by Dot Cannon

Who would be Grand Marshal of Pasadena’s 137th Rose Parade® on January 1, 2026?

Pasadena Tournament of Roses®were scheduled to announce their selection on Wednesday morning.

Watching on their YouTube channel as the festivities started at 11:20, we were unable to pick up any clues.

In the past, at Tournament House, Tournament of Roses®staff have offered subtle hints to onsite visitors. Choice of music, stage decorations and even refreshments offered, could suggest the new Grand Marshal’s identity.

(A personal favorite: cinnamon-apple empanadas and a trio playing both Latin and Caribbean selections in 2019, when three Grand Marshals were announced, including Rita Moreno, star of West Side Story!)

However, today we’d just have to wait and see.

The President’s announcement

At 11:20, 2026 Tournament of Roses®President Mark Leavens emerged from the curtained doorway of Tournament House, to a snippet of a Bruno Mars song. (More on this later!)

“Good morning,” President Leavens greeted the audience.
“Thank you for joining us on another great day in Pasadena, for the introduction of our Grand Marshal for the 2026 Tournament of Roses®, featuring the 137th Rose Parade®, presented by Honda, and the 112th Rose Bowl® game, presented by Prudential.

“As most of you know, what we hope for most as President, is to find a Grand Marshal that truly fits our Tournament theme…This year, the theme is, ‘The Magic in Teamwork’.”

(A sports figure? Olympian? Even a performer or community entrepreneur whose “team” were comprised of dedicated workers? We were guessing.)

Initially, President Leavens’ introduction “teased” the Grand Marshal’s identity a little more.

An illustrious “team” resume

“We hoped for a Grand Marshal who would embody our celebration of teamwork in all its forms,” he continued. “From the simple everyday collaborations of coworkers or neighbors or helping neighbors, to the more complex, life-altering teamwork by first responders and medical teams.”

In addition, he said, the theme was chosen in tribute to the teamwork of marching bands, floatbuilders, equestrian units, partners and support staff who make the Rose Parade® possible, “when on New Year’s Day, the City of Pasadena shows the world that we’re ready to celebrate the start of a New Year.”

“At its highest level…our theme celebrates the overwhelmingly positive benefits of teamwork. That when people unite and work together, we are so much richer than we could ever achieve on our own.

“And I can tell you that our Grand Marshal has definitely been involved in teamwork at its very highest level.

“Born in the Midwest from humble beginnings, through hard work and multiple collaborations, they have enjoyed success across multiple endeavors.

“Our Grand Marshal has achieved..a very productive career as an entrepreneur, accumulating a diverse portfolio of holdings…”

“They are a bestselling author, and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame…”

“Our Grand Marshal really has an incredibly generous legacy of philanthropy, and a long history of giving back to the communities they are involved in.”

Then President Leavens offered more specifics.

A man of the community–and a king on the court

“In 1991, they created a foundation to develop educational and social programs in diverse and urban neighborhoods, which has enabled over 375 students to attend college,” he said.

“When the pandemic impacted women and minority business owners, our Grand Marshal provided over 100 million dollars in capital to fund federal loans.

“And after the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre, our Grand Marshal stepped forward to help support our community. And he supports by launching LA Rises, an initiative that directed significant resources towards recovery and rebuilding efforts.

After referencing the Grand Marshal’s time with the Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena, to support the children and families directly affected by the fires, President Leavens continued, “In January, our Grand Marshal also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden.

“But our Grand Marshal is best known for his success in team sports.

“…He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, and in his first season, became the youngest and first rookie ever named the MBA Finals Most Valuable Player.”

President Leavens listed the Grand Marshal’s multiple basketball accomplishments, including “winning five NBA championships, a twelve-time NBA All-Star, a lifetime NBA Achievement Award, and being captain of the Dream Team for the 1992 Men’s Olympic basketball team, (which) won a gold medal in Barcelona.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to have a Grand Marshal who truly embodies teamwork. And on top of that, I don’t think we’ve ever had a Grand Marshal in the Tournament of Roses®history whose nickname has literally been in our Tournament of Roses® theme. “

The audience laughed.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce the Grand Marshal of the 2026 Tournament of Roses®: Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson!”

