Macy’s Holiday Windows 2026: Herald Square Dates & Santaland

If any store can claim to have invented the holiday window, it’s Macy’s. Back in the 1870s, Macy’s became one of the first stores in the country to dress its windows for Christmas, and more than 150 years later, its Herald Square flagship is still one of the most beloved holiday stops in New York. The animated windows along Broadway draw crowds of families every day, and inside, Santaland, Holiday Lane and a holiday market turn the world’s most famous department store into a full Christmas destination.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Macy’s Herald Square holiday windows in 2026: when they’re unveiled, what to expect, Santaland, the best times to visit, and what’s nearby. For more displays across the city, see our guide to NYC holiday window displays.

Quick answer: Macy’s Herald Square usually unveils its holiday windows the week before Thanksgiving, and they stay up until early January. They’re free to see on Broadway and 34th Street. Inside, Santaland opens the day after Thanksgiving (November 27, 2026) and runs through Christmas Eve, with free reservations required. The 2026 window theme hasn’t been announced yet.

Macy’s Holiday Windows: Quick Facts

In This Guide

• Why Macy’s Windows Are a NYC Tradition
• This Year’s Windows (2026)
• How the Windows Are Made
• Past Themes
• Santaland and Holiday Fun Inside
• Best Times to Visit
• Getting There
• What to See Nearby
• Practical Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions

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Why Macy’s Windows Are a NYC Tradition

Macy’s holiday story is woven into the history of Christmas in New York:

• 1860s: Macy’s introduces one of the first in-store Santas, the beginning of the tradition that became Santaland.
• 1870s: Macy’s becomes one of the first stores to create holiday window displays, using dolls and toys to tell stories.
• 1902: Macy’s moves to its current flagship at Herald Square, which grows to fill an entire city block.
• 1924: The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marches to Herald Square, ending with Santa’s arrival.
• 1947: Miracle on 34th Street, filmed partly in the store, makes Macy’s Herald Square famous around the world.

Unlike the art-gallery style of Bergdorf Goodman or the light show at Saks, Macy’s windows are classic, animated and storybook-like, with moving figures, music and characters. That makes them the best windows in the city for kids.

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This Year’s Windows (2026)

Macy’s hasn’t announced its 2026 window theme or unveiling date yet. Based on recent years, expect:

• Unveiling: The week before Thanksgiving, which falls on November 26, 2026
• Windows: Around five or six animated windows along Broadway and 34th Street
• On view: Into the first week of January

We’ll update this section with the 2026 theme, unveiling date and a description of the windows as soon as Macy’s reveals them.

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How the Windows Are Made

Macy’s holiday windows take most of a year to create:

• January: Work on the next season begins with early design concepts.
• Summer: Construction starts at an off-site workshop, usually around July.
• Fall: Animation, lighting and sound are added, and the windows are installed shortly before the unveiling.

The windows are created by Macy’s visual team, led by Manny Urquizo, director of storewide visual campaigns and windows, working with designers, builders, artisans, fabricators and animators.

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Past Themes

Every year brings new windows. Here are some recent themes to give you a sense of what to expect.

2025: Celebrating Macy’s Holiday History

Six windows paid tribute to Macy’s own place in holiday history, including the first department store Santa, the first Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the classic film Miracle on 34th Street. One window was interactive, inviting passersby to sing along.

2024: The Emotions of Giving

Five windows each captured a different feeling of giving: love, joy, warmth, surprise and wonder. Paper ornaments decorated by mentors and kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters were displayed in the windows, which stayed up until January 6, 2025.

2015: A Charlie Brown Christmas

For the 50th anniversary of the beloved TV special, Macy’s brought Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang to life in its windows, one of the most memorable themes of recent decades.

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Santaland and Holiday Fun Inside

The windows are just the beginning. Inside, Macy’s Herald Square becomes a full holiday experience.

Santaland

On the eighth floor, Santaland is a 13,000-square-foot North Pole village with an enchanted forest, a rainbow bridge, trains, twinkling trees and, at the end, Santa himself. Families have visited for generations, and around 200,000 people pass through each season.

