Balloons (Bold for new balloons)
- Aeroplane Hello Kitty - First Time
- Kermit the Frog (Retired, To Promote All I Need is Love) - 9th and last Time
- Charlie Brown and the Allusive Football (Comeback Balloon/Return Since 2005, Retired) - 5th and last Time
- Po from Kung Fu Panda (Retired) - 3rd and last Time
- Julius the Sock Monkey - 2nd Time
- Spider-Man (To Promote The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 Film's) DVD and Blu-Ray releases, and Ultimate Spider-Man) - 4th Time
- Pikachu with Pokeball (Ears deflated randomly, To Promote Pokemon Black 2 and White 2) - 7th Time
- SpongeBob SquarePants (Retired/Hands and Legs deflated randomly/To Promote It's a SpongeBob Christmas and Season 9 of SpongeBob SquarePants) - 9th Time
- Papa Smurf (To Promote The Smurfs 2) - First Time
- KAWS Companion (Retired) - First and only Time
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (To Promote Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel) - 3rd Time
- Sailor Mickey Mouse (Retired/To Promote Disney Fantasy cruise ship, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Season 4) - 4th and last Time
- Sonic the Hedgehog (To Promote Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed) - 2nd Time
- Ice Skating Ronald McDonald - 4th Time
- Pilsbury Doughboy - 4th Time
- The Elf on the Shelf (Holiday Ambassador) - First Time
- Buzz Lightyear (To Promote Pixar Short Films Collection Volume 2 on DVD and Blu-Ray and Partysaurus Rex) - 5th Time
Balloonicles
- Kool-Aid Man - 3rd Time
- Red, Green, & Golden Ornament (Retired) - 2nd and last Time
- Sledding Aflac Duck - 2nd Time
Falloons
- The Smurfs Mushroom House - 5th Time
Novelty Balloons (Bold for new Novelty Balloons)
- Macy's Yellow Stars
- Pumpkins (3rd Version)
- Harold the Policeman
- Cloe the Holiday Clown
- Uncle Sam
- Planet Earth
- Harold the Fireman
- Macy's Soccer Ball
- Rex the Happy Dragon (Recreation of older Happy Dragon Balloon/Comeback Balloon, Return Since 1992) - 1st time
- Macy's White Star
- Geometrics
- Wiggle Worm (Comeback Balloon/Return Since 2010,Retired)
- Macy's ALL STAR Basketball
- Macy's R.H. Baseball
- Red Candy Cane
- Ice Crystals
- Big Man Santa
- Virginia O'Hanley
- Macy's Family Elves
- Macy's Red Belive Stars
Hosts
- Matt Lauer
- Savannah Guthrie (First Time Hosting the Parade)
- Al Roker
Broadway Musicals
- Annie
- Bring It On
- Elf: The Musical
- Cinderella
- Nice Work If You Can Get It
Performers
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Carly Tae Jepsen
- Sandra Lee
- The Cast of The Sunny Side Up Show (PBS Kids Sprout)
- Trace Adkins
- The Radio City Rockettes
- Jimmy Fallon and the Roots (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)
- Peanuts: Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and Woodstock
- Rachel Crow
- Karmin
- Flo Rida
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo (To Promote Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- The Big Apple Circus
- McDonald's: Ronald McDonald
- Mannheim Steamroller
- Cody Simpson
- Gabby Douglas
- Megan & Liz
- The Cast of Sesame Street: Big Bird's Nest: Big Bird, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby, Windows: (Top: Murray Monster, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Ernie, Bert, Baby Bear, Telly Monster), (Bottom: Grover, Count Von Count, Rostia), Oscar's Trash Can: Oscar the Grouch, On the Floor: Alan, Leela, Bob, Gordon, Gina, Luis, Susan, and the Kids
- Don McLean
- Christian Laettner
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber
- Jennette McCurdy
- Chris Isaak
- PS22 Chorus
- Neon Trees
- The Wanted
- The Cast of Power Rangers Megaforce
- The Cast of Newsies: The Musical
- Olivia Culpo
- Colbie Caillat
- Geoffrey Zakarian
- Dora the Explorer: Dora the Explorer, Boots, and Swiper
- The Kidz Bop Kids
- Thirza Defoe
- Teresa Castillo
- Planters: Mr. Peanut
- The Smurfs: Clumsy Smurf, Papa Smurf, and Smurfette
- McKayla Maroney
- Aly Raisman
Performer Groups
Marching Bands
Floats (Bold for new floats)
- Ocean Spray: Woodland Family Gathering
- Tom Turkey
- Frozen Fall Fun
- Snoopy's Doghouse
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street
- Gibson Brands: It's All Rock & Roll
- On the Roll Again
- Oneida Indian Nation: True Sprit of Thanksgiving
- Uncle Sam's Top Hat
- Mount Rushmore American Pride
- Macy's Gift of Freedom
- HESS: Bridge to the Future
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (To Promote Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) - 1st time
- Zhu Zhu Pets:Zuniverse
- Macy's Jolly Polly Pirate Ship
- The Smurf's Mushroom House
- Daily News Big Apple
- PBS Kids Sprout: Daytime, Playtime, Nighttime Too... - 1st time
- Macy's Marine Carole Showboat
- 75th Anniversary of March Madness
- Spirit of America: Pep Rally
- Ronald McDonald's Big Shoe Car
- Morton Salt Home Baked Goodness
- Office Max Elves Raise the Roof
- Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure
- Domino Sugar Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensation
- Build-A-Bear International Cele-Bear-Ation Clock Tower
- Goldfish on Parade
- Delta Airlines: Winter Wonderland in Central Park
- Macy's Santa's Sleigh
After Hurricane Sandy
The 2012 Parade was originally after The Hurricane Sandy, but officials said that the show still must go on.