Hello Kitty returns to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with new balloon
Hello Kitty will return to the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a new apple-themed balloon and an accompanying Sanrio and Macy’s collection.
Hello Kitty is returning to New York City’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year with a new balloon design built around one of the city’s most recognisable symbols: the apple. Sanrio and Macy’s have announced the character’s return for the parade’s 100th edition on 26 November 2026, ending a nine-year absence from the event.12
The new balloon shows Hello Kitty holding a large red apple, with the design clearly tying the character to New York. The official concept image says the balloon measures approximately 28.4 feet wide, 33.5 feet long and 33.6 feet tall. It also describes Hello Kitty as 107 apples tall, because apparently standard measurements were not quite cute enough.1
The parade appearance will be accompanied by a 23-piece Hello Kitty and Friends collection created by Sanrio and Macy’s. The range includes clothing, a Loungefly backpack, bag charms and Kidrobot collectibles, with online availability announced ahead of the parade and selected in-store releases following.2
Hello Kitty’s new balloon will be the third design used for her parade appearances. The character first joined the event in 2007 with the Super Cute Hello Kitty balloon, followed by the Retro Airplane Hello Kitty design. That second balloon last appeared in 2017, making the 2026 return a notable update rather than a simple repeat appearance.1
The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is scheduled for 26 November. NBC and Peacock are expected to carry the broadcast from 8:30 a.m. across US time zones, giving viewers a chance to see the new balloon in its first full parade appearance.1
Our opinion
The apple concept is a smart choice because it gives this Hello Kitty balloon a visual hook that belongs to New York rather than simply enlarging the character again. The design sketch also makes the scale easy to grasp, while the nine-year gap gives the return a genuine sense of occasion. The merchandise push is obvious, but the balloon itself is the stronger story: it is a new public-facing design with a clear reason to exist.