tournament of roses

The annual parade kicks off in Pasadena on New Year's Day, ahead of the Rose Bowl game between Alabama and Indiana

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One of the longest-running New Year’s traditions returns to Pasadena on Jan. 1, when the Rose Parade makes its way through the city ahead of the Rose Bowl game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers. The Parade, officially known as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, runs for two hours and kicks off at 8:00 a.m. local time, 11:00 a.m. ET. The parade features floral-covered floats, marching bands, and more.

At a Glance: How to Watch the Rose Parade Live

• Channels: ABC, NBC, CNN, Telemundo, and others
• Stream: DirecTV, Fubo
• Date, Time: 11:00 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT, Jan. 1, 2026

Lakers’ legend Magic Johnson will serve as the grand marshal for the parade, which spans 5.5 miles across Colorado Blvd. in downtown Pasadena. The procession will be the first in 20 years where rain is on the forecast — and those braving the parade can’t bring umbrellas, either.

If you’re looking to stream the festival live, it’s airing nationally on ABC, NBC, CNN, and other channels. It will also be streaming for free on several platforms. Here’s what you need to know about watching the Rose Parade live.

Stream the Rose Parade on DirecTV

You can get access to channels like ABC, NBC, and Telemundo with a five-day free trial to DirecTV. The festival will also be carried on other national channels such as CNN, which are included on DirecTV. DirecTV also carries ESPN, so football fans will be able to watch the Rose Bowl game following the parade.

Stream the Rose Parade on Fubo

You can stream the event live through Fubo, which carries local channels such as ABC (but not NBC). Fubo also includes free access to the special through the Fubo Sports Network, which is included through various TV operating systems such as LG, Vizio, TCL, as well as Prime Video, Samsung TV Plus, Sling, and others.

Stream the Rose Parade on Pluto

The Rose Parade will also be available to watch for free on Pluto TV’s Christmas Channel. Pluto is a free, ad-supported streaming service.

Other ways to stream

The parade will also be streaming live for free on other services, including a livestream on TikTok hosted by Pressley Hosbach and Challan Trishann. Other streams include FanDuel Sports Network West for local residents and Christmas Plus, available as a mobile or TV app for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, VIZIO, iOS, tvOS, and Android.

How to Watch the Rose Bowl Game

No. 9 Alabama will face No. 1 Indiana at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, following the parade. The game is airing on ESPN at 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT. ESPN is available with a free trial to DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV. It’s also available with a paid subscription to ESPN Unlimited or Sling.