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Marching Illini to perform at 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026 - School of Music
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Marching Illini to perform at 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026

October 10, 2025

Marching Illini to perform at 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026

Marching Illini director Barry Houser announces to band members that they will perform in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026, one of 10 marching bands selected from more than 100 applicants. The band assembled at the Harding Band Building to hear the historic news. This will be Marching Illini’s second appearance in the parade, with the first being in 2015. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Marching Illini to perform at 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026

The Marching Illini will perform in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026. Band members learned this morning that they were selected as one of 10 marching bands for the centennial anniversary of the holiday parade.

Marching Illini director Barry Houser was notified about the selection a month ago and has kept it secret until the announcement to band members this morning, just after NBC’s Today Show announced the participating bands.

It will be the second time for the Marching Illini to perform in the Macy’s parade. The first time was in 2015, when the band ushered in Santa Claus at the end of the parade — one of the most coveted spots in the lineup.

More details about this historic achievement can be found here.

Congratulations to the Marching Illini!

Students

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