Conan Gray, Lainey Wilson and 'KPop Demon Hunters' at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What to know

NEW YORK (AP) — Two things that made massive cultural splashes this year — Labubu and “KPop Demon Hunters” — will fill the sky and streets of New York when the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off this year. Conan Gray and Lainey Wilson will bring the tunes.

The Nov. 27 parade begins rain or shine on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances. It will feature 34 balloons, four mini-balloons, 28 floats, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands — all leading the way for Santa Claus.

Here’s key things to know about the parade and how to watch it.

It starts at 8:30 a.m. Eastern and airs at that time in all time zones.

It will be on NBC, available with an antenna or through cable and satellite providers.

For cord cutters, the parade is being simulcast on Peacock and an encore telecast begins at 2 p.m. EST/PST. A Spanish language simulcast will also be on Telemundo.

Last year, more than 31 million people tuned in on NBC and Peacock, up 10% from the previous year and marking the biggest audience ever for the parade.

The Weather Channel predicts a high of 48 degrees and a partly cloudy day, with winds up to 13 mph. AccuWeather also predicts 48 degrees with intervals of clouds and winds at 12 mph. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying the full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or wind gusts are over 35 mph.

In addition to Gray and Wilson singing, “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will kick off the starry moving show. Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group at the heart of the Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” will feature alongside Ciara, Foreigner, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Busta Rhymes, Mickey Guyton and Teyana. An eclectic group of stars — from ballet dancer Tiler Peck to YouTube’s “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans — will join the annual holiday kick-off.

Broadway will be represented by cast members from “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time” and “Ragtime,” while the Radio City Rockettes will be there and some serious athletes — three-time U.S. national champion figure skater Ilia Malinin and U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace. Alumni and students at LaGuardia High School in New York City — the school featured in the movie and TV series “Fame” — will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of “A Chorus Line.”

Others on hand will be Alison Brie, Jewel, Debbie Gibson, Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Christopher Jackson, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith and Luísa Sonza.

For those watching on TV or computers, the trio of hosting stalwarts — Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker from “Today” and their former colleague Hoda Kotb. On Telemundo, the hosts will be Andrea Meza, Aleyda Ortiz and Clovis Nienow.

Kotb, who stepped down from “Today” in January, says working the parade was something she wanted to continue to do even after leaving the network, “One was the Olympics and the other were these parades because they’re just such fun, this one especially.”

The timing is good this year for the Kotb family. Her youngest daughter, Hope, is obsessed with “KPop Demon Hunters,” maybe even more than with Taylor Swift or Labubu. “This one is next level,” Kotb jokes. “I’ve never seen anything like it honestly. Labubu does not hold a candle to ‘KPop Demon Hunter' stuff.”

This year, four new featured character balloons will debut, including Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, Mario from Super Mario Brothers and a 32-foot-tall (9.8-meter) balloon onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of “Shrek.” “KPop Demon Hunters” will also be represented in the sky with the characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie.

Several new floats will debut this year, including the first Pop Mart float, with Labubu, Skullpanda, Peach Riot, Dimoo, Molly, Duckoo and Mokoko. There will also be floats from Holland America Line, Lego, Lindt chocolates, “Stranger Things” featuring members of Foreigner, and a bunch of whimsical sheep trying to get to sleep courtesy of Serta. The fish-shaped snack Goldfish is returning to the parade with a tiny float that measures just 14 Goldfish crackers long.

The marching bands will hail from South Carolina, California, Texas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Santiago, Panama. The New York Police Department’s marching band will also join. There will also be dancers and cheerleaders from Spirit of America Dance and Spirit of America Cheer.

This story first moved on Nov. 3, 2025. It was also updated Nov. 18 to add additional details about the parade, new floats and other details and on Nov. 24 to add more details and quotes from Kotb.

A new Thanksgiving Day float featuring Pop Mart's Labubu, right, and Mokoko are displayed during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A new Thanksgiving Day float featuring Legos is displayed during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A new Thanksgiving Day float featuring Pop Mart's Labubu, right, and Mokoko are displayed during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Sheep adorn a float by Serta during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A new Thanksgiving Day float featuring a monster from the show "Stranger Things" is displayed during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New Thanksgiving Day floats are displayed during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A new Thanksgiving Day float featuring Pop Mart's Labubu is displayed during a press preview of the new floats at Macy's Parade Studio in Moonachie, N.J., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FILE - Handlers guide the Snoopy balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

FILE - The Macy's Great American Marching Band plays as it heads down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

FILE - Parade performers lead the Tom Turkey float down Central Park West at the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York on Nov. 28 2024. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

Defending champion Arsenal advanced to the Women’s Champions League semifinals despite a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in a London derby on Wednesday.

With a 3-1 home victory in the first leg of the quarterfinal last week, Arsenal reached the last four on a 3-2 aggregate score and will next face either Wolfsburg or Lyonnes.

Sjoeke Nüsken scored for Chelsea from close rage in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Stamford Bridge.

In the dramatic last few minutes, Veerle Buurman hit the post for Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar saved a goal-bound header by Nüsken.

Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor received a red card in the dying seconds of the match.

The home team was pressuring Arsenal from the start with forward Sam Kerr particularly posing a threat. Kerr missed the first leg because she was playing for Australia at the Asian Cup.

Earlier, Bayern Munich rallied with two late goals in three minutes to beat Manchester United 2-1 and advance to the semifinals on a 5-3 aggregate score.

Glódís Viggósdóttir started the rally in the 81st with a header after a corner kick, and Linda Dallmann fired from inside the area after another corner to send Bayern to its first semifinal since 2021.

Making its debut in the quarterfinals, United traveled to Germany after losing to Bayern Munich 3-2 in the opening leg at Old Trafford.

The visitors dominated the first half with Melvine Malard putting them up 1-0 after 11 minutes. The France forward used a blunder by Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic to score into an empty net, and equalize the aggregate score at 3-3.

The German powerhouse applied pressure in the second half, but Manchester’s defense led by American goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce held firm until Viggósdóttir struck.

Bayern will face either Barcelona or Real Madrid in the last four.

The remaining two quarterfinals are Thursday: Barcelona hosts Real Madrid and leads 6-2 from the first leg; Wolfsburg takes a 1-0 lead to Lyon.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's Alessia Russo, left, shoots the ball during the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal in London, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Chelsea's Veerle Buurman reacts following defeat in the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal in London, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Alessia Russo, left, and Chelsea's Ellie Carpenter battle for the ball during the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal in London, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Bayern's Linda Dallmann, left, celebrates with Bayern's Giulia Gwinn after she scores her side's second goal during the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Manchester United's goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce leaps for the ball during the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

The ball lands behin Manchester United's goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce bottom left to make it 1-1 during the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP)

Manchester United's Melvine Malard, second right, celebrates scoring her side's frst goal during the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Glodis Viggosdottir, centre rear, scores her sides first goal during the Women's Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, left, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Women's Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)