How to Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live Online Without Cable for Free

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With “Stranger Things” introducing a Hawkins float and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions making an ad play during the event this year, the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the holiday season with massive balloons, floats and hot performances from Busta Rhymes, HUNTR/X from “KPop Demon Hunters”, Cynthia Erivo and other recording artists.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes places across Manhattan in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 27. The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT on NBC and Peacock — who is introducing a new multicam view of the festivities.

Since Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcasts on NBC, the parade is also available to watch online with web-based cable alternatives, like DirecTV — which starts at $49.99 for the first month of service ($89.99/month) and offers a 5-day free trial for new subscribers.

NBC is available online with a subscription to Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (depending on your local TV market) too. Additionally, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade livestreams on Peacock for subscribers only.

Not a subscriber? You can purchase the livestream feed of the parade starting at $10.99/month for the ad-supported plan, or $109.99/year when you sign up for an annual subscription here. In addition, you can go ad-free for $16.99/month, or $169.99/year for the annual plan.

Aside from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Peacock is the home to hit movies and TV shows, such as “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Bad Guys 2,” “Nobody 2,” “How to Train Your Dragon” (2025), “Love Island USA,” “Bel-Air,” “The Traitors,” “St. Denis Medical,” “Stumble,” “Saturday Night Live” and others. It also features sports leagues, including the, NFL on NBC and “Sunday Night Football,” NBA on NBC, Premiere League, PGA, NASCAR, IMSA, Big Ten Football and others.

The parade features 34 massive balloons, 28 over-the-top floats, 11 marching bands from across the country, 4 elegant balloonicles, 33 silly clown crews, 9 high-energy performance groups and 14 skilled specialty units. It also features 28 musical performances from top recording artists, including Busta Rhymes, HUNTR/X from “KPop Demon Hunters”, Ciara, Cynthia Erivo, Gavin DeGraw, Lainey Wilson, Teyana Taylor and others. Learn more about Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade here.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT, the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcasts on NBC via DirecTV and livestreams on Peacock.