Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2026
Andrew Dallos
See the 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in Midtown Manhattan, eight blocks south of Central Park.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been a New York holiday tradition since the first official lighting ceremony in 1933, and it's free to see in person. The tree stands in Rockefeller Plaza between 5th and 6th Avenues, an easy walk from the southern edge of the park.
About the 2026 Tree
This year’s tree is a 76-foot Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York. Crews decorate it with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights on about 5 miles of wire. The Swarovski star on top, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018, weighs about 900 pounds and holds roughly 3 million crystals across its 70 points.
When the display ends, the tree goes to Habitat for Humanity, which mills the wood into lumber for new homes. Rockefeller Center has donated its trees this way since 2007.
Learn about the history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
2026 Dates & Details
- November 7: the tree arrives at Rockefeller Plaza for Meet the Tree Day, with family activities and photo opportunities
- December 2, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM: the Tree Lighting Ceremony, televised on NBC and Peacock
- December 2 through mid-January 2027: the lit tree is on view at Rockefeller Plaza
Check Rockefeller Center’s official tree page for daily viewing hours before you go.
Lighting Ceremony and TV Broadcast
NBC airs the ceremony as its Christmas in Rockefeller Center special, with a simulcast on Peacock. The 2026 host, performers, and airtime will be added here once NBC announces them, and you can subscribe to our email newsletter for updates. The broadcast is the easiest way to watch the tree light up for the first time, and any evening after December 2 is a calmer time to see it in person.
See the Tree on a Holiday Carriage Ride
Our Park & City Ride takes you through Central Park and down 5th Avenue past the holiday light show, with a photo stop at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Each ride is a private carriage for up to 4 guests (or 5 when the group includes children) starting at 7th Avenue and 59th Street.