• When: The day after Thanksgiving (November 27, 2026) through Christmas Eve
• Cost: Free to visit; photo packages are extra
• Reservations: Required. Reservations open online each morning at 6:30 a.m., up to five days in advance.
• Tip: Weekend slots and the final days before Christmas go fastest. Even with a reservation, expect a wait inside, and dress in layers because it’s warm.

Holiday Lane

On the ninth floor, just above Santaland, Holiday Lane is packed with ornaments, decorations and seasonal displays, including many designs you’ll only find at Macy’s.

Macy’s Holiday Square

In recent seasons, the store’s lower level has hosted Holiday Square, an indoor market of local vendors, curated gifts and seasonal treats, usually open from early November into January. See our guide to NYC Christmas markets for more.

The wooden escalators

Don’t miss Macy’s original wooden escalators, installed in the early 20th century and still running between some floors. They’re a piece of New York history in their own right.

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Best Times to Visit

• Weekday mornings: The quietest time to see the windows, especially with young kids who want to get close to the glass.
• Early evening: The windows glow after dark, and Herald Square’s holiday lights add to the atmosphere. Sunset in December is around 4:30 p.m.
• Late November and early January: Less crowded than mid-December.
• Times to avoid: Black Friday, December weekends and the days just before Christmas, when crowds outside the windows and inside the store are at their peak.

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Getting There

• Address: 151 West 34th Street, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. The famous holiday windows face Broadway and 34th Street.
• Subway: 34 St–Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W) exits right at the store. 34 St–Penn Station (1, 2, 3, A, C, E) is a two-minute walk west.
• By train: Penn Station, for Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit, is one block away.
• By car: Not recommended. Traffic around Herald Square is heavy in December, and parking is expensive.

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What to See Nearby

• Herald Square holiday markets: In recent seasons, Urbanspace’s Herald Holiday Market has filled the plazas outside the store with gifts, food and a bar tent.
• Empire State Building: Two blocks east at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street, lit in holiday colors through the season.
• Bryant Park Winter Village: About a 10-minute walk north for the holiday shops and free ice skating. See our Bryant Park Winter Village guide.
• Fifth Avenue windows: Continue north to Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. See our Saks light show guide and Bergdorf Goodman windows guide.
• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: About a 20-minute walk north. See our Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree guide.

Make it a walk: Macy’s is the natural starting point for a holiday windows walk. From here, head east to the Empire State Building and then north up Fifth Avenue to Saks and Bergdorf Goodman. See the full route in our guide to NYC holiday window displays.

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Practical Tips

• Let kids get close. The windows are full of small moving details, so give little ones time at the glass.
• Book Santaland early. Set a reminder for 6:30 a.m. five days before your visit, when reservations open.
• Keep belongings close. Herald Square is one of the busiest spots in the city in December.
• Use the store as a warming stop. Macy’s has restrooms and places to eat, which are hard to find in Midtown.
• Avoid glare in photos. Hold your phone close to the glass and angle it slightly to cut reflections.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When are the Macy’s holiday windows unveiled in 2026?

Macy’s hasn’t announced its 2026 date yet. The windows are usually unveiled the week before Thanksgiving, which is November 26, 2026.

What is the theme of the 2026 Macy’s holiday windows?

The 2026 theme will be revealed at the unveiling. In 2025, the windows celebrated Macy’s own holiday history, including the first department store Santa and Miracle on 34th Street.

How long are the Macy’s holiday windows up?

The windows usually stay up from their unveiling in late November until the first week of January. The 2024 windows, for example, were on view until January 6, 2025.

Where are the Macy’s holiday windows?

The holiday windows are at Macy’s Herald Square flagship, 151 West 34th Street, facing Broadway and 34th Street.

Are the Macy’s holiday windows free?

Yes. The windows are free to see from the sidewalk, and visiting Santaland inside the store is also free with a reservation.

Do you need a reservation for Macy’s Santaland?

Yes. Free reservations are required. They open online at 6:30 a.m. each day, up to five days in advance, and Santaland runs from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.

Are the Macy’s windows good for kids?

Yes. Macy’s animated, storybook-style windows are the most kid-friendly in New York, and combining them with a Santaland visit makes a great family outing.

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We update this guide as soon as Macy’s reveals its 2026 holiday windows.