, the parade coverage will be simulcast on Peacock. 

*in select locations

Watch on Peacock

Peacock is NBC’s streaming service with hit shows, new release movies, original content and more. If you upgrade to the Premium Plus plan, you’ll also get a livestream of your local NBC channel. This year, Peacock will be simulcasting parade coverage on Thanksgiving Day. The streaming service will also be sending a "Birds of a Feather Stream Together" float along the parade route, equipped with a camera operator to give viewers at home a live view of the route. 

Watch on DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM is one of the most robust streaming services. You will get NBC in any of the DIRECTV STREAM packages, but you'll also get a lot more. The service comes with unlimited cloud DVR storage and access to more regional sports networks (RSNs) than any other service. Each package also includes tens of thousands of on-demand titles so you can watch your favorite shows on your time. 

Watch on Fubo

Fubo is another great service that is a little more affordable than DIRECTV STREAM. Fubo packages also come with unlimited cloud DVR at no extra charge and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at home, plus 3 on the go. Along with your basic cable channels, including NBC, Fubo also comes with many channels that sports fans will enjoy, including FS1, ESPN, NFL Network and more.

Watch on Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV will also get you NBC to watch Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. The bonus of Hulu + Live TV is the bundling options that will also get you Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Access to these streaming services and the Hulu library gives you a lot of entertainment options outside of the sports and live event access you get with the Live TV channels. Having an ESPN Plus membership gives you access to exclusive ESPN content as well as documentaries and ESPN originals. Disney Plus gives you access to Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars libraries, and Hulu has current and classic TV shows available for you to binge as well as originals like The Handmaid's Tale, The Bear and more. 

Watch on Sling TV

Sling TV is one of the most affordable services. You will need the Sling Blue package to watch the Macy's Day Parade, but that also comes with other sports and entertainment channels like FS1, Fox Sports, Discovery, MSNBC, and more. The Blue package also includes 50 hours of DVR storage, and no long-term contracts are required to sign up. 

Watch on YouTube TV

YouTube TV is also a great option that will give you NBC to watch the Macy's Day Parade. It also may be the best choice if you are an NFL fan who doesn't live in-market for your favorite team because YouTube TV is the only streaming service that supports NFL Sunday Ticket, allowing you to watch up to four games at a time every Sunday. YouTube TV also has the key plays feature that will allow you to replay important plays of the game you are watching. Sports fans can also enjoy ESPN, FS1, NFL Network and more when they purchase a YouTube TV plan. 

Who is performing at the 2024 Macy’s Day Parade?

Once again, the Macy's Day Parade will include star-studded performances from music and Broadway's biggest stars. Featured performances include EGOT performer Jennifer Hudson, who will be singing a song from her new holiday album "The Gift of Love. Kylie Minogue and legend Billy Porter are also set to perform on 34th street in front of the Herald Square flagship Macy's Department store, along with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo. 

Other talent to be featured during the broadcast are Bishop Briggs, Kylie Cantrall, Chlöe, Dan + Shay, Dasha, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Coco Jones, Walker Hayes, Ariana Madix, Joey McIntyre, Idina Menzel, Natti Natasha, T-Pain, Rachel Platten, Lea Salonga, The Temptations, The War and Treaty, Alex Warren and Sebastián Yatra. Charli D’Amelio and ballet dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia will join the lineup with captivating performances. 

Stars Jonathan Bennett, Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny, Ginna Claire Mason, and members of WNBA Champions, New York Liberty with Ellie the Elephant will also make special appearances. Renowned choreographer Shay Latukolan has created the dances for the arrivals of staple floats Tom Turkey and Santa Claus at the closing of the parade. 

FAQ

Where can I stream the Macy's parade?

The Macy's Day Parade can be streamed on Peacock or through one of the streaming cable services listed above. The parade will be simulcast during the NBC presentation and available to stream on-demand afterward. 

Where does the Macy's Day parade take place?

The Macy's Day Parade takes place in New York City. It begins on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and concludes in front of the Macy's flagship store in Herald Square. 

Do performers sing live at the Macy’s Day Parade?

Singing live from the Macy's Day Parade floats is nearly impossible because rigging each individual float for broadcast-worthy sound is so difficult. It has been done on select occasions before, but the answer is probably not. The dancing and non-vocal performances are live.