Quick Scoop: 4th of July Fireworks Shows on TV

For the 4th of July, several major networks air live fireworks spectaculars from iconic U.S. locations. The biggest televised shows include NBC’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks from New York City, PBS’s A Capitol Fourth from Washington, D.C., and CNN’s The Fourth in America , which features fireworks from dozens of cities nationwide.

Major Fireworks Broadcasts

1. Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks (NBC)

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET (encore at 10 p.m. ET)
  • Location: New York City (East River & Brooklyn Bridge)
  • Channel: NBC
  • Streaming: Peacock, FuboTV (free trial)
  • Highlights: Star-studded concert, 25-minute fireworks display, hosted by Ariana DeBose; performers have included The Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, and more.

2. A Capitol Fourth (PBS)

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET (check local listings)
  • Location: U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
  • Channel: PBS
  • Streaming: PBS App, PBS.org, YouTube
  • Highlights: Patriotic concert with performances by national artists (e.g., The Beach Boys, The Temptations), fireworks over the National Mall starting around 9:09 p.m. ET.

3. The Fourth in America (CNN)

  • Time: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET
  • Locations: 30+ cities including Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, San Diego, and more
  • Channel: CNN, CNN International
  • Streaming: CNN.com, CNN apps (for pay TV subscribers)
  • Highlights: Six-hour coast-to-coast coverage with live performances, multiple fireworks displays, and hosts in D.C. and San Diego.

Other Notable Fireworks & Holiday Specials

  • FOX: “The Big Independence Day Special” (8 p.m. ET) featuring fireworks from NYC and D.C.
  • CMT: “Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th” from Nashville (10 p.m. ET), with concert clips and fireworks.
  • ESPN: Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest (men’s at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2; women’s at 10:45 a.m. ET on ESPN3).
  • Paramount+: The Price Is Right 4th of July special.
  • C-SPAN: “America 250” historical programming and livestreams.

Streaming Options

  • FuboTV: Carries NBC and FOX fireworks specials (free trial available).
  • Peacock: Streams Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks live.
  • PBS App/Website: Free stream of A Capitol Fourth.
  • CNN Apps/Website: For pay TV subscribers, streams The Fourth in America.
  • ESPN/ESPN3: For hot dog contest and related sports coverage.

TL;DR

The main 4th of July fireworks shows on TV are NBC’s Macy’s spectacular (NYC), PBS’s A Capitol Fourth (D.C.), and CNN’s multi-city The Fourth in America—all airing live on July 4 with extensive streaming options.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.