The Million Dollar Band Chosen For the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

October 7, 2025 - TUSCALOOSA, AL. - The official marching band of The University of Alabama, known as "The Million Dollar Band", is one of ten marching bands selected from across the USA to participate in the 2026 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Founded in 1924, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is tied with Detroit for being the second oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country. With the oldest one being the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Astute mathematicians will notice that since the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City was founded in 1924, next year will make 102 years since the parade was first held. However, due to World War II and the need for rubber and helium to be used for the war effort, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was suspended from 1942 until 1944. Therefore, next year, 2026, will herald the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And the 400-member Million Dollar Band will be there to help celebrate the milestone.

Featured in the classic film, "Miracle on 34th Street", starring the Irish actress, Maureen O'Hara, and the young Natalie Wood, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been televised throughout the nation since 1953. The Big Apple parade marks the start of the Christmas season in American popular culture. To celebrate their forthcoming 100th parade in 2026, 10 marching bands out of 100 applicants throughout the USA, were selected to participate in the turkey day festivities. With some of the other marching bands that were selected including the Marching Illini, the UConn Marching Band, and Concord High School's Marching Minutemen.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has granted the selectees each a $10,000 grant to help them kickstart their fundraising efforts to make the trip to NYC in 2026 for the event. Being no stranger to the parade, The University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band previously participated in the parade in 2021. And at present the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be aired on NBC and Peacock from 7:30 Central to 11:00AM Central time on Thursday, November 26th, 2026.

Dr. Ken Ozello is the University of Alabama Director of Bands. However, originally, the Million Dollar Band was founded by an engineering and physics professor, Dr. Gustav Wittig. With Wittig founding the band as a military band in 1912 with just 14 members.

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa Attorney, piano instructor, and vocalist.