Queens 4th of July Fireworks 2026 NYC
Best Viewing Locations / Places to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Queens NYC including at Astoria Park Thursday, 6/25/26, the Macy's Fireworks WON'T BE VIEWABLE from Queens this year on Saturday, 7/4/26 and the Breezy Point Fireworks aren't Returning this year [2026]
July 4, 2026 / Queens Neighborhoods / July 4th Holiday in Queens / Queens Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather - NYC Can Differ Slightly / Significantly vs TriState TV News Forecasts. There's a 40% chance of 1/10th inch of rain being dropped after 9 pm Friday, and 1/4 inch of rain being dropped Saturday sometime after 4 pm into Saturday night. And there's a 60% chance of over 1/3 inch of rain Sunday, beginning sometime in the afternoon. The temperature highs will be around 100 on Friday & Saturday, falling to 85 on Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the mid 80's Friday and Saturday, falling to the high 70's on Sunday. The winds will range from 4 - 7 mph on Friday and Saturday, then levelling off at 4 mph on Sunday. And the humidity is going to swing from the high 40% range Friday and Saturday to the high 70% range, and then jumping to between the mid 50% to the low 90% range on Sunday.
Air Quality. As of 7.3.26 the air quality is Moderate. To stay abreast of the air quality in NYC copy and paste this link into your browswer bar - https://www.airnow.gov
All of these fireworks displays are FREE.
Click to view a story about the Astoria Park Fireworks show of 2013 in Queens. The photo above or at right shows the July 4th / Independence Day fireworks in Astoria Queens in a prior year.
- Click here for the rest of our report about the 4th of July Fireworks in Queens NYC & nearby areas. The following page contains between a half dozen and dozen different 4th of July fireworks celebrations in the five boroughs of NYC viewable from Queens. This report includes the best viewing locations in Queens for the fireworks shows in Queens before, on and after the 4th of July, including times and locations for the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in Manhattan NYC, the Orchard Beach fireworks in the Bronx NYC, as well as the Jones Beach fireworks on Long Island.
4th Of July Fireworks Queens 2026 NYC
Astoria Park 4th Of July Fireworks to be Held Thursday, June 25th, 2026 in Queens
Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks 2026 in the NY Harbor & at the Mouths of the East and Hudson Rivers is NOT Viewable from Queens
Breezy Point Park in the Rockaways 4th Of July Fireworks is NOT RETURNING in 2026
July 4th Fireworks at Orchard Beach in the Bronx on Thursday June 25th, 2026 is Remotely Viewable from Whitestone, Bay Terrace & Maybe Bayside in Queens
July 4, 2026/ Long Island City Neighborhood & Astoria Neighborhood / Queens Buzz. Continued.
Also use the links at the bottom of this page for additional 4th of July festivities 2025 in all five of NYC boroughs, as well as for other things to do in Queens. We update weekly.
√ 1. Astoria Park Independence Day / July 4th Fireworks in Queens NYC - Thursday 6/25/26 from 7.30 - 9.30 pm
Thursday, June 25, 2026 beginning at 7.30 pm concert & 9.15 / 9.30 pm [dusk] - Fireworks in Astoria Park - on the Great Lawn in Astoria Park. The past couple of years it was north of the bridge, but this year it's back in its normal place. For details see - https://www.centralastoria.org
Click to view a story about the Astoria Park Fireworks show of 2013 in Queens. The photo at right shows the July 4th / Independence Day fireworks in Astoria Queens in a prior year.
√ 2. Macy's July 4th Fireworks at the Mouth of the East River & Hudson River & in the NY Harbor - Best Viewing Locations in Queens NYC 2026
Macy's July 4th Fireworks 2026 along the East and Hudson Rivers doesn't Provide any Good Viewing Locations from Queens
Description. The Macy's 4th of July fireworks will be shown along the East and Hudson Rivers this year. Macy's had presented the fireworks display on the Hudson from 2008 - 2013, before moving them back to the East River in 2014, where they had been shown until 2024, at which time they returned for a year to the Hudson River. The Grucci Brothers had been doing the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC, which they've been doing for decades, and possibly since the inception of the event in 1976. In 2025 Macy's hired a company from California, Pyro Spectaculars, to do them. This year Macy's did not name the fireworks providers.
