The 137th Tournament of Roses Parade will be held on Jan. 1, 2026, in Pasadena, California, beginning at 8 a.m. Pacific Time.
Building off the parade theme of “The Magic in Teamwork,” the 2026 Lutheran Hour Ministries float entry is titled “Bringing Christ to the Nations®” and marks the 75th time the ministry has been part of the parade. The float will feature a “Team Jesus” blimp flying over the world. Coming forth from the church, Jesus celebrates with 12 modern-day disciples, as it features the message ALL WELCOME. “Team Jesus” serves as a reminder that it takes everyone to fulfill the callings Christ has placed upon us to do the work of bringing Christ and His redeeming love to the world. Riders on the 2026 float will represent some of the vocations Christ has called us for the building of His church and furtherance of the Gospel message: a teacher, a missionary, a pastor, and others. Additional symbolism will include the Luther Seal on the nose of the blimp, crosses on the side, “75” on the tail in honor of our 75th year having a Christian float in the parade, and a Petal Pushers® banner to highlight the annual volunteer efforts of around 4,000 individuals.
The LHM float will be positioned as the 33rd entry in the 2026 parade. The float should pass by the Grandstand between approximately 8:40 and 8:50 a.m. PST.
As a self-funded project of the Southern California District of the Lutheran Laymen’s League, the LHM float is the only Christian float in the annual parade. The float carries on a mission to provide a Gospel witness to viewers everywhere, from the 5.5-mile parade route in Pasadena to televisions and computers around the world. There are several television channels, streaming outlets, and social media platforms televising the 2026 parade. Check your local listings for the best viewing options.
In addition to sharing Christ along the parade route, volunteers are stationed in booths around the parade and float decorating sites to engage in hundreds of individual conversations with visitors regarding the spiritual meaning of the LHM float. These English and bilingual volunteers also distribute thousands of souvenir postcards as well as a variety of LHM’s topical Project Connect booklets for both adults and children.
To learn more about the LHM float, volunteer opportunities, or ways to support this project, visit www.lhm.org/petalpushers.