How to Watch the Macy’s Annual Fourth of July Fireworks This Year

Macy’s is set to light up the New York City skyline this week for its annual Fourth of July fireworks display, and there are plenty of ways to watch from both near and far.

The 48th annual “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks” event will kick off on Thursday starting with live TV coverage on both NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET/PT, NBC shared with Travel + Leisure. The event will take place over two hours complete with musical performances and — of course — tens of thousands of fireworks.

“Year after year, this telecast never fails to inspire and awe, lighting up the New York skyline with a fireworks display that’s unmatched,” Jen Neal, the executive vice president of live events and specials at NBCU Entertainment, said in a statement shared with T+L. “It’s this type of live programming event that brings us together as a nation, highlighting the distinctiveness of both our NBC and Peacock brands.”

This year’s display will be launched from five different barges across Manhattan’s Hudson River on the West Side and will feature more than 60,000 shells in more than 30 colors. For the first time, Macy’s will debut a custom-made effect with a silver cascading burst that creates a center kaleidoscope with alternating red and blue colors. The display will also include waterfalls, Saturn circles, and more.

The display will include a 25-minute musical score, which NBC said includes both patriotic songs and contemporary hits. Ahead of the fireworks, TV viewers will be treated to performances by stars like Bell Biv DeVoe (of “Poison” fame) and Luis Fonsi, known for his hit “Despacito.”

Also new this year will be a live audio description of the fireworks on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP) for blind and visually impaired viewers.

For those hoping to catch the show in person, the fireworks can be seen from several public viewing areas from about West 14 Street to West 34 Street in Manhattan or from Hoboken, New Jersey, on the other side of the river. While a popular spot to hang out, Macy’s does not recommend trying to see the fireworks from New York City’s High Line.

Watching the July Fourth fireworks in person is free and does not require tickets, but viewers should plan to arrive early to score a spot.

And for those who miss the display (or just want to watch it again), NBC will air a repeat of the entire show at 10 p.m. ET/PT.