New Macy's Parade Balloons 2025: A First Look at the Giants of NYC

Let's be real. While we love the entire spectacle of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the one question on everyone's mind is always: "What are the new balloons?!"

For a character, becoming a giant Macy's balloon is like getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s the moment they go from just being on our screens to becoming a true American icon, immortalized in helium and vinyl. This year, a whole new class is getting that honor, and you've got a front-row seat.

This is your official, no-BS guide to every single new giant joining the parade this year.

See How The Giants Are Born!

Before we meet the new class, have you ever wondered how these colossal characters even get off the ground? It's one of the coolest, most underrated events in all of New York City, and it happens the night before the parade. We've got the full insider's guide right here.

Making Their Grand Debut: The All-New Characters

These are the brand new, first-time-ever balloons that are guaranteed to be the talk of Thanksgiving morning.

Buzz Lightyear

Photos Courtesy of Macy's: New Buzz Light Year balloon 2025

KPOP Demon Hunters: Derpy Tiger & Sussie

Mario

To infinity and beyond! Soaring into the lineup for the very first time, everyone's favorite Space Ranger is here to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Toy Story.

• Sponsor: Pixar Animation Studios

• Dimensions: 58-feet long, 39-feet wide, 45.6-feet tall

• Fun Fact: Get this: From his head to the "ANDY" on his boot, the Buzz Lightyear balloon is nearly as long as four Pizza Planet delivery trucks parked end-to-end!

Photos Courtesy of Macy's: Mario balloon 2025

Warping into the parade for his official debut, the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom is finally here! Clad in his classic red and blue, Mario is set to bring 40 years of gaming nostalgia to the streets of Manhattan.

• Sponsor: Nintendo

• Dimensions: 51.2-feet long, 37-feet wide, 43.8-feet tall

• Fun Fact: Mario has been delighting gamers since the release of the original Super Mario Bros.™ on the NES™ way back in 1985.

Straight out of the worldwide animated sensation, two new specialty balloons are joining the parade: the mischievous Derpy Tiger and the clever, gat-wearing Sussie.

• Sponsor: Netflix

• Dimensions: Derpy Tiger is 39-feet long; Sussie is 12-feet tall.

• Fun Fact: The art style for these characters was inspired by traditional Korean folk art called Minhwa.

PAC-MAN™

The original video game icon is ready to chomp his way through Manhattan! Known for his insatiable appetite, PAC-MAN is celebrating 45 years of gobbling up PAC-Dots and avoiding mischievous ghosts.

• Sponsor: Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc.

• Dimensions: 40.5-feet long, 38.9-feet wide, 37.3-feet tall

• Fun Fact: PAC-MAN is seen holding a pair of shiny red cherries, the first Fruit gamers encounter when playing the original arcade game.

While Shrek himself made a solo debut back in 2007, this is the first trip to NYC for the entire family in their enchanted Onion Carriage! The all-new balloon features Shrek, Fiona, their triplets, Donkey, Gingy, and Pinocchio.

• Sponsor: Universal Pictures' Dreamworks Animation

• Dimensions: 39.9-feet long, 32.11-feet wide, 32.6-feet tall

• Fun Fact: This balloon features 8 different characters—the most ever to be featured on a single balloon in the parade's history!

Shrek’s Onion Carriage

Photos Courtesy of Macy's: Pac-Man balloon 2025

Photos Courtesy of Macy's: Shrek’s Onion Carriage balloon 2025

Photos Courtesy of Macy's: Shrek’s Onion Carriage balloon 2025

So, which of these new giants are you most excited to see floating down 6th Avenue? Let us know in the comments below!

Want the Full Parade Playbook?

Now that you've met the new class of high-flyers, it's time to see the rest of the show! For a complete and exhaustive list of every single float, every performer, the full parade route, pro-tips, and more, check out our main event guide.

➡️ Click Here for The Ultimate Guide to the 2025 Macy's Parade!

Your ultimate guide to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025! Get the full NYC lineup of all new balloons, floats, performers, route info, and fun facts.

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Ready to tackle the rest of the holiday season? Dive into our full collection of straight-up guides, pro-tips, and travel hacks for everything from Thanksgiving to New Year's, all designed to help you travel smarter and celebrate bigger.