New York City’s 107th Veterans Day Parade begins Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with a wreath-laying at 10:55 a.m. in Madison Square Park and a 12:30 p.m. step-off at Fifth Avenue and 26th Street. Marchers head north to a 45th Street dispersal, with NYPD street closures covering the Flatiron and Midtown blocks along the way.
Key Takeaways
- The annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony starts at 10:55 a.m. in Madison Square Park, on Fifth Avenue between East 23rd and East 24th Streets.
- The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. from Fifth Avenue at 26th Street and runs rain or shine until about 3:30 p.m.
- Retired Navy Capt. Sunita “Suni” Williams serves as Grand Marshal, and Navy veteran Vicki Bello serves as Honorary Marshal.
- More than 280 marching units and over 25 floats are scheduled, along with vintage vehicles, motorcycles and marching bands.
- WABC-TV (Channel 7) carries the parade live from 12:30 p.m., with streaming on its digital platforms.
- NYC public schools are closed, and Alternate Side Parking is suspended while parking meters stay in effect.
Wreath-Laying at Madison Square Park Opens the Morning
The NYC Veterans Day Parade does not start with marching. The United War Veterans Council, which produces the parade each year, opens Veterans Day with the annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at 10:55 a.m. in Madison Square Park. Wreaths are presented by veteran representatives, public officials, foreign allies and senior military leaders.
The timing places the ceremony close to 11 a.m., the hour tied to the 1918 Armistice that Veterans Day grew out of. For spectators, the ceremony also sets up the rest of the day. Madison Square Park sits at the southern end of the parade staging area, so anyone who attends the wreath-laying is already within a few blocks of the step-off point with about 90 minutes to spare.
Fifth Avenue Step-Off Begins at 12:30 p.m.
The NYC Veterans Day Parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. from Fifth Avenue at 26th Street and moves north into Midtown. Units disperse along East and West 45th Street between Sixth Avenue and Madison Avenue. The parade runs rain or shine and is expected to wrap up around 3:30 p.m.
The 107th edition features participants from every branch of the military, including veterans, active service members, service organizations and youth cadets. The United War Veterans Council has tied this year’s parade to the nation’s 250th anniversary and is giving the U.S. Navy a featured role.
Navy Veterans Lead the 107th Edition
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
That Navy focus shows up at the front of the line. Suni Williams, a retired Navy captain who flew aboard several space missions, serves as Grand Marshal. NY Weekly’s earlier preview of Suni Williams leading the 107th edition covers her selection in more detail.
Vicki Bello, the Honorary Marshal, brings a local connection. A native New Yorker, Vicki Bello enlisted in the Navy in 1985 and served as a Radioman at commands that included Adak, Alaska, and Ford Island, Hawaii. She later served two years in the Naval Reserve at Fort Schuyler in the Bronx and now manages community and veterans programs at the Theatre Development Fund.
Street Closures and the Construction Embargo Shape the Route
NYC DOT has confirmed street closures for the NYC Veterans Day Parade at the NYPD’s discretion, along with a special event construction embargo running from November 8 through November 11. The formation area alone takes up much of the Flatiron District:
- West 24th Street between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue
- West 25th Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue
- East and West 26th, 27th and 28th Streets between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue
- Broadway between West 23rd Street and West 29th Street, and between Fifth Avenue and East 23rd Street
- Fifth Avenue between West 23rd Street and West 26th Street
Fifth Avenue is closed between 25th Street and 48th Street for the route itself. Drivers and cyclists crossing between the East and West Sides should expect most crosstown streets in that stretch to be blocked during the parade.
A second closure sits downtown. A Veterans Day Festival closes Broadway between Liberty Street and Battery Place on the same day, which matters for anyone traveling through the Financial District.
Getting Around Midtown on a School Holiday
Veterans Day 2026 falls on a Wednesday. NYC public schools are closed, but many offices stay open, so families heading to the parade will share Midtown with a normal weekday crowd. The parade also arrives as the city prepares for an expected 8.1 million holiday visitors this season, which adds to sidewalk traffic along Fifth Avenue.
Alternate Side Parking is suspended for Veterans Day, but parking meters and all other posted rules stay in effect. With Fifth Avenue and the formation streets closed, transit is the practical way to reach the route. Riders should check MTA service alerts before leaving, since parade-day conditions can affect bus routes near Fifth Avenue.
Watching From Home and Planning the Afternoon
New Yorkers who skip the crowds can watch the NYC Veterans Day Parade live on WABC-TV (Channel 7) and its streaming platforms starting at 12:30 p.m. Eyewitness News anchor Joe Torres and ABC News correspondent Stephanie Ramos host the coverage, with reporters stationed along the route.
Spectators who stay in Midtown after the parade have options nearby. The Intrepid Museum holds its Veterans Day ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at Pier 86, at West 46th Street and Twelfth Avenue, about a crosstown walk from the 45th Street dispersal area. The museum offers free admission to U.S. veterans and active and retired military. For a different kind of outing, Art Week NYC debuts on Veterans Day and runs through November 14.
FAQs
What time does the NYC Veterans Day Parade start in 2026?
The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from Fifth Avenue at 26th Street. The Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Madison Square Park starts earlier, at 10:55 a.m.
Where does the 2026 Veterans Day Parade route run?
Marchers move north on Fifth Avenue from 26th Street and disperse along East and West 45th Street between Sixth Avenue and Madison Avenue. Fifth Avenue is closed to traffic between 25th Street and 48th Street.
Is Alternate Side Parking suspended on Veterans Day in NYC?
Yes. Alternate Side Parking rules are suspended on November 11, 2026. Parking meters and all other posted parking rules remain in effect.
Can the NYC Veterans Day Parade be watched on TV?
Yes. WABC-TV (Channel 7) broadcasts the parade live starting at 12:30 p.m., with streaming available on its digital platforms.
