Rockefeller Center tree lighting 2026 is set for Wednesday, December 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. ET. The 76-foot Norway spruce arrives tomorrow, Saturday, November 7, for Meet the Tree Day. Below are the dates, free plaza tips and what “tickets” will not buy you at the Plaza.
Rockefeller Center tree lighting 2026 date
According to Rockefeller Center’s official Christmas tree page, the Tree Lighting Ceremony is Wednesday, December 2, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The tree stays on view through mid-January 2027. The site does not name a final takedown day, so we will not invent one.
NBC will broadcast its annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center special from the Plaza. Hosts and performers have not been announced yet. Rockefeller Center says it will share broadcast details closer to December 2.
Meet the Tree Day on November 7
The 2026 tree is a 76-foot Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York. Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauzé, selected it. The official Meet the Tree Day event page lists Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The day is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. A Holiday Workshop presented by Care Bears and FAO Schwarz fills that window with crafts, photo moments and family activities. An optional Meet the Tree + Top of the Rock ticket buys expedited workshop entry plus the observation deck. It is not required for the free celebration.
The day is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets for the tree lighting
There are no public tickets for the ceremony itself. Rockefeller Center’s magazine guide is clear: the area closest to the tree is reserved for invited guests and the broadcast. Spectators watch from the surrounding streets. Expect security checkpoints, street closures and a crowd that builds in the afternoon.
If you want an up-close look after the lights go on, Holiday Top of the Rock timed admission is a separate paid product. On the official tree page as of November 6, holiday timed admission starts from $42, skip-the-line from $82, and VIP passes from $185. Those are live-page prices that can change, so check the page before you book. Top of the Rock holiday tree access at ground level begins December 3, according to the magazine guide.
The 2026 tree: height, lights and star
Beyond height, Rockefeller Center says the spruce is about 75 years old, about 50 feet across and about 11 tons. More than 50,000 multicolored LED lights run along roughly five miles of wire. The Swarovski star at the top, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018, weighs about 900 pounds and holds three million crystals across 70 spikes.
After the season, the lumber goes to Habitat for Humanity for home building. That donation is a longstanding Rockefeller Center tradition, the official site says.
How to do Midtown Christmas in one afternoon
Pair the Plaza with Bryant Park Winter Village 2026 for skating and shops a few blocks south. For decor ideas at home, see our guide to Christmas tree trends for 2026. If you are still planning the long weekend, start with where to travel for Thanksgiving.
For Rockefeller Center tree lighting 2026 night itself, dress for standing outside and arrive early. Subway access is usually via the B, D, F or M to 47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center. We are not inventing MTA advisories; check the day of for any street closures around Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
Weeknights later in December are often calmer for photos than the lighting night. The Channel Gardens along Fifth Avenue still frame the classic view of the tree against 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Skating at The Rink beneath the tree is another paid option once the season is underway. Rockefeller Center is marking the rink’s 90th anniversary this year. Holiday Chalets and anniversary lodges sit rinkside for private groups; those are separate tickets from plaza viewing.
If you only have one afternoon for NYC Christmas lights 2026, do Meet the Tree Day or a later plaza visit first, then walk south to Bryant Park. Save Top of the Rock for a timed slot when you want the skyline with the tree in one visit. Rockefeller Center tree lighting 2026 night is the loudest option. A quiet weeknight after December 2 is often the better photo plan.
FAQ: Rockefeller Center tree lighting 2026
When is Rockefeller Center tree lighting 2026?
Wednesday, December 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. ET, according to Rockefeller Center.
Are there tickets for the ceremony?
No. There are no public tickets. Watch from the surrounding streets, or catch NBC’s broadcast from home.
When does the tree go up?
It arrives Saturday, November 7, for Meet the Tree Day, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The lights go on December 2.
How tall is the 2026 tree?
Seventy-six feet. It is a Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York.
How long does it stay up?
Through mid-January 2027. Rockefeller Center has not published a final day.
Sources: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Meet the Tree Day, Rockefeller Center’s magazine tree-lighting guide and its arts-culture tree feature. Last checked Friday, November 6, 2026.