♪ >> WELCOME TO ROME PARADE 2026 , I AM LAURA.

>> I AM TYLER AND WE'RE HERE WITH YOU TO CELEBRATE THEM ALONG WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN ROME.

ALSO KNOWN AS THE ETERNAL CITY.

HOW WONDERFUL, LOOK AT THIS.

EVERYONE LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME.

THAT IS THE FIRST PART TODAY.

>> THIS IS THE MARCHING WARRIORS .

>> HERE THEY COME, ALL AGES.

>> FROM AURORA, ILLINOIS.

>> THEY PERFORM ALL OVER THE PLACE, FOOTBALL GAMES, MARCHING BAND COMPETITIONS, WHERE THEY DO REALLY WELL, PARADES, OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS.

LION AND DRAGON DANCE ASSOCIATION, FACETED GROUP WHO PRACTICE MARTIAL ARTS AND LION AND DRAGON DANCING.

>> THAT IS RIGHT, THE GROUP LEADER IS OF ORIENTAL DISCIPLINES, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ART.

20 YEARS DEDICATED TO LION DANCE.

>> WONDERFUL.

AGAIN, THE WAY PEOPLE MAKE THINGS LOOK SO EASY AND I KNOW THEY ARE NOT EASY TO DO.

>> MARIA THE MAJORETTE.

TREVOR THE TRIANGLE.

LET'S LISTEN TO THE WONDERFUL LAKE ZéRICH HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND.

>> THAT IS A BIG BAND.

>> RECOGNIZE THE SOUSAPHONES?

>> THERE ARE THREE, MAKING THE MOST WONDERFUL SOUND.

THAT IS A HUGE BAND THEY BROUGHT.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, THEY SOUND WONDERFUL.

THEY WILL BE NOT THAT LONG BEFORE THEY ARE IN THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE SPANISH STEPS.

THE ANTICIPATION AND THE CROWD WAITING FOR THE NEXT ACT TO COME ALONG.

IT IS A MARVELOUS PARADE, IT REALLY IS.

>> PALM SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT OF THE SANDS.

>> WONDERFUL, FROM CALIFORNIA, THE BAND.

WHAT FANTASTIC MUSIC.

>> FROM PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, LED BY MATTHEW.

PALM SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT OF THE SANS FROM PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA.

>> MUSICAL DIRECTOR IS MATTHEW INGELSON.

>> THE OFFICIAL BAND OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, 100 MEMBERS OF THIS HIGH SCHOOL BAND.

THEY PERFORM ALL OVER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

WE HAVE BHARAT CREATIONS AND BOLLYMASALA DANCE COMPANY.

INTERESTING, INDIAN BORN AND RAISED, THE RECOGNIZED PIONEER OF BOLLYWOOD DANCE IN ITALY FOR 25 YEARS.

>> SHE ESTABLISHED THE BOLLYMASALA DANCE COMPANY IN ROME, SHOWCASING DIVERSE INDIAN DANCE.

FROM CINEMATIC TO TRADITIONAL FORMS.

IT SPREADS NATIONS AND CULTURES .

UNIQUE COSTUMES, WONDERFUL.

>> IT MIXES CHOREOGRAPHY WITH INDIA'S CINEMATIC AND TRADITIONAL STYLES.

>> USING THESE VIBRANT COSTUMES AND THE VISUAL ARTISTRY OF BHARAT TO MAKE IT POWERFUL AND UNIFIED STATEMENT ON THE STREET.

CERTAINLY DOING THAT.

HERE, RUSHING INTO THE FINAL PERFORMANCE AREA IS KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL BAND.

GARY HERNANDEZ.

>> WONDERFUL, LET'S LISTEN TO THEM PERFORM.

♪ ♪ >> FABULOUS PERFORMANCE FROM KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL BAND, MARCHING BAND.

>> UNDER THE DIRECTION OF GARY HERNANDEZ, IN HIS 22nd YEAR OF TEACHING MUSIC, ALL THE WAY FROM KEY WEST, FLORIDA DO HERE IN ROME.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL BAND.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ESPERANZA FLORES BALLET FOLKLORICO DANCE GROUP COMING IN FOR THE FINAL PART OF THE PARADE.