A Grand Marshal’s message

Cheers and applause followed as “Magic” Johnson took the stage, to strains of Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time”.

Thanking President Leavens for his introduction, Magic joked, “I’m going to take him around the country with me, so he can introduce me!”

“What a blessing it is to…be here today, and to get such an incredible, prestigious honor, of being the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade®,” Magic said.

“As I was telling Mark, I’m still in disbelief because as a kid growing up in Lansing, Michigan, on New Year’s Day this was the thrill of a lifetime just to wake up, to see who was the Grand Marshal and watch the parade.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would one day become the Grand Marshal and so…I know that you had many great choices of other people, so I don’t take this lightly. I love this city, and this is just another thing that the city has given back to me.”

“Kind of cool, in their eyes”

Magic referenced his sports background, observing that the Rose Parade® was even more popular than the Rose Bowl® football game.

“I’m like, wow, uh-oh, a lot of pressure,” he said, laughing.

“As you know, I’m a Big 10 guy,” he continued. “That’s why it was so special. The granddaddy of them all, you get the Rose Parade in the morning and the game in the afternoon. And so for me to be a part of it and also (see my business partner Billie Jean King) as the Grand Marshal too.

The audience applauded.

Magic also expressed his hope to see the Dodgers win in the current National League playoffs.

Then, with his five-time NBA championships and three-time MVP designation, he made a statement which would resonate with any parent.

“I can now tell my kids and my grandkids…, that their father and grandfather is the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade®,” he said, to cheers from the audience.

“So I think I’ll be kind of cool, in their eyes.”

A dialogue with a luminary

Before leaving the stage, Magic took several questions from the reporters gathered at Tournament House.

“…I’d like to know if you have a message for the survivors of (the Eaton fire) as well as the (Rose Parade®) theme being ‘teamwork.’ …There are so many teams of people…today, still helping out. What’s your message to them?” asked the first reporter.

“Well, first of all, we send our prayers up to all those families,” Magic responded. “I met with a lot of them, at the (Pasadena) Boys and Girls Club. I just hope that all the resources that they deserve, come their way, and I hope that most of them will rebuild.

It was such an incredible community, and they’re staying strong. But we as a city, as people, we need to help them with the resources.

…And then the insurance company, to make sure that they do the right thing, as well….And so I’m hoping that they can still build on their land that they own, that they have probably got passed on from their parents and grandparents and so on…and we’ve helped them to rebuild, as a city.”

Heart, humor and community

Asked by a second reporter how he would rank becoming 2026 Rose Parade® Grand Marshal among his many other honors and accomplishments, Magic referred to growing up and watching the parade with his nine siblings. “It ranks high,” he said.

“…God has really just blessed me in so many different ways. And now my job is understand my purpose and to bless others…So this ranks high and (I’ll) tell you afterwards (what it’s like)…to see all those smiling faces waving back at you (from the Parade route).

A third reporter asked where he was and how he learned he’d been selected as the Grand Marshal.

“To be in my office, to get that call and know that they had selected me,” Magic said. “I ran right to my calendar first, make sure I was available. If I’m not, I’m going to have to disappoint some other people, because I’m going to be the Grand Marshal.”

Laughter from the audience.

“It was surreal. It’s a moment that you never forget. It…ranks right up there with (the White House calling to tell me I was receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom).”

Before leaving the stage, Magic thanked the audience and Tournament of Roses®for the honor. He also acknowledged the reporter who’d asked him the first question.

“Thank you, young man, for thinking about those in Altadena,” he said.

“Because at a time that we’re doing this, some people don’t have a smile on their face, are not happy, and so we want to send our well wishes to all those families…God bless you.”

Applause followed his exit.

Oh, by the way–the Bruno Mars song with which Tournament of Roses®started today’s festivities?

“24K Magic.”