2026 Rose Parade highlights: Recap, float winners, and more
2026 Rose Parade LIVE Presented by Honda
Celebrate New Year’s Day with one of the world’s most iconic traditions, featuring breathtaking floral floats, high-energy marching bands, and spectacular equestrian units.
PASADENA, Calif. - Thousands celebrated the first day of 2026 by watching the Rose Parade, despite heavy rains that moved into the region on New Year's Eve.
The event is an iconic New Year's tradition in Southern California as thousands descend on Pasadena, known as the "City of Roses," to watch beautifully decorated floats drive down Colorado Boulevard.
Recap of the annual tradition
What we know:
The procession featured 39 floral floats, 17 equestrian teams and 19 marching bands along the 5 ½ mile route that began on Colorado Boulevard.
It's the first time in 20 years that rain has dampened the parade route and reduced the number of people camping out overnight to get a good vantage point.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LA braces for rain while Rose Parade and NYE festivities continue
But the inclement weather didn't appear to dampen the spirit of spectators — or participants.
The theme of Thursday's parade was"The Magic in Teamwork," which Tournament of Roses officials said celebrates "the sense of accomplishment in knowing that by working together, we can collectively achieve outcomes so much richer than we can ever experience as individuals."
Spectators brace for soggy Rose Parade
Rain or shine - the 2026 Rose Parade kicks off at 7 a.m. in Pasadena! Watch live coverage now on FOX 11.
Fitting perfectly with the theme, the grand marshal is Laker legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
"I don't think we've ever had a grand marshal in the Tournament of Roses history whose nickname has literally been in our tournament theme," Tournament of Roses President Mark Leavens said while introducing Johnson as the grand marshal in October.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2026 Rose Parade: Magic Johnson named as grand marshal
Johnson said being the grand marshal was an "incredible prestigious honor."
"I'm still in disbelief because as a kid growing up in Lansing, Michigan, on New Year's Day this was the thrill of a lifetime just to wake up to see who was the grand marshal and watch the parade," Johnson said. "And I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would one day become the grand marshal. So I'm just blessed. I know what it means. I know that you had many great choices of other people, so I don't take this lightly.
Rose Parade: How to view the floats
Floatfest is your chance to get up close and personal with the floats in the Rose Parade.
"I love this city and this is just another thing that the city has given back to me," he said.
This year's Sweepstakes Trophy for most beautiful entry went to Cal Poly Universities. Titled "Jungle Jumpstart," it was designed, constructed and decorated by students at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and depicts a group of rainforest animals working together to restore an old robot.
This marks the 77th year the two universities have worked together to produce a Rose Parade entry.
RELATED COVERAGE: Rose Parade 2026 float award winners: Full list
Presiding over the parade is the 107th Rose Queen — Arcadia High School senior Serena Hui Guo — and the six members of her Rose Court:
- Riya Gupta, a Pasadena resident and student at Caltech;
- Keiko Rakin, a senior at Alhambra High School;
- Sophia Bai Ren, a senior at Arcadia High School;
- Naira Elaine Wadley, a senior at John Muir High School and a Monrovia resident;
- Livia Amy de Paula, a senior at Temple City High School and a San Gabriel resident; and
- Olivia Hargrove, a sophomore at Pasadena City College and a Pasadena resident.
What's next:
Rose Bowl Game
Top-ranked Indiana (13-0) faces Alabama (11-3) in a historic Rose Bowl matchup, marking the first-ever meeting between the undefeated Hoosiers and the perennial powerhouse Crimson Tide.
RELATED COVERAGE: Top-ranked Indiana to face Alabama in Rose Bowl
The traditional start time of 2 p.m. for the game has been moved up one hour to 1 p.m. to better accommodate the New Year’s Day schedule of CFP playoff games.
The winner advances to the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 to face the victor of today’s Orange Bowl between Texas Tech and Oregon for a spot in the national championship.
How to Purchase Floatfest Tickets
What's next:
Following the parade, the floats will be on display for parade attendees to view.
During Floatfest, guests can walk along a 2-mile stretch along Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards to get an up-close and personal view of each float.
Floatfest is open as follows:
- Thursday, Jan. 1: 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 2: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 3: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Floatfest will open early at 7 a.m. on Friday for seniors and people with disabilities.
Floatfest: An up-close look at Rose Parade floats
Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase, is open on January 1, 2, and 3. This 2-mile display features Rose Parade floats after their appearance on the parade route. Each year, nearly 70,000 visitors go to Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevard in Pasadena for a rare opportunity to get up close to these incredible floats and admire the details and creativity that make each display unique.
For more information, tap or click here.
The Source: This report is based on information from the Tournament of Roses, the City of Pasadena, previous FOX 11 reports, and City News Service.