UPDATED 7.4.26 BEST VIEWING LOCATIONS _ See below for initial prognosis.
- CLICK here to view detailed information with maps, for best viewing locations for the Macy's July 4th fireworks in Manhattan.
- CLICK here to view detailed information with maps, for the best viewing locations for the Macy's July 4th fireworks in Brooklyn.
See the blue graphic / map below right for the 2026 barge map with viewing access points provided by Macy's. Use the two following links for updates. The first is Macy's telling folks where to watch and the second is from the Mayor's Office showing where the unticketed viewing areas are. The map above was created for 2025, but is still generally valid.
https://www.macys.com/s/fireworks/where-to-watch/?lid=fireworks_learnmore-wheretowatch
https://www.nyc.gov/assets/cecm/downloads/pdf/2024-july-4-public-access-points-info.pdf
4th Of July Fireworks In Queens 2026 - Barge Locations / Local Viewing Places
2026 Barge Positions have been released. The barges will be positioned in the Hudson and East Rivers near the mouths of both rivers and along the East River just south of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Manhattan & Brooklyn Provide Best Viewing Locations. Every year the positioning of the barges and the number of them is designed to maximize the viewing options for an audience estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. The show will be more easily viewable from the shores of the East River in Lower Manhattan as well as along the Brooklyn East River shoreline including Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, the western edges of Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Red Hook, and possibly the southwestern tip of Williamsburg. Governors Island is closed, but would have been an ideal location. Use the link below at the bottom of this page to see our full description of viewing the fireworks from Manhattan.
Many Viewing Spots have been Ticketed by the Mayor's Office. This practice was started by Eric Adams, and I don't like it. I haven't updated the ticketed areas for 2026, but they're likely similar as the ticketed numbers didn't change.
Last year [2025] in northwest Brooklyn the BQE highway remained open. The Brooklyn Promenade was closed as it has been reserved for ticketholders.
The green space along the East River waterfront in Brooklyn, ranging from Pier 5 in the south, to Brooklyn Bridge Park underneath the Bridge, to Pebble Beach in Dumbo / Vinegar Hill were all reserved for ticket holders. The ticket holders will start entering those spaces from about two to three blocks east of the green space areas along the East River, which means non-ticket holders won't likely have immediate access to those blocks either, but might be able to enter after the fireworks begin. See Northwest Brooklyn graphic above or at right.
- CLICK here to view detailed information with maps, for the best viewing locations for the Macy's July 4th fireworks in Brooklyn.
- CLICK here to view detailed information with maps, for best viewing locations for the Macy's July 4th fireworks in Manhattan.
Macy's July 4th Fireworks Barge Locations History - Manhattan Fireworks Independence Day
What follows is a bit of fireworks barge placement history on both the East River and Hudson River.
Recent Macy's July 4th Fireworks Barges History. This year there will be six barges, which might be a new record. Two of the barges will be in the lower Hudson, while four of the barges will line up south of the Brooklyn Bridge and almost into the NY Harbor.
Excepting in 2024, the Macy's 4th of July fireworks had been lit upon the East River since 2014 and was within viewing range of all five boroughs [although a quite a distance from the south Bronx and northern tip of Staten Island].
In recent years there were five barges, up from four barges during the mid 20xx teens. The number of barges varies from year to year - generally between four and five - although in recent years, along the East River, the number had remained a constant five, and they have moved the barges a bit further north up the East River.
But in 2024 all that changed as the Macy's July 4th fireworks returned to the Hudson River. In 2024 they staged the fireworks along the Hudson generally placing the barges between the Lincoln tunnel at 40th Street to the Village around 14th Street.
Best Viewing Locations for Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Manhattan 2026
Best Viewing Locations for Manhattan July 4th Fireworks NYC - Generally. We believe the best viewing locations will generally be located in Manhattan along the East River between the Manhattan Bridge and the Staten Island Ferry. Ground Zero for the event is at Pier 17 Rooftop where NBC will be broadcasting their boring TV coverage of the event again in 2026 [also there in 2025]. But western Brooklyn, along the East River waterfront will also be in a position to offer competitive viewing opportunities as well.
