NBC and Peacock’s broadcast of the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade shattered records with 34.3 million total viewers, an 8% jump from last year’s 31.3 million and the largest audience in the event’s 99-year history.
The live NBC telecast alone averaged 25.4 million viewers, also up 8% year-over-year and marking the most-watched entertainment program on linear television in nearly seven years.Key numbers at a glance:
The surge was fueled by Peacock’s growing subscriber base (roughly 5 million more than in 2024) and an expanded 8:30 a.m. ET start time. Jen Neal, NBCUniversal’s EVP of Live Events, called the numbers “record-breaking” and a perfect holiday kickoff, while Macy’s CMO Sharon Otterman credited the mix of top talent and cultural moments.
The 2025 parade featured 34 giant character balloons (including new entries Buzz Lightyear, Mario, and Pac-Man), more than 5,000 volunteer performers, and standout musical numbers, most notably a bilingual K-pop performance from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters cast.
NBC’s rights to air the parade run through 2035, setting the stage for an even bigger 100th anniversary celebration in 2026.