Equestrian team standing beside a golden carriage with costumes and floral garlands under Rose Parade lantern light

2026 Rose Parade: Magic Johnson Leads Parade, 137th Edition Unveiled

At a Glance

  • The 2026 Rose Parade kicks off on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.
  • Magic Johnson will serve as Grand Marshal for the 137th edition.
  • The parade starts at 8 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. CT / 11 a.m. ET and is broadcast on NBC (English) and Telemundo (Spanish).
  • Why it matters: It marks the start of a historic New Year tradition, drawing millions of viewers and showcasing global equestrian teams and marching bands.

The 2026 Rose Parade, the 137th edition of the iconic celebration, will feature rose-covered floats, equestrian teams, and marching bands from around the world. The event will take place on Jan. 1, 2026, in Pasadena, California, and will run in tandem with the Rose Bowl game.

Parade Timing and Broadcast

The parade begins at 8 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. CT / 11 a.m. ET. The schedule is as follows:

Time Zone Parade Start
PT 8 a.m.
CT 10 a.m.
ET 11 a.m.

NBC will broadcast the parade for the 99th year in English, while Telemundo will provide a Spanish-language feed. The show will also be available for streaming on several platforms:

Clock shows 8am with bold blue-green-red timezones on a blurred morning cityscape
  • Christmas Plus
  • Dooya
  • FanDuel Sports Network
  • Fubo
  • GFam+
  • Great American Pure Flix
  • Pluto TV
  • Samsung TV Plus

Grand Marshal

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the legendary basketball star and Los Angeles Lakers icon, will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

Rose Bowl Game

The Rose Bowl will feature the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers against the No. 8-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide. The game will be broadcast on ESPN with a stream on WatchESPN.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 Rose Parade starts on Jan. 1 in Pasadena and is the 137th edition.
  • Magic Johnson is the Grand Marshal, adding star power to the event.
  • Broadcasts are on NBC and Telemundo, with streaming on multiple platforms.

The 2026 Rose Parade promises a dazzling display of flowers, music, and tradition, drawing viewers worldwide to celebrate the New Year in style.

Author

  • I’m Michael A. Turner, a Philadelphia-based journalist with a deep-rooted passion for local reporting, government accountability, and community storytelling.

    Michael A. Turner covers Philadelphia city government for Newsofphiladelphia.com, turning budgets, council votes, and municipal documents into clear stories about how decisions affect neighborhoods. A Temple journalism grad, he’s known for data-driven reporting that holds city hall accountable.

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