The 2026 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks is returning for its 50th anniversary, marking a major milestone alongside the 250th birthday of the United States. The two-hour broadcast is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET on July 4, 2026, offering a wide array of viewing options for audiences across the country.
NBC serves as the primary broadcast partner for the special, which will feature a coordinated display of 85,000 shells and new laser elements across the lower East River, the lower Hudson River, and the Brooklyn Bridge. According to a detailed broadcast guide, the event will also include performances by artists including Post Malone, Noah Kahan, and Blake Shelton, with television personality Terry Crews hosting the festivities.
Viewers can access the live event through several platforms:
- NBC: The primary television broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET.
- Peacock: A live streaming simulcast of the entire special will be available for subscribers.
- Telemundo: A Spanish-language broadcast of the event will air simultaneously.
The 2026 celebration faces significant competition for holiday viewership. As noted in updated holiday programming schedules, ABC, Disney+, and Hulu will concurrently air “Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash,” a concert and drone show that also kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.
For those looking for free, alternative coverage of Independence Day celebrations, publicly available streams, including those provided by PBS, offer coverage of various America 250 commemorations.