>> WONDERFUL MULTI GENERATIONAL DROOP, FABLESS MEXICAN TRADITION THROUGH COLOR, MOVEMENT, MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT MANTICA, CLOUD PARADE, PERFORMANCE COMPANY BLENDS DISCIPLINES FROM DIFFERENT ARTISTIC BACKGROUNDS THROUGH CIRCUS ARTS.

>> BASED IN TUSCANY AND WERE A CIRCUS AND ART SCHOOL.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEY SUPPORT SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECTS WHICH IS NOT EASY TO SAY.

>> THAT CANNOT BE EASY.

ON STILTS.

ON COBBLED STREETS, UNDERNEATH A CLOUD.

YOU CAN SEE THEM THERE NOW.

HERE, LOOKING AT THE MARCHING WARRIORS AS THEY COME INTO THE PIAZZA DEL POPOLO FOR THEIR FINALE IN FRONT OF THE CROWDS OF ROME.

>> A VOLUNTEER MARCHING BAND WITH PERCUSSION AND COLORGUARD FROM AURORA, ILLINOIS.

>> UNDER THE DIRECTORSHIP OF CHRIS, AND JAMES, AND MARK.

>> ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL TURNOUT OF INSTRUMENTS.

THEY PERFORM AT FOOTBALL GAMES, MARCHING BAND COMPETITIONS, PARADES, AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS.

>> WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THEM WITH US IN ROME TONIGHT.

>> MARCHING WARRIORS.

>> A REAL PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE IN ROME, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

ITALY LION AND DRAGON DANCE ASSOCIATION WITH THEIR SPECIAL HIGH POLE LION DANCE WORK.

>> ON THE 17th OF FEBRUARY IT IS CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE FIRE HORSE.

>> THE FIRE HORSE?

THERE THEY GO.

>> THEY SPECIALIZE IN MARTIAL ARTS, LION AND DRAGON DANCE, COMBINING TECHNIQUES AND TRADITION.

>> SPECTACULAR, ASP LION AND DRAGON DANCE ASSOCIATION, BEAUTIFUL CHOREOGRAPHY.

>> THERE THEY GO .

WONDERFUL, THE LION AND DRAGON DANCE.

HEADING OFF INTO A CHILLY ROME EVENING.

>>.TRAN04.

>> VARSITY SPIRIT ALL-AMERICANS CHEERLEADERS.

VARSITY SPIRIT WORKING WITH THE CHEERLEADING IDEA 50 YEARS NOW.

>> SINCE 1974.

THEY HAVE DRIVEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHEERLEADING AS AN INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON AND IT INCLUDES MILLIONS OF YOUNG AMERICANS.

THIS IS GREAT.

THIS WILL BE LIGHTING UP THE SQUARE.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

>> FANTASTIC, MARCY ALL- AMERICANS CHEERLEADING.

>> THE ASSOCIAZIONE FILARMONICA LAMA.

>> A STREET BAND , 30 MUSICIANS , 15 MAJOR RATS -- MAJORETTES.

>> THEY HAVE WON COMPETITIONS GLOBALLY BEEN GREAT TO SEE THEM HERE TODAY IN ROME.

>> THIS IS THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE PIAZZA DEL POPOLO.

>> WONDERFUL RECEPTION FROM THE CROWD IN PIAZZA DEL POPOLO.

>> THAT WAS -- I CANNOT SAY IT.

OVER TO YOU.

>> PIAZZA DEL POPOLO.

>> COMBINING 30 MUSICIANS AND 15 MAJORETTES .

>> THEY PERFORM GLOBALLY COME ALL OVER THE PLACE, WONDERFUL.

>> NEXT, WE HAVE BLOOMINGTON ALL-STARS MARCHING BAND.

THEIR FIRST TIME HERE IN ROME, COMPRISED OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THREE HIGH SCHOOLS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> THERE IS VICTOR TORRES, THE DIRECTOR.

>> HERE WE GO.

>> WONDERFUL , ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS, LIMITED ALL-STARS MARCHING BAND.

>> WELL DONE, FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN ROME, IN ITALY, I HOPE THEY COME BACK.

>> GIVING A PERFORMANCE AT THE PIAZZA DEL POPOLO.

>> THIS WILL BE A TREAT .