- Best Viewing Locations for Manhattan July 4th Fireworks NYC - Front Row Seats. There are also a number of elevated bars and restaurants in the downtown area including One World Trade Center and one of our favorites is a restaurant named Manhatta.
- Best Viewing Locations for Manhattan July 4th Fireworks NYC - Middle Tier Seats East Side of East River in West Brooklyn. Viewing of the fireworks will also be quite good from across the East River in Brooklyn. Here again, the best spots will be along the East River, in Brooklyn Heights, including the Promenade assuming it is open to the public. Dumbo should also be good and possibly as far away as the southern end of Williamsburg along the East River.
- Best Viewing Locations for Manhattan July 4th Fireworks NYC - Balcony Seats East Side of East River in West Brooklyn. Lastly, we believe you should be able to get a good glimpse of the fireworks from Brooklyn at many of the elevated or rooftop bars in Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Downtown Brooklyn [hit or miss] and the southwest end of Williamsburg.
What & What NOT to bring along. You'll also want to bring along sun screen, water and be careful not to bring along too much baggage so that you can reasonably or easily move around. In prior years the NYPD didn't allow backpacks, large bags, coolers, umbrellas or similar items past the NYPD barricades. And while this is unconfirmed, I believe it holds true for this year [2026].
Also see additional 4th of July festivities 2026 in all five of NYC boroughs below.
√ 3. July 4th Fireworks & Related Events in Manhattan 2026 on 7/4/2026
Things To Do This Weekend in NYC - American 250th including Tall Ships, Blue Angels Sky Show, July 4th Fireworks & Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest & Extended Swim Pool Hours During Heat Wave
Swimming pools have extended their hours during the heat wave. Use this link to view details - https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/outdoor-pools2
Friday, July 3, 2026 from 1 to 3 pm - Tall Ships Cruise the East River. Class B Tall Ships from around the world are scheduled to sail down the East River from the Hell Gate Bridge [Queens / Manhattan] to Gravesend Bay in Brooklyn. Free. For details see - https://sail4th.org
Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 7 am to 1 pm - Tall Ships Cruise into the NY Harbor. The Tall Ships will be viewable from the waterfronts / parks of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Governors Island, Liberty Park and Staten Island. Free. For details see - https://sail4th.org
The photo above or at right shows what one of the tall ships looks like.
And the other photo shows what a small piece of the Blue Angels flyover looks like.
Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 10.15 am to 11.15 am - Blue Angels Flyover - along the Hudson River. About 120 - 150 aircraft will fly either up or down [or both ways] the Hudson at this time, as well as likely above the Tall Ships in the NY Harbor. We spoke to the Intrepid Museum, which is located at West 46th Street and the Hudson River, and they confirmed that the flyover would definitely be passing by them at the museum. For details see - https://intrepidmuseum.org/international-aerial-review
Saturday, July 4, 2026 beginning between 9.15 - 9.45 pm - Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. It's the 50th year of the fireworks show, which this year is being held in the NY Harbor / at the mouth of the Hudson River. For details see - https://www.macys.com/s/fireworks/where-to-watch/?lid=fireworks_learnmore-wheretowatch
Sunday - Tuesday, July 5 - 7, 2026 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Tall Ships Tours at NYC Piers. Tour the tall ships docked at five different piers in three of NYC's boroughs. Free, but rsvp recommended. At Sullivan's Pier on Staten Island there will be four tall ships from Latin America and USA; in Brooklyn Bridge Park at Piers 1, 3 & 5 there will be tall ships from nations in Europe, India and the USA; in Manhattan at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan tall ships from the Netherlands and USA, and also in Manhattan at Piers 86 & 90 there will be tall ships from Europe, Latin America and the USA. To rsvp and for tickets see - https://sail4th.org
NYC & NYS Public Beaches _ Saturday - Sunday, May 23 - September 13, 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm - NYC & NYS Beaches Open for the Summer. Swimming not allowed when life guards are not present. For details see - https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/beaches
Saturday, June 27 - September 4, 2026 from 11 am - 3 pm & 4 pm to 7 pm - NYC Outdoor Swim Pools Open. Details and link to follow.- Details to follow.
√ 4. Independence Day / July 4th Fireworks at Breezy Point in the Rockaways - NOT RETURNING 2026
The Breezy Point fireworks generally occur on July 3rd or 5th, but this year they have been cancelled. As no explanation was given, we don't know if this is a hiatus, or a permanent change in practice. Come back next year, to find out.
