Hello Kitty Apple Balloon to Debut at 100th Macy's Parade
Sanrio unveiled the balloon, sized about 28.4 feet wide and 33.6 feet tall, alongside a 23-piece Macy's collection that went on sale Oct. 13.
Sanrio has announced a new Hello Kitty balloon for the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, along with an exclusive 23-piece merchandise collection with Macy's, according to cbr.com. The balloon shows Hello Kitty holding a giant red apple and is listed at about 28.4 feet wide, 33.5 feet long and 33.6 feet tall.
The balloon will debut at the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. The parade will air on NBC and stream on Peacock from 8:30 a.m. across all time zones.
The merchandise line carries balloon-inspired Hello Kitty and Friends artwork and spans apparel, a Loungefly backpack and bag charms, plus a Kidrobot plush bag charm and pin set. It went on sale online at Macy's as of Oct. 13, with an in-store launch at the Herald Square flagship on Oct. 15.
Sanrio Chief Brand Officer Jill Koch and parade executive producer Will Coss both gave statements on the collaboration.
Hello Kitty's parade history
Hello Kitty first joined the parade in 2007 with the "Super Cute Hello Kitty" balloon, which featured a superhero cape and appeared through 2011. In 2012 the "Retro Airplane Hello Kitty" balloon, showing her piloting an airplane, replaced it and remained in the parade through 2017. The apple-themed design is her third and marks her 12th appearance in the parade, nine years after her last one.
Quick answers
When does the new Hello Kitty balloon debut?
It debuts at the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026.
Where can I watch the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The parade airs on NBC and streams on Peacock from 8:30 a.m. across all time zones.
When did the Hello Kitty and Friends Macy's collection go on sale?
It went on sale online at Macy's on Oct. 13, with an in-store launch at the Herald Square flagship on Oct. 15.