The 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Special is over. It aired on Friday, July 4, 2025, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern on NBC and streamed live on Peacock. This page is therefore a retrospective guide to the original broadcast, with practical advice for checking the next Macy’s fireworks edition.
The 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Special has already aired. It was broadcast on Friday, July 4, 2025, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern on NBC and streamed live at the same time on Peacock. The program is therefore best treated as a 2025 reference or replay-oriented guide—not as a live event currently available everywhere.
For a future Macy’s fireworks edition, check the latest NBC, Peacock, Macy’s, and—where relevant—Telemundo announcements. NBCUniversal and Macy’s have renewed their programming relationship through 2034, but each year’s schedule, performers, replay availability, and New York viewing rules still need to be confirmed separately.
How the 2025 special was broadcast
| Option | What it offered | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| NBC | The primary U.S. television broadcast, live from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern on July 4, 2025. | You needed access to a local NBC affiliate through cable, satellite, a live-TV service, or an antenna. |
| Peacock | The official streaming alternative, simulcast live for two hours. | Availability, plan requirements, and replay windows can change. International access should not be assumed. |
Watching Peacock on a television
Peacock’s supported-device documentation includes web browsers, phones and tablets, many smart-TV platforms, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, game consoles, and other connected devices. If your television already has a supported Peacock app, no additional hardware is required.
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If your TV lacks a built-in Peacock app, an Amazon Fire TV Stick is an optional way to add a supported streaming platform and display Peacock on the television. It is not necessary if you already own a compatible smart TV, Roku, Apple TV, Google TV device, game console, computer, phone, or tablet. Check the current model, app compatibility, account requirements, and live-event availability before buying; product listings and service terms can change.
Could you watch NBC without cable?
Some U.S. viewers within range of a local NBC affiliate may be able to receive the broadcast with an indoor TV antenna. This is a location-dependent option, not a guaranteed nationwide solution. Reception depends on your distance from the transmitter, local terrain and buildings, signal strength, the antenna type, and placement. An outdoor antenna may be more suitable in some homes.
Before relying on an antenna for a future live broadcast, verify that NBC is available over the air in your area and test the signal in the room where you plan to watch. An antenna cannot provide Peacock or any other streaming-only content; it is useful only for a receivable local broadcast signal.
Who hosted the 2025 Macy’s fireworks special?
Ariana DeBose hosted the 2025 television event. The announced performers were:
- Jonas Brothers
- Eric Church
- Lenny Kravitz
- Ava Max
- Keke Palmer
- Trisha Yearwood
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and James Poyser produced the fireworks score, and DeBose also contributed to the musical presentation.
What was included in the New York production?
The 49th Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks launched pyrotechnics from the Brooklyn Bridge and four barges positioned on the lower East River in the Seaport District. Macy’s said the display used more than 80,000 shells in 30 colors and included large-scale projection mapping on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The fireworks music itself was designed as a roughly 25-minute presentation within the larger two-hour television special. The broadcast also included the host and musical performances, so the fireworks sequence did not fill the entire NBC or Peacock runtime.
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Where could people watch in person?
In-person viewing depended on having an unobstructed view of the sky above the lower East River from appropriate parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. A waterfront location was not automatically a good viewing location: buildings, bridge structures, security restrictions, and the direction of the launches could block the display.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11For a future edition, use only the official Macy’s viewing information and official New York City announcements to identify open viewing areas. Those sources may specify which sections of Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Seaport, or nearby areas are usable and which are not. Do not describe every waterfront park, rooftop, restaurant, or riverfront venue as an official viewing site.
Was the New York event free?
Macy’s described the public event as free. Some designated locations—including certain areas associated with Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Seaport—could require free tickets distributed by New York City. Those were not ordinary Macy’s ticket sales.
Macy’s specifically warned that it did not sell VIP viewing tickets and did not endorse venues or activities advertising unauthorized ticket sales. Treat any listing that claims to sell official Macy’s VIP access with caution. For a future event, confirm access rules through Macy’s and New York City before paying for a viewing package, reservation, hotel event, or ticket.
Does “from anywhere” mean viewers outside the United States could watch?
Not necessarily. The 2025 announcements established NBC as the nationwide U.S. broadcast route and Peacock as the official streaming simulcast, but they did not establish one universally available international broadcaster. NBC and Peacock availability can vary by country, and rights may be different outside the United States.
Viewers abroad should check local television listings and the local version of the relevant streaming service. Do not assume that a U.S. NBC affiliate, a U.S. Peacock subscription, or a U.S. broadcast schedule works in every country. A VPN is also not a substitute for verified rights or a guarantee that a service’s terms permit access from another territory.
Best viewing setup for a future Macy’s fireworks broadcast
- Confirm the year’s schedule. Check the date, start time, network, streaming service, and replay information in current official announcements.
- Choose NBC or Peacock. Use NBC if you have a local affiliate through pay TV or a suitable antenna. Use Peacock if the event is included for your account and the service is available in your location.
- Test the device early. Sign in, update the app, check the internet connection, and confirm that the television or streaming device supports Peacock.
- Prepare a backup. If streaming, keep a browser or another supported device available. If using an antenna, scan for channels and test reception before the broadcast begins.
- Verify local viewing rules. New York access areas, tickets, closures, and security procedures can change from one edition to the next.
What is known about future Macy’s fireworks broadcasts?
NBCUniversal and Macy’s announced a 10-year programming-rights renewal through 2034. The agreement keeps the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks associated with NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo. That makes continued distribution across those outlets a reasonable expectation, but it does not confirm the exact details of any particular future edition.
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For the next event, verify all of the following before publishing or planning around it:
- the confirmed date and Eastern start time;
- whether NBC and Peacock will carry the event live;
- the lineup and host;
- any replay or on-demand availability;
- international rights and geographic restrictions;
- official New York viewing locations and ticket procedures; and
- warnings about unauthorized ticket sellers.
Quick answer
The 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Special aired on NBC and Peacock on July 4, 2025, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Ariana DeBose hosted, and the New York display featured the Brooklyn Bridge and lower East River barges. Since that broadcast is over, viewers looking for the next edition should use the current NBC, Peacock, Macy’s, and New York City announcements rather than relying on the 2025 schedule.
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When did the 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Special air?
The 2025 special aired on Friday, July 4, 2025, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
Where could viewers watch the 2025 Macy’s fireworks special?
NBC carried the primary U.S. television broadcast, and Peacock streamed the event live at the same time. Viewers outside the United States needed to verify local rights and service availability.
Can I watch Macy’s fireworks with an antenna?
Yes, but only if the antenna can receive your local NBC affiliate. Reception varies with location, signal strength, terrain, buildings, antenna type, and placement.
Did Macy’s sell official VIP fireworks tickets?
No. Macy’s described the public event as free and warned that it did not sell VIP viewing tickets or endorse unauthorized ticket listings. Some designated areas could require free tickets issued by New York City.
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Bottom line: The 2025 special was a past U.S. broadcast, not a currently upcoming live event. Its official viewing routes were NBC and Peacock; an antenna may help receive a local NBC affiliate, while a compatible device such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick can help display Peacock on a television that lacks the app. International viewers and anyone planning an in-person New York visit must verify current local rights and official access rules for the relevant year.
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