On July 4, 2026, NBC's annual Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks special saw a remarkable increase in viewership, attracting 11.2 million viewers across all platforms. This surge coincided with the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary, marking the highest viewership for the special since 2018, according to preliminary Nielsen numbers.
Record Viewership for NBC's Fireworks Special
The live broadcast of the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks aired from 8-10 p.m. ET, drawing 5.1 million viewers, a 42 percent increase from last year's 3.6 million. This year’s viewership reflects a significant recovery since the pandemic, emphasizing the event's importance in American culture.
Peacock users also showed increased engagement, with viewing time more than doubling compared to last year. Jen Neal, executive VP of live events and specials for NBC and Peacock, stated, “With our partners at Macy’s, we are proud to have brought viewers around the country together for a night that honored this historic milestone through unforgettable music, inspiring moments, and one of the country’s most iconic fireworks traditions.”
Fox News Achieves Record Ratings
Fox News also had a standout performance on Independence Day, scoring its best-ever ratings for the holiday. The network attracted 3.3 million viewers during primetime and 2.2 million for the full day, both significantly above its typical Saturday audience.
The peak viewership for Fox News occurred after primetime, with 5.5 million viewers tuning in to watch President Trump’s speech from 11:15-11:45 p.m. ET. This surge highlights the growing interest in political coverage during major national celebrations.
Comparative Ratings and Future Insights
In contrast, CNN averaged 1.2 million viewers in primetime, while MS NOW garnered 317,000 viewers. As final ratings for July 4, including specials from other networks, are expected later this week, the current trends suggest a robust recovery in viewership for holiday specials.
- Macy's Fireworks Special: 11.2 million viewers
- Live airing on NBC: 5.1 million viewers
- Fox News primetime: 3.3 million viewers
- President Trump's speech: 5.5 million viewers
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Hollywood Reporter. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