>> WONDERFUL, THE CROWD WENT WILD WITH THE LAKE ZéRICH HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND.

AS THEY MARCHED OFF INTO 2026, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU PUT IN, LAKE ZéRICH, IN JOINING US IN ROME.

YOU HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS.

AND THANK YOU.

>> VARSITY SPIRIT ALL-AMERICANS.

HERE WE GO.

>> FANTASTIC .

>> WONDERFUL.

>> THEY HAVE DANCED THEIR WAY INTO THE NEW YEAR.

>> AND OTHER PERFORMANCE.

>> THEY WILL.

>> FOLLOWED BY -- -- >> SO GOOD THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT TWICE.

WONDERFUL.

>> HERE, WONDERFUL CORNING PAINTED POST HAWKS MARCHING BAND.

SO GLAD TO HAVE THEM.

>> LED BY WENDY GRIFFIN AND JOSEPH STORCK.

-- JOSEPH STORK.

>> WHILE THEY'RE SETTING UP, I MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE AWARDED THE BEST PHYSICAL UNIT IN THE 2025 -- >> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> HERE THEY GO.

LET'S JUST LISTEN.

♪ >> THE CORNING PAINTED POST HAWKS MARCHING BAND.

NEXT, MISSION SAN JOSE MARCHING BAND FROM FREMONT, CALIFORNIA.

>> ESTABLISHED IN 1964.

THEY MUST BE ONE OF THE OLDEST BANDS IN THE PARADE.

>> THEIR SECOND TIME AT THE ROM NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE -- ROME NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE.

>> I HAVE SEEN THEM IN LONDON AND THEY ARE TRULY GREAT .

HERE THEY COME INTO THE PIAZZA DEL POPOLO.

>> THEIR FINAL PERFORMANCE.

>> WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF AMERICAN DANCERS .

>> YES, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN THEM.

>> IT IS.

BASED IN DALLAS, TEXAS, PROVIDE PARADE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CHEERLEADERS AND DANCERS, REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THEM.

>> UNDER THE DIRECTORSHIP OF ROGER HAYES, A SPECTACULAR DISPLAY, THEY WILL BE GREAT.

THE SECOND TIME IN ROME?

WELCOME BACK.

I DO NOT THINK THEY CAN HEAR ME.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HERE WE GO, COMING UP NEXT, SPIRIT OF THE SANS MARCHING BAND FROM PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA.

>> THEY REALLY REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY OF PALM SPRINGS, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE DESERT IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY PERFORMED ALL OVER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 50 TIMES PER YEAR.

WHAT A NICE CHANGE TO BE IN ROME.

>> 100 MEMBERS OF THE PALM SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL BAND PROGRAM .

>> THEY PERFORMED THEM IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT FORD, BUSH, AND BIDEN.

WHAT A PRESTIGIOUS BAND.

>> THERE BANDLEADER IS MATTHEW INGELSON.

>> THIS IS LO SCUDO DI LEPANTO.

FOUNDED IN 2010.

>> THEY CHANGE THEIR NAME FROM AN ANCIENT RELIC DATING BACK TO THE BOTTLE OF 1571.

-- BATTLE OF 1571.

>> HERE WE ARE WITH THE LAST BAND PERFORMING IN THE PIAZZA DEL POPOLO FROM ROME PARADE 2026, THE GRUPPO FOLK LA FRUSTICA' DI FALERIA.

>> FOUNDED IN 1993.

>> VERY POPULAR LAST YEAR.

>> THE LAST ACT IN THE PIAZZA DEL POPOLO.

>> WE HAVE ENJOYED A SPECTACULAR OF COLOR , CULTURE, MUSIC, MARCHING BANDS, DANCING, AND STREET PERFORMERS TODAY AT ROME PARADE 2026.

>> ANOTHER WONDERFUL CHANCE TO CELEBRATE THIS GLORIOUS CITY, THE HISTORY AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT SO VIBRANT AND IMPORTANT, ALL COMING TOGETHER FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT.

>> ROME IS INDEED THE ETERNAL CITY, ETERNALLY BEAUTIFUL AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST DESTINATIONS.

>> WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

>> WE ARE WISHING YOU A -- >> HAPPY NEW YEAR, ARRIVEDERCI!

♪