Even if it rains on the 2026 New Year’s Rose Parade, local officials do not want people using umbrellas.
The official account for the city of Pasadena, California, said in an X post that organizers want to preserve parade views.
“Rain is expected for this year’s Rose Parade. Umbrellas are not permitted along the parade route because they block the view for others. Rain jackets or ponchos are a great alternative so everyone can enjoy the show!” the post stated.
The National Weather Service office for the Los Angeles area expects about 1 to 3 inches to fall in valley and coastal areas and 3 to 6 inches in mountain and foothill areas between Wednesday and Saturday.
This includes an initial peak period from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 10 p.m. Thursday, which would include both the Thursday morning parade and the Rose Bowl college football game, due to kick off at 1 p.m. Pacific time.
There has not been rain during the Rose Parade since 2006, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The parade, held since 1890, kicks off along Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard at 8 a.m. local time and goes for 5.5 miles. It includes a number of rose-covered floats, marching bands and equestrian units.
Between the floats, horse units and bands, there will be over 70 performers along the parade route, according to the Pasadena Star-News. Among the floats are one apiece for each of the two teams playing in the subsequent Rose Bowl.
This year’s Rose Bowl pits the 9th-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide and the Big 10 champion and top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
The winner will play in the semifinal Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Jan. 9 against the winner of the Orange Bowl, also being played on Thursday, either Oregon or Texas Tech.