Editor's Note - UPDATE - NO BREEZY POINT FIREWORKS IN THE ROCKAWAYS FOR 2026. The Breezy Point Fireworks are not returning this year. No explanation was provided. A number of news outlets, like Fox News, didn't check their facts and got this wrong.
√ 5. Orchard Beach Independence / 4th of July Fireworks in the Bronx NYC - Thursday, 6/25/2026 from 5.30 - 9.30 pm
Thursday, June 25, 2026 from 5.30 - 9.30 pm - Bronx Independence Day Fireworks - at Orchard Beach - along Section 5 near the handball courts. use 4th of July Fireworks link to see details for this and other July 4th & fireworks related events. The fireworks are also viewable from City Island. Free admission, but parking is $10 / $15. Or use this link for details - https://cityislandchamber.org
Links to Other Pages on this Site of Things To Do in Queens NYC This Summer of 2026
Knock yourself out. We update weekly until the new additions taper down sometime in mid to late summer.
Queens 4th of July Fireworks. CLICK this link to view a full schedule of all of the Queens July 4th fireworks 2025 & Astoria Park 4th of July fireworks & Bayside Fireworks 2025 Queens NYC.
Queens Parades. CLICK here to look for parades in any of the five boroughs - Queens Parades & Cultural Festivals Qns NYC, Brooklyn Parades & Cultural Festivals Bk NYC, Bronx Parades & Cultural Festivals Bx NYC, Staten Island Parades & Cultural Festivals SI NYC, and Manhattan Parades & Cultural Festivals Mhtn NYC.
Queens Street Fairs. CLICK here to look for food festivals, art festivals and street fairs - Manhattan street fairs NYC, Queens street fairs NYC, Bronx street fairs NYC, Brooklyn street fairs NYC and Staten Island street fairs NYC.
Queens Arts & Cultural Institutions. CLICK here for ongoing exhibits and performance events - Queens things to do & events Qns NYC, Manhattan things to do & events Mhtn NYC, Brooklyn things to do & events Bk NYC, Bronx things to do & events Bx NYC, and Staten Island things to do & events SI NYC. Be advised that these calendars aren't yet up to snuff as of this posting, but they should be brought up to our standards within the next few weeks.
Mostly Free Swimming Pools Queens NYC. CLICK this link to view all of the free public swimming pools in Queens NYC.
Mostly Free Summer Concerts Queens NYC. CLICK this link for a mostly done, and moving to weekly updates, of a page of mostly free summer concerts in Queens page.
Mostly Free Summer Theater Queens NYC. CLICK this link for a mostly done, and moving to weekly updates, of a page of mostly free summer theater / plays in Queens NYC page.
Mostly Free Summer Movies Queens NYC. CLICK this link for work in progress and updated weekly page of mostly free summer movies in Queens NYC.
LINKS TO - July 4th Fireworks in All Five Boros of NYC 2026
The NYC 4th of July fireworks are viewable from all five boroughs.
Click these links to specifics related to each borough -
1) Bronx 4th of July fireworks 2026 & Orchard Beach July 4th fireworks 2026 BX NYC
2) Brooklyn 4th of July fireworks 2026 & Coney Island July 4th fireworks 2026 BK NYC
3) Manhattan 4th of July fireworks 2026 & Macy's July 4th Fireworks NYC
6) NYC 4th of July Fireworks all 5 Boroughs
Click the links below to read stories about other July 4th fireworks shows in Queens.
July 4th Fireworks In Queens, Astoria, LIC & NYC 2026
Related 4th Of July Stories LIC & Astoria - Prior Years
Click here for the July 4th fireworks in Queens 2013, 4th of July fireworks in Queens 2012, 4th of July fireworks in Queens 2011, July 4th Fireworks 2010, and Queens July 4th Fireworks 2009.
Click here to read our report on the 4th Of July fireworks along the East River in LIC / Long Island City in 2008.
Click here to read our report of the July 4th fireworks in Astoria Park in 2009 including a fireworks slide show.
Click here to read our report about NYC 4th of July fireworks in Manhattan and July 4th fireworks in the Bronx.
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