New York City Veterans Day Parade Returns to Fifth Avenue
New York City's Veterans Day Parade returned to Fifth Avenue on 11 November 2026, with more than 20,000 service members marching and astronaut Suni Williams as grand marshal.
The New York Veterans Day Parade returned to Fifth Avenue on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, for the nation’s largest Veterans Day parade, with more than 20,000 service members, 25 floats and 280 marching units expected to march up the avenue. The parade stepped off at about 12:30 p.m. and continued until about 3:30 p.m., heading north on Fifth Avenue from East 26th Street to East 48th Street, rain or shine, with spectators watching for free along the route. NASA astronaut and retired Navy Captain Sunita Suni Williams served as grand marshal for the 2026 march, a role that honoured both her service in the Navy and her flights in space. Williams, who has spent months aboard the International Space Station, led the parade as it moved through the heart of Manhattan, past crowds waving flags and cheering the marchers.
Veterans Day, observed each year on 11 November, honours all who have served in the United States armed forces. The date marks the anniversary of the armistice of 11 November 1918, when fighting stopped at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The national focal point for the day was Arlington National Cemetery, where the 73rd annual National Veterans Day Observance was held in the Memorial Amphitheater, beginning with a musical prelude at 10:30 a.m. and a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m. The ceremony was free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
New York Veterans Day Parade honours service members
Across the country, Veterans Day brought closures and free offers for those who served. Federal offices, post offices and most banks were closed, and many schools held assemblies recognising local service members. National parks were free to enter for United States citizens and residents, marking the last fee-free day of the year, and many restaurants offered free meals or discounts to service members and former service members with proof of service. Applebee’s offered a free full-size entree from a special menu, Denny’s offered a free Original Grand Slam from 5 a.m. to noon, and Starbucks offered a free 12-ounce brewed coffee, hot or iced, at participating locations nationwide. Retailers also offered discounts, and many towns held local ceremonies, breakfasts and parades of their own.
Source: USA Today
