Macy's fireworks start around 9:25 PM on Saturday, July 4, 2026, and they're free to watch. But this year is busier on the water than most: Sail4th 250 sends tall ships and a naval review through the harbor all day, the free Macy's viewing lottery has already closed, and the guaranteed spots need a paid ticket. Here's every option, when it happens, and what it takes to get in.
July 4 in NYC at a glance: 7 ways to see it
| Option | When | Ticket and cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macy's 4th of July Fireworks | Sat, July 4, around 9:25 PM for about 30 min, per NYC311 | Free to watch from public areas | The main NYC show |
| Free Macy's viewing lottery | Entry closed June 29, 2026; winners notified June 30–July 2, per the Mayor's Office | Free if you already won | People who entered early |
| Sail4th 250 Parade of Tall Ships | Sat, July 4, 9:30 AM–2 PM, Hudson River, per Sail4th 250 | Free from public waterfront; paid cruises exist | Daytime, and the most 2026-specific plan |
| Grand Review at Governors Island | Sat, July 4, 9 AM–2 PM, per Governors Island | Island is free; organized viewing area is ticketed | Families who want harbor views before dark |
| Coney Island fireworks | Fri, July 3 and Sat, July 4, 9:45–10:15 PM, per NYC311 | Free | A Brooklyn beach night with fewer Manhattan logistics |
| Red, White & Views at South Street Seaport Museum | Sat, July 4, pier opens 6:30 PM, fireworks 9:25–10 PM, per the Seaport Museum | Ticketed; some zones sold out | A paid waterfront view close to the launch |
| Edge or One World Observatory | Sat, July 4 evening (Edge 7:30–11 PM; One World 8–11 PM) | Ticketed observation decks | A booked view without holding a curb all night |
All of these live in one place if you'd rather keep the whole weekend on your phone while you're out:
Macy's fireworks: free to watch, but plan the logistics
The main event is the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. NYC311 lists the show starting around 9:25 PM on Saturday, July 4, 2026 and running about 30 minutes, launched over the lower Hudson River and lower East River. Knowing which river matters this year, because "just head to the East River" puts you on the wrong side if the barges are on the Hudson.
If you won a spot in the city's free viewing lottery, follow the claim instructions in your notification. That lottery is done for the year. The Mayor's Office announcement says entry closed at 11:59 PM on June 29, 2026, with winners notified between June 30 and July 2 and able to claim up to four tickets. If you don't have a winning notice by July 2, build the night around something else.
For everyone watching without a ticket, the detail to track is the official non-ticketed viewing plan. NYC311 says free public viewing areas will be set up along the FDR Drive in Manhattan, with more specifics still to come. Check that page before you lock in a subway stop or a meeting spot, since entrances and cross streets can shift close to the date.
If the non-ticketed details are still vague on the morning of the 4th, or your group can't get there early, Coney Island, a paid viewing ticket, or an evening where the fireworks are a bonus will all serve you better than a last-minute scramble along the FDR.
Sail4th 250: 5 daytime harbor events on July 3 and 4
New York Harbor doesn't usually look like this. Sail4th 250 marks the country's 250th with tall ships, a naval review, and public viewing across the July 4 weekend, all in daylight and all before the fireworks crowds form.
| Sail4th event | When | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parade of Class B Ships | Fri, July 3, 1–3 PM | East River | A harbor moment the day before, no waiting for dark |
| International Naval Review | Sat, July 4, 7:30–9 AM | Hudson River | Early. Better for committed ship watchers than a casual group |
| Parade of Tall Ships | Sat, July 4, 9:30 AM–2 PM | Hudson River | The big daytime spectacle. Pick your side of the river in advance |
| Grand Review of Tall Ships at Governors Island | Sat, July 4, 9 AM–2 PM | Picnic Point, Governors Island | Organized viewing area is ticketed; the island is open without it. Check ferry times |
| Free public viewing and tall ship tours | July 5–7, 12–6 PM | Per the Sail4th schedule | A calmer window if July 4 itself is too packed |
Timings are per Sail4th 250 and Governors Island.
The Saturday Parade of Tall Ships up the Hudson is the centerpiece, and it hands you a full daytime plan hours before you'd need to stake out a fireworks spot. It also punishes loose planning. Pick a side of the river, recheck the official schedule the morning of, and leave slack for ferry lines or waterfront closures. Governors Island in particular runs on ferry timing, so look up departures before you head to the terminal.
