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!