Village Halloween Parade 2026: Route, Start Time, Street Closures and How to March
The 53rd Village Halloween Parade heads up Sixth Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 7 p.m. to about 11 p.m. Watching is free, and anyone in costume can march.
The 53rd annual Village Halloween Parade runs up Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. It starts at 7 p.m. and ends around 11 p.m., rain or shine. Watching is free, and anyone in costume can march. The one thing to know is that the subway is the way in: the organizer asks people not to bring a car, and Sixth Avenue and several side streets are closed for the evening.
Village Halloween Parade 2026 date, time and theme
The parade is on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, from 7 p.m. to about 11 p.m. The organizer says it goes ahead rain or shine. The 2026 theme is “Body & Soul.” A new puppet performance called Firehorse leads the parade, and Joey Arias is the 2026 grand marshal.
The parade is a free public event. For a forecast closer to the day, check the NYC weather page.
Parade route
The parade goes straight up Sixth Avenue. Marchers line up at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue and head north to West 15th Street. Spectators can watch from the east or west side of Sixth Avenue between King Street and West 15th Street.
The organizer says the sidewalks are most crowded between Bleecker Street and 14th Street. If you want a spot there, arrive early. If not, choose another stretch of the route.
Street closures
The city permit for the parade runs from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 and lists full street closures in Manhattan:
- Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to West 18th Street, including the inner roadway between Broome and Spring streets
- Spring, Broome and Dominick streets between Sixth Avenue and Varick Street
- Sullivan Street between Spring and Broome streets
- West 16th, West 17th and West 18th streets between Seventh and Fifth avenues
This permit window is the city’s plan on file. The NYPD manages closures on the day and can close streets earlier or keep them closed longer.
Getting there by subway
The organizer’s advice is to leave the car at home and take the subway. Parking in the area is always difficult, and the parade makes it worse. The organizer lists these stations near the route:
- Sixth Avenue (B, D, F, Q): 23rd Street, 14th Street or West 4th Street
- Seventh Avenue (1, 2, 3): 23rd Street, 18th Street, 14th Street, Sheridan Square or Houston Street
- Eighth Avenue (A, C, E): West 4th Street, Spring Street or Canal Street. Spring Street is the closest station to the line-up area.
The MTA has not confirmed Halloween service changes for 2026. Check mta.info or the MTA app that evening before you leave, and look at live subway status. The organizer’s Watch page also lists a 24-hour NYC travel information number: 718-330-1234.
PATH and buses
From New Jersey, the organizer suggests the PATH 33rd Street train to the Sixth Avenue stations at Ninth, 14th or 23rd streets.
The organizer says buses on Sixth Avenue are rerouted from just after 6 p.m. until the parade is over and suggests taking other routes. For more on fares and other ways around the city, see the NYC transport guide.
How to march in the parade
Only people in costume can march. Join the line-up at the corner of Canal Street and Sixth Avenue between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Oct. 31.
The line-up area can only be entered from the east and south, by way of Sullivan, East Broome and Canal streets. If you come from the west, enter only from Canal Street. The organizer asks marchers to follow these directions carefully.
The parade starts at 7 p.m. Marchers wait in the line-up area and are let onto the route in groups of 1,000 to 2,000 people at timed intervals. Once you are in the parade, keep heading north. The organizer says police will stop anyone walking south on Sixth Avenue.
To meet a group, pick a spot a block or two away from the route and walk to the line-up together. The organizer notes that finding people at the start is hard even with phones. Full details are on the official March in the Parade page.
What to know before you go
- The parade has a zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
- VIP tickets for a special viewing area, and skip-the-line tickets for marchers, are sold through the official parade site. The organizer says ticket details will be emailed closer to the event.
- Motorized vehicles need prior arrangement and official permits from the parade. Vehicles that just show up will be turned away.
- The organizer also runs official 21+ parade parties on two nights: a warm-up party on Friday, Oct. 30, and an afterparty on Saturday, Oct. 31, called “The Vampire Ball,” at Industry City. Doors open at 9 p.m., and the parties run until 5 a.m. both nights.
Viewing tips and the route map are on the official Watch page.
Watching on TV
NY1 airs the parade live on the evening of Oct. 31. The broadcast times are on the official Watch page.
Sources
Checked on October 17, 2026. This guide is updated as the organizers, the city and the MTA publish new details.
Quick answers
What time does the 2026 Village Halloween Parade start?
The parade starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, and ends around 11 p.m. It goes ahead rain or shine.
Where is the best place to watch the Village Halloween Parade?
You can watch from either side of Sixth Avenue between King Street and West 15th Street. The organizer says the busiest stretch is between Bleecker Street and 14th Street, so arrive early there or pick another part of the route.
How do I march in the Village Halloween Parade?
Come in costume to the line-up at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Enter from Sullivan, East Broome or Canal streets. Only costumed marchers are allowed.
Is the Village Halloween Parade free?
Yes. It is a free public event. VIP and skip-the-line tickets are also sold on the official parade site.
Which streets are closed for the parade?
The city permit closes Sixth Avenue from Canal Street to West 18th Street, plus Spring, Broome, Dominick and Sullivan streets near the line-up and West 16th to 18th streets between Seventh and Fifth avenues, from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The NYPD can change closures on the day.
Can I watch the parade on TV?
Yes. NY1 airs it live on the evening of Oct. 31. The official Watch page lists the broadcast times.
