Here’s how to watch this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
Here’s how to watch this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
Oscar winner Ariana DeBose hosts the largest fireworks display in America and will be joined by a host of talented friends.
Whether you are going to your town’s parade or having a cookout with friends and family, no Fourth of July celebration is ever complete without fireworks. And if you’d rather not brave the traffic and crowds of your local display, NBC has you covered with the 49th Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. The largest fireworks extravaganza in the United States will celebrate Independence Day with nearly half an hour of fireworks. The action will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and if you are looking for a live TV streaming service to check out the festivities, I recommend starting with a five-day free trial to DIRECTV.
How to watch the 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
- When: Friday, July 4, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Watch with a five-day free trial to DIRECTV and on Peacock.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about the 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
Why we recommend DIRECTV to watch the 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
Throughout the summer, there are countless high-profile events that you won’t want to miss. From hot dog eating contests to fireworks to sporting events to concerts, there is something for everyone on TV this summer. If you love the pageantry of these summer extravaganzas, then DIRECTV is the best streaming option to make sure you see them all. The streamer has the largest channel selection in streaming, with all of the national broadcast channels and the biggest cable networks. But, depending on what you want to watch, DIRECTV’s new Genre Packs can help you stream the shows, events, and games you care about most for less!
The cheapest option to watch NBC on DIRECTV would be via its MyNews Pack, which costs $40 per month. The skinny bundle also includes other broadcast networks CBS and Fox, depending on your market, as well as a host of cable news channels. If you prefer something with a little more sports focus, you can get NBC, ABC, Fox, and CBS in the MySports Pack, which also includes channels like CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NFL Network, TBS, and TNT, just to name a few. This option is just $70 monthly.
The streamer also comes with a five-day free trial, so whether you select one of the smaller Genre Packs or one of the more robust Signature Packages, you will be able to sample DIRECTV’s offerings for five days without paying a penny.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Can you watch the 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks for free?
If you are just looking for a streaming service to watch the fireworks and nothing else, there are options available for you. DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and YouTube TV all offer free trials, but they vary in length, so be wary. DIRECTV’s industry-leading trial runs for five days, while Hulu + Live TV’s is a solid three days.
Those are pretty straightforward, but when it comes to the sports-minded streamer Fubo, things can get a little complicated. As The Streamable’s expert David Satin discovered when signing up for the services, figuring out how long Fubo’s trial is — even as you are signing up — can be a bit difficult. Nonetheless, it will be at least one day, with the potential to be as many as seven, depending on a wide range of factors that Fubo does not share publicly.
The YouTube TV trial is said to be “up to two weeks,” but can be as short as two days. So it is difficult to ascertain what you are actually getting before you go through the signup process.
If you are looking to watch the fireworks for free, I would recommend DIRECTV, because that streamer has the longest guaranteed free trial.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| NBC | + $19 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
Watch a preview of the 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
What you need to know aboutthe 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
Oscar winner Ariana DeBose will host the fireworks spectacular. Not only will the Tony-nominee perform an original score produced by Questlove and James Poyser, but other performers will include Eric Church, the Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Keke Palmer, and Trisha Yearwood.
The fireworks display, the largest in the United States, will take place in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge and will feature more than 80,000 fireworks shells, featuring 30 vibrant colors and awe-inspiring special effects. The fireworks will be set off on four barges positioned on the lower East River in the Seaport District and will run for 25 minutes.
The presentation will celebrate themes of community, resiliency, and shared connection.
How to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the fireworks as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming service likeDIRECTV in order to stream the contest with a VPN.
SurfShark is one of the best providers around at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get SurfShark’s protection for as little as $2.19 per month. All plans include a secure VPN, ad blocker, and cookie pop-up blocker, so you will be covered from every angle. And since SurfShark’s protection is available on unlimited devices, you won’t have to pick and choose which ones to prioritize. Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!
While SurfShark is our recommendation for the best value VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Best Budget Option: NordVPN | Starting at $3.39 per month
- Best Features: ExpressVPN | Starting at $5 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available