Veterans Day Parade Marches Up Fifth Avenue
The 107th annual parade drew veterans and supporters to Manhattan on November 11, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Civic
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Thousands of veterans and supporters marched along Fifth Avenue in the 107th annual Veterans Day Parade. The parade, organized by the United War Veterans Council, stepped off at 12:30 p.m. from Fifth Avenue and East 26th Street.
Why it matters
The parade honors generations of Americans who served in the armed forces. Organizers bill it as the nation's largest Veterans Day commemoration, drawing veterans from across the country to New York City.
The parade marks its 107th annual edition, tracing back to 1919 as an Armistice Day observance. More than 135,000 veterans live in New York City, the population base the event draws from, though total participation numbers were not reported.
The players
Sunita "Suni" Williams
A retired Navy captain and former NASA astronaut who served as grand marshal of the parade.
Zohran Mamdani
The mayor of New York City, who addressed the gathering at the wreath-laying ceremony in Madison Square Park.
United War Veterans Council
The organization that runs the parade and has coordinated the annual Veterans Day march.
The details
Sunita "Suni" Williams, a retired Navy captain and former NASA astronaut, served as grand marshal, and Vicki Bello, a Navy veteran, served as honorary marshal. Marching units, floats and vintage vehicles traveled up Fifth Avenue after a wreath-laying ceremony in Madison Square Park, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the gathering.
Timeline
1919: Parade origins as an Armistice Day observance following World War I.
November 11, 2026: The 107th Veterans Day Parade is held in Manhattan.
Around 11 a.m.: Wreath-laying ceremony begins in Madison Square Park.
12:30 p.m.: Parade steps off from Fifth Avenue and East 26th Street.
Civic Tradition
The 107th edition continues a tradition that began with the 1919 Armistice Day observance after World War I, when the holiday first marked the armistice ending that war. The parade's century-plus run places it among the longest-running veterans commemorations in the country.
The parade is a free public event open to anyone lining Fifth Avenue on November 11. Spectators can watch the march in person along the route without a ticket.
The takeaway
The parade's long history shows how a single day of remembrance can keep generations connected to military service. Attending or watching a local commemoration is a simple way to recognize those who served.
Further reading
Explore more civic coverage to see how city traditions like this parade fit into New York's public life.
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