Line of March

Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 11 AM – 1:30 PM

BUY TICKETS

Spring to Life and Bloom Big!

This high-energy celebration brings together fantastical helium balloons, dazzling floats, top marching bands from across the country, celebrity performances, and more in the Nation’s beloved springtime parade. Read on to find the full list of entertainment. 

 

* Please note: the Parade units and Line of March may be subject to change.

Full lineup of entertainment

  • Opening Performance: “Find Your Bloom,” sponsored by Events DC 
  • Metropolitan Police Motorcycle Team 
  • Metropolitan Police Honor Guard 
  • Metropolitan Police Interim Chief of Police Jeffery W. Carroll 
  • Bloom in Motion: Driven by Lexus 
  • DC’s Capitol Movement & Tokyo’s CheeRing – GenerationNext, sponsored by El Tiempo Latino  
  • United States Park Police Motorcycle Unit 
  • United States Park Police Mounted Patrol  
  • United States Park Police Honor Guard
  • Doug Burgum, the 55th Secretary of the Department of the Interior with United States Park Police
  • Vestavia Hills High School Marching Band – Alabama 
  • Petals the Panda Balloon, sponsored by Events DC 
  • “Passport DC Blossoms Around the World” Float, sponsored by Events DC, featuring Raheem DeVaughn performing “Guess Who Loves You More”  
  • Special Guests Hanna Battah and Sophie Flay from ABC’s World News Now 
  • “Ray” from Good Morning America 
  • “Ray” Balloon 
  • Madison Sunrise Marching Band – District of Columbia, sponsored by The Washington Informer 
  • Grand Marshal Tim Yanke, the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival Official Artist 
  • His Excellency Shigeo Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, and Mayor Muriel Bowser, District of Columbia 
  • Blossom Trio Balloon, carried by The Embassy of Japan 
  • Cast of The Wiz from Broadway at the National performing “Home” 
  • Thomas County Central High School Band – Georgia 
  • Limitless Dancing Warriorettes 
  • Military District of Washington Units Commander of Troops & Joint Staff 
  • The United States Army Band Pershing’s Own 
  • U.S. Army Marching Platoon 
  • U.S. Marines Corps Platoon 
  • Joint Staff Honor Guard 
  • U.S. Navy Marching Platoon 
  • U.S. Air Force Marching Platoon 
  • U.S. Space Force Marching Platoon 
  • U.S. Coast Guard Marching Platoon 
  • 3rd U.S. Infantry Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps 
  • Washington Nationals Racing Presidents 
  • Cass High School Marching Band – Georgia 
  • “Sprinkles of Spring” Float, sponsored by Dunkin’, featuring American Idol finalist Gabby Samone performing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
  • The Lorax Balloon, sponsored by M&T Bank 
  • South Kitsap High School Marching Band – Washington 
  • DC Fire & EMS Trucks 
  • University of the District of Columbia Black Greek Letter Organizations 
  • Miss Maryland Maria Derisavi 
  • Miss DC Katie Wadman 
  • Duncanville High School High Hats Dance Team – Texas, sponsored by Washington-Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport 
  • CirquesExperience 
  • George Mason Army ROTC Patriot Battalion 
  • National Conference of State Societies Princesses & Flag Carriers 
  • Queen’s Float, sponsored by Washington-Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport 
  • Daniel Tiger Band Leader Balloon, sponsored by Giant Food 
  • Southland College Prep Charter High School Band – Illinois 
  • Artwork Float, sponsored by Park West Gallery, with Festival Dignitaries, and 2026 Festival Goodwill Ambassadors, featuring hitmaker Anita Ward performing “Ring My Bell”  
  • Lee’s Summit West and North High Schools Marching Band – Missouri 
  • Cheer DC 
  • Crystalli Bedazzled Cherry Blossom Car 
  • The U.S. Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps 
  • “America I Can Still Hear Your Song,” performed by the Parade Cast 
  • “Our Nation’s Legacy in Bloom” Float, sponsored by Daughters of the American Revolution, featuring Broadway & gospel recording artist Anastacia McCleskey performing “RESPECT” 
  • Neko Good Fortune Cat and Daiichi Sankyo Cube Balloons, sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo 
  • George Washington Model A Car Club 
  • “Fly with ANA” Float, sponsored by ANA, All Nippon Airways featuring award-winning R&B vocal group Club Nouveau performing “Lean on Me” 
  • Welcome Aboard ANA Balloon, sponsored by ANA 
  • Washington Spirit “Spirit Crew” 
  • Ballou High School Marching Band – District of Columbia, sponsored by Events DC 
  • Star Struck Superstars Dance Team 
  • Miss Rodeo Virginia 
  • Cherry Blossom-Wrapped Metro Bus & Metro Access Vehicle 
  • The Washington Wizards Dancers 
  • DeSoto Central High School Marching Band – Mississippi 
  • “In Full Bloom: Together” Student Art Showcase Float, sponsored by Amazon, featuring legendary Motown recording artists The Spinners performing a medley of “Rubberband Man / I’ll Be Around / Could It Be I’m Falling in Love”
  • Peppa Pig in a Party Dress Balloon, sponsored by DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), carried by DowntownDC SAMs  
  • DeRidder High School Marching Band – Louisiana 
  • National Park Service Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks, Dr. Kevin Griess 
  • “Blooms. Blossoms. Bonvoy. Where Can We Take You?” Float, sponsored by Marriott Bonvoy featuring The Voice top finalist Sarah Potenza performing “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” 
  • National Children’s Chorus performing “Be Who You Are,” sponsored by the University of the District of Columbia 
  • Calluna Flower Truck 
  • Tamagawa University Taiko Drum and Dance Troupe Float, sponsored by CSI Printing & Graphics 
  • CAPA Dancers performing “Dancing in the Street” 
  • Archbishop Rummel High School The Raider Band and Chapellette Dance Team – Louisiana 
  • Miss America 2016 Betty Maxwell performing “Over the Rainbow” 
  • “Springtime Fashion” Float, sponsored by Clyde’s Restaurant Group, featuring chart-topping pop vocalist David Archuleta performing “Crush” 
  • “The Art of Fashion” featuring Pink Tie Party Local Designers 
  • The Okinawa Eisa Drummers from Wisconsin & Chin Hamaya from Maryland 
  • National Capital Region Mustang Club 
  • Cherry Blossom Balloons  
  • “Celebration” performance by the Parade Cast 

