NYC Veterans Day Parade 2026: Nov. 11 Time, Fifth Avenue Step-Off and Grand Marshal Suni Williams

Checked Oct. 29, 2026. The route end point, street closures and television details are not yet announced; we will update this story when they are.

The 107th New York City Veterans Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut and U.S. Navy veteran Sunita “Suni” Williams as Grand Marshal, according to the United War Veterans Council (UWVC), the parade’s organizer. ABC7 New York reported on Oct. 24 that it steps off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) at Fifth Avenue and 26th Street. UWVC calls it “the largest Veterans Day parade in the country.”

Nov. 11, 2026 falls on a Wednesday, and Veterans Day is a federal holiday. See When is Veterans Day? for the date and our Veterans Day 2026 story for what is closed. This page puts the parade times in one table and adds a one-page day plan you can print.

What time does the NYC Veterans Day Parade start?

Time (ET)	What	Source
10:55 a.m.	Wreath-laying in Madison Square Park	Reported by ABC7 New York, Oct. 24, 2026
12:30 p.m.	Parade steps off at Fifth Avenue and 26th Street	Reported by ABC7 New York, Oct. 24, 2026
2 p.m.	Birmingham, Ala., parade begins (1:00 p.m. CT)	National Veterans Day Foundation

ABC7 wrote that the parade “will step off from Fifth Avenue at 26th Street at 12:30 p.m.” and that the wreath-laying comes “prior to the parade at 10:55 a.m. in Madison Square Park.” We did not find these times on the UWVC parade page when we checked on Oct. 29, so treat them as reported, not confirmed by the organizer. The 2026 end time is not announced.

Where does the parade route start?

The reported start is Fifth Avenue at 26th Street. UWVC says the parade “returns to Fifth Avenue on November 11, 2026.” The route end point, street closures and subway changes are not yet published, so check uwvc.org and the city’s transit notices closer to the date.

Who is the 2026 Grand Marshal?

UWVC says Sunita “Suni” Williams, a NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy veteran, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 107th parade. The Honorary Marshal is Vicki Bello, a U.S. Navy veteran and Manager of Community and Veterans Programs for the Theatre Development Fund (TDF).

How to watch the NYC Veterans Day Parade on TV

Not yet announced. UWVC’s watch page says “Broadcast information coming soon,” and its coverage time is listed as “To be announced.” ABC7 New York wrote that “Channel 7 is proud to be a partner of the event.” We do not give a 2026 television start time because none has been published.

Other Veterans Day parades on Nov. 11: Birmingham

The National Veterans Day Foundation lists its Birmingham, Ala., parade for Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Its page says: “The parade begins at 1:00pm, rain or shine!” That is Central Time (CT), so 2 p.m. ET. The event is listed from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. We have no confirmed 2026 times for other cities.

Arlington National Cemetery observance

The 2026 Arlington National Cemetery observance time is not yet posted in the sources we checked. The national observance is traditionally held at the cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater. Last year’s (2025) listing was 11 a.m. ET.

How do the parade and the holiday fit the November calendar?

Mark Wednesday, Nov. 11 on the November 2026 printable calendar. For deals and free meals, see our Veterans Day free meals and discounts story. Other New York events later in the season are in the NYC holiday calendar 2026.