Rockefeller Center's 2026 Christmas Tree in Midtown, NYC: A 76-Foot Spruce, Lit December 2

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a 76-foot Norway spruce found in West Edmeston, in upstate New York. It was cut down on Thursday, November 5, and reached Manhattan on Saturday, November 7. The tree is about 75 years old, roughly 50 feet in diameter and about 11 tons. It was donated by Rebecca Decker.

Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center's head gardener, picked it, as he has for more than 30 years. According to 6sqft, the trees he chooses are usually reaching their maximum height and often outgrowing the properties they stand on. Norway spruce is a frequent choice for its size and for branches sturdy enough to carry holiday lights.

Once in Midtown, the tree is dressed with more than 50,000 multicolored, energy-efficient LED lights strung on five miles of wire. It is topped with the 900-pound Swarovski star that architect Daniel Libeskind designed in 2018. The lighting ceremony takes place Wednesday, December 2. After the season, the tree will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.

On November 7, the tree's arrival was marked with Meet the Tree Day 2026. It was free and open to the public, first come, first served. It featured a holiday workshop presented by Care Bears and FAO Schwarz, meet-and-greets with six Care Bears characters, photo opportunities, and arts and crafts.

The tree stays on display through January 9, 2027. It will be lit for 24 hours on Christmas Day and from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The Rink at Rockefeller Center is also open for the season, daily from 9 a.m. to midnight, with tickets starting at $22.

The tradition goes back to 1931, when construction workers building Rockefeller Center put up a small tree decorated with handmade garlands. The first formal lighting ceremony followed in 1933.

(Details are drawn from points that agree across reports by 6sqft, KPTV/WCBS via CNN Newsource.)