Vehicles provided by: Lexus and Toyota Motor North America, Inc. 

Parade units and Line of March may be subject to change 

Your 2026 Parade Hosts

In telecast, your hosts are Hanna Battah and Sophie Flay of ABC’s World News Now alongside Adrianna Hopkins and Adam Longo of 7News, with Emmy Award-winning TV personality Carson Kressley and 7News’ Megan Clarke bringing you all the action from the street.

At the west end, announcers Toby and Chilli of WASH-FM keep the good times rolling along.

Official National Cherry Blossom Festival merchandise is available for purchase along Constitution Ave at 9th, 12th and 14th Streets.

Be sure to stop by for a special gift or memento!

Catch the Parade on TV!

The 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade will air live on 7News and 24/7 News WJLA on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 11 AM to 1:30 PM EDT.

Watch as we celebrate spring with incredible floats, performances, and entertainment.

Can't watch on TV? No problem!

Stream the parade online via the 7News app, WJLA.com, and National Cherry Blossom Festival YouTube for live coverage and behind-the-scenes updates throughout the day.

2026 Presenting Sponsor
2026 Segment SponsorS
2026 parade Sponsors
ELETIEMPOLATINO

2025 SPONSORS

2026 media sponsors

special thANKS

National Park Service
Embassy of Japan
The Japan Foundation
Government of the District of Columbia