Columbus Day Parade returns to Fifth Avenue Oct. 12 with Ray Dalio as grand marshal
After rain canceled last year's march, the parade sets off from 44th Street at 11:30 a.m. Monday and heads up Fifth Avenue to 72nd Street.
The 82nd Columbus Day Parade steps off at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12. Marchers head north on Fifth Avenue from 44th Street, and the festivities last until about 3 p.m.
Marchers have not been on the avenue for two years. Last year, heavy wind and rain on the second Monday of October washed out the event. This year’s outlook is better, with partly sunny skies, warm temperatures and only a slight chance of showers in the forecast.
Columbus Day Parade route, time and subways
The route covers Fifth Avenue between 44th and 72nd streets, and organizers expect tens of thousands of spectators along the way. Trains keep their usual weekday schedule on Monday. At the southern end, the B, D, F and M stop at two stations near the route: Rockefeller Center at 47-50 Streets and Bryant Park at 42nd Street, where the 7 also stops. Closer to the northern end, the M and Q serve the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station.
The Columbus Citizens Foundation organizes the parade every year. It honors Italians and Italian Americans and what they have given the country over generations. Because 2026 is the nation’s semiquincentennial year, the theme is “Two Flags, One Home,” a nod to both the American flag and Italy’s red, white and green Il Tricolore. “We can’t wait to see Fifth Avenue filled once again with flags, music, marchers, and celebration,” the foundation wrote on Facebook.
Grand marshal and honorees
Ray Dalio, founder of the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, leads the march as grand marshal. The foundation picked him for his impact on global economics and his commitment to sharing principles of success to help others.
The foundation will also single out two distinguished honorees. Lee Rizzuto represents the United States at the Organization of American States, where he holds the rank of ambassador. Dr. Evelyn Granieri is a physician who specializes in care for older adults; she is a professor emerita of medicine at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
People who can’t make it to Fifth Avenue can follow a livestream, with coverage starting at noon. More details are on the Columbus Citizens Foundation’s Facebook page.
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Columbus Day Parade in NYC?
The parade steps off at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, and festivities run until about 3 p.m.
What is the Columbus Day Parade route?
Marchers head north on Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 72nd Street.
Which subway stations are near the parade?
The B, D, F and M stop at Bryant Park on 42nd Street (also served by the 7) and at Rockefeller Center on 47-50 Streets. The M and Q serve Lexington Avenue-63rd Street.