Coney Island: a Brooklyn night with fewer moving parts
Coney Island fireworks are the simplest fallback if the Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront feels like too much. The NYC311 fireworks permit list has Coney fireworks twice: Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, both from 9:45 to 10:15 PM.
That gives you two ways to use it:
- Go Friday, July 3 to catch fireworks a night before the Saturday crush.
- Go Saturday, July 4 for a full beach and boardwalk day that ends with fireworks.
The daytime anchor is the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, held on July 4 at the original Coney Island stand. Confirm the exact 2026 start time on Nathan's official contest page before you plan the day around it.
One caveat: it's still July 4 in New York. Coney skips most of the ticketing and the cross-river logistics. It does not skip the crowds.
3 paid viewing spots: Seaport, Edge, and One World Observatory
A paid ticket buys a known plan: a spot you don't have to defend for four hours, usually with food, drinks, and a roof or a rail. The tradeoff is price and availability, and some of these sell out.
South Street Seaport Museum's Red, White & Views is the closest paid waterfront option here. The official event page says everyone over age one needs a ticket, pier access starts at 6:30 PM, and fireworks run from 9:25 to 10 PM. It also lists sold-out zones and prices for what's left, so check current availability before you promise anyone a spot.
Fourth of July at Edge is the sky-deck version. The Edge page lists July 4, 2026 from 7:30 to 11 PM with fireworks viewing, DJs, cocktails, and access to a later show on the Marquee Skydeck.
One World Observatory's 4th of July celebration is the other observation-deck option. The official page lists evening admission to Floor 100 from 8 to 11 PM, full observatory access, and bars. It also notes that ONE Dine isn't taking reservations that night, with walk-ins based on availability.
If you book one of these, save the confirmation and the official page, then read the entry instructions before you leave. Arrival windows, bag rules, and named-guest requirements can matter as much as the ticket itself.
A calmer daytime plan: Historic Richmond Town
If your group would rather do something on the 4th than stand for hours waiting for dark, Historic Richmond Town's Independence Day Celebration on Staten Island is worth a look. The Historic Richmond Town site lists a July 4, 2026 celebration with crafts, activities, and homemade treats. It's a daytime holiday for people who want the 4th to feel like the 4th before dinner, with none of the 10 PM crowd.
One more Bronx option, and a note before you go
The NYC311 fireworks list also has Co-op City fireworks in the Bronx on Friday, July 3 at 9 PM. Handy if you're uptown and want a July 3 show close to home.
NYC311 also reminds people to check with the organizer before heading out, because displays can be delayed or canceled. On July 4 that's worth taking seriously. It's the difference between a good backup and a long train ride to nothing.
Three ways to lock in your July 4
| If you want... | Do this |
|---|---|
| The big official show | Watch NYC311's Macy's page and the Macy's where-to-watch page for the non-ticketed FDR viewing details, and get there early. Skip the lottery unless you already won. |
| A daytime plan that still feels like an occasion | Build around Sail4th 250, especially the Saturday Parade of Tall Ships on the Hudson or the ticketed Governors Island viewing area. |
| The least ticket stress | Head to Coney Island. Make it a beach day, check Nathan's current contest details if that's your thing, and treat the 9:45 PM fireworks as your closer. |
Whichever you pick, keep the official page next to the rest of your plan and check it again the morning of the 4th. Tickets, ferry schedules, security rules, and fireworks permits all move fast this week, and the version you read on July 1 may not be the version that's true on July 4.
Creators and sources
- NYC July 4 roundup: @nycfunevents on Instagram, saved on Stasht
- Macy's fireworks: Macy's, where to watch, and NYC311
- Free viewing lottery: NYC Mayor's Office
- NYC fireworks permits: NYC311 Fireworks Displays
- Sail4th 250: schedule, featured events, and Governors Island Grand Review
- Paid views: South Street Seaport Museum, Edge, and One World Observatory
- Daytime: Historic Richmond Town and Nathan's Famous contest history
Related Stasht guides
- 5 saves for a better 4th of July weekend
- How to stop missing events you saved on Instagram and TikTok
- How to turn Instagram and TikTok travel saves into an actual trip plan
- The best ways to save and organize social media posts in one place
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