Updated October 18th, 2026
The 53rd Village Halloween Parade takes over Sixth Avenue on Saturday, October 31, 2026, starting at 7pm and peaking around 8 to 9:30pm, rain or shine. It’s free to watch, anyone in costume can march, and this year’s theme is “Body & Soul.” When the last float passes, the night keeps going: Bar 13 hosts the unofficial parade after party a couple of blocks off the route by Union Square, and Elsie Rooftop & Penthouse and Casa CeCe carry Halloween night into Midtown.
The Parade at a Glance
- When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, starting at 7pm and peaking around 8 to 9:30pm, rain or shine
- Route: Starts at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue and goes up Sixth Avenue to 15th Street
- Where to watch: Either side of Sixth Avenue between King Street and West 15th Street
- Who can march: Anyone in costume, free
- Theme: “Body & Soul”
- On TV: Live on Spectrum News NY1 from 8 to 9:30pm
Where to Watch
Pick a spot on either side of Sixth Avenue anywhere between King Street and West 15th Street. The stretch between Bleecker and 14th Street draws the biggest crowds, so get there early if that’s your spot, or head further along the route. Better yet, put on a costume and join the parade.
How to March
Only those in costume can march, and it’s free. Join the lineup at the corner of Canal Street and Sixth Avenue on Saturday, October 31, 2026 between 6:30 and 9pm, then march alongside hundreds of giant puppets, more than 50 bands playing music from around the world, dancers of all styles and thousands of New Yorkers in costumes of their own creation. Coming with a group? Meet a block or two away from the lineup and walk over together.
After the Parade
Near the Route
Bar 13
The unofficial after party for the Village Halloween Parade, a couple of blocks off the route by Union Square. Three levels and a rooftop, with four DJs rotating Hip-Hop, R&B, House and Top 40 across every floor while hundreds of costumed parade-goers keep the celebration going all night.
- PhD Rooftop Halloween Party: No Strings presents Glamour & Gore twelve floors above the Meatpacking District, with Empire State Building views and DJs mixing hip-hop, electronic and open format.
- The Gallery at Dream Downtown Halloween Party: A Nightmare on 16th Street with Grammy-nominated DJ and producer Audien, custom Halloween sound and lighting, and a one-hour vodka open bar.
- Out of Ordinary Halloween Party: Carnival House Halloween Edition near the Flatiron Building, celebrating the club’s first anniversary under thirty-foot ceilings and its signature purple rhino.
- Loosie’s Halloween Party: downtown style beneath Moxy Lower East Side, with music by Little Fax the Machine under the club’s signature disco-ball chandelier.
Midtown
Elsie Rooftop & Penthouse
The post-parade destination for anyone ready to trade the street for the skyline. Elsie Rooftop & Penthouse near Bryant Park gives you two levels of partying with multiple DJs, panoramic views, indoor lounges and open-air terraces, craft cocktails and a stylish crowd dressed for the occasion.
Casa CeCe: House of CeCe
Every house keeps secrets, and on Halloween night Casa CeCe lets them loose. The post-parade destination for anyone still in character, the House of CeCe draws on the haunted glamour of American Horror Story, so come as your favorite from Coven, Murder House, Hotel or Freak Show. Live DJs take over the Main Room in Midtown, near Madison Square Garden.
- PH Live Halloween Party: Nightmare on 42nd Street inside Planet Hollywood, with immersive screens and lighting in the heart of Times Square.
Looking for more? See every Halloween weekend party in our Best NYC Halloween Parties 2026 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Village Halloween Parade starts at 7 PM on Saturday, October 31, 2026 and peaks around 8 to 9:30 PM, rain or shine.
The Village Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 31, 2026 peaks around 8 to 9:30 PM, and the after parties pick up from there. Nearby after-parade parties include the unofficial parade after party at Bar 13, 35 E 13th St near Union Square, and Out of Ordinary.
Anywhere along Sixth Avenue between King Street and West 15th Street. The stretch between Bleecker and 14th Street is the most crowded, so arrive early or choose a spot further along the route.
The Village Halloween Parade starts at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue and goes up Sixth Avenue to 15th Street. Spectators can watch from either side of Sixth Avenue between King Street and West 15th Street.
The best places to watch the Village Halloween Parade are along Sixth Avenue between King Street and West 15th Street. The stretch between Bleecker and 14th Street is the most crowded, so arrive early or pick a spot further along the route.
Anyone in costume can march in the Village Halloween Parade for free by joining the lineup at Canal Street and Sixth Avenue between 6:30 and 9 PM on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Groups should meet away from the lineup and walk over together.
The theme for the 53rd Village Halloween Parade is "Body & Soul."
Yes. The Village Halloween Parade is a free public event, both to watch and to march in costume.
Yes. Spectrum News NY1 broadcasts the Village Halloween Parade live on Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 8 to 9:30 PM.
The closest subway stations to the Village Halloween Parade are along Sixth Avenue, including West 4th St–Washington Square (A, B, C, D, E, F, M) and 14th Street (F, M). On Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 5 to 10 PM, downtown C trains skip Spring Street, and A and C trains are rerouted from Friday, October 30 at 10 PM to Monday, November 2 at 5 AM. Sixth Avenue buses are rerouted from just after 6 PM until the parade ends. From New Jersey, the 33rd Street PATH stops on Sixth Avenue at 9th, 14th and 23rd Streets.
There is no official Village Halloween Parade after party, but several parties take place after the parade, including Bar 13, 35 E 13th St near Union Square, on Saturday, October 31, 2026, a short walk east of the parade route. Heading to Midtown after the parade? Elsie Rooftop & Penthouse near Bryant Park and Casa CeCe near Madison Square Garden are both on October 31.
