Disney’s Sorcerer Mickey leads new balloons in Macy’s 100th parade

Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey heads a record 100-inflatable lineup for the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, 92 years after Mickey’s first balloon flew in 1934. Underdog is back for the first time since 1984, too.

Macy’s has filled in the lineup for its 100th Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Disney’s biggest new piece is wearing a wizard hat.

Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey is one of nine new giant balloons for the centennial parade on Thursday, Nov. 26, Mickey Visit reported Tuesday, Nov. 3, working from Macy’s official lineup. Macy’s says the parade will have 100 inflatables total, the most in its history.

The timing is cute. Mickey was Disney’s first Macy’s character balloon, back in 1934. That’s 92 years of Mickey floating over Manhattan, and this time he’s dressed for Fantasia.

Disney fans already got a sneak peek. The hand-painted balloon was inflated for the first time at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland on D23 Day in August, the Disney Parks Blog said.

Here’s how Macy’s builds its giant balloons, from TODAY:

What Disney balloons and floats are in the 2026 Macy’s parade?

Mickey has company. Here’s every Disney-connected piece in the lineup so far:

• Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey: Brand new, and inspired by Mickey’s role in Fantasia.

• Buzz Lightyear: The Toy Story space ranger is back.

• Spider-Man: Marvel’s wall-crawler returns, too.

• Magic Meets the Seas: Disney Cruise Line’s float returns with Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie and friends, plus what Macy’s calls an “all-new parade performance.” Mickey Visit noted Disney hasn’t announced the float itself. It shows up on Macy’s lineup page.

• Bluey: The Disney+ favorite flies in a new Christmas cracker crown. We covered that one on Oct. 6, so we’ll just wave.

Disney is also one of 25 brands working with Macy’s on centennial merchandise. The Disney and Macy’s holiday collection has more than 100 pieces, many inspired by the new Mickey balloon.

What other new balloons are in the 100th Macy’s parade?

Here are all nine new giant balloons, per Macy’s lineup:

• Billie Brightpaw, Macy’s new holiday mascot

• Bluey, in her Christmas look

• Buckaroo Bob the Minion

• Earl the Squirrel, Universal Orlando’s first Macy’s balloon, which we covered Oct. 28

• Hello Kitty, holding a big red apple

• Joe Cool and Woodstock

• Macy’s Blueprint Stars

• Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey

• Underdog, a reimagined version flying for the first time since 1984

Levi’s is adding a balloonicle, which is a balloon with a small self-powered vehicle inside that a driver steers from the base.

Macy’s is also bringing back Felix the Cat, the parade’s first character balloon in 1927, and introducing Tom Jr., son of the parade’s famous Tom Turkey.

The weirdest comeback? A Blue Hippopotamus nobody has seen since the 1931 parade. Macy’s says more details on that one are coming. We have questions.

What new floats are in the 2026 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Seven new floats join the lineup:

• Dashing All The Way by DoorDash

• Hogwarts Holiday, a Harry Potter float

• Macy’s Parade All-Stars, with Bullwinkle, Olive Oyl, Popeye, Swee’Pea and Sonic the Hedgehog

• Mr. Peanut’s Power Plant

• Purina Dog Chow Salute to Service Dogs

• Road Trip to Parade by GEICO

• Tony Sarg’s Amazing Marionettes, honoring the puppeteer behind the parade’s first giant balloons, with a puppet version of Sarg himself

That last float has a Disney tie. Sarg designed the original 1934 Mickey balloon with Walt Disney. It stood 40 feet tall and 26 feet wide, Mickey Visit noted.

How can I watch the 2026 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The parade airs from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 26, on NBC and Telemundo, and it streams on Peacock. Macy’s says the broadcast starts at 8:30 a.m. in every time zone, so nobody out West has to be up at 5:30 for balloons.

Macy’s performer list wasn’t part of the lineup coverage we found. Expect the usual Broadway casts, marching bands, clowns and the Rockettes, with Santa closing it out.

If you’re in New York, balloon inflation happens Wednesday, Nov. 25, on the streets around the American Museum of Natural History. Check Macy’s site for this year’s hours before you go.

A century of parades, and Mickey still has the best hat in Herald Square.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• Mickey Visit (Nov. 3, 2026), the new balloon and float lineup, Magic Meets the Seas float, broadcast times and the 1934 Mickey balloon size

• Macy’s via Business Wire (Aug. 18, 2026), the 100-inflatable record, Underdog, Tony Sarg float, All-Stars float, Felix the Cat, Blue Hippopotamus, Billie Brightpaw, Tom Jr., 25 brand partners and the all-time-zones start

• Disney Parks Blog (Aug. 13, 2026), Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey details, D23 Day inflation and the Disney and Macy’s collection

• Laughing Place (Aug. 13, 2026), the Downtown Disney preview

• Mommy Poppins (Nov. 1, 2026), Hello Kitty and Bluey details, Telemundo and balloon inflation location

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.