Rockefeller Center's 2026 Christmas Tree in Midtown, NYC: Arrives Nov. 7, Lit Dec. 2

Rockefeller Center announced its 2026 Christmas tree on October 26. It is a Norway spruce from West Edmeston, in Chenango County, New York. The tree stands 76 feet tall and 50 feet wide and is estimated to weigh 11 tons. It is roughly 75 years old and is a gift from the Decker family.

Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center's head gardener, found the tree, as he has for more than 30 years. It will be cut down on Thursday, November 5, and delivered to Manhattan on Saturday, November 7. It will then be dressed with more than 50,000 LED lights and the Swarovski star, a 900-pound design by architect Daniel Libeskind from 2018. The lighting takes place on Wednesday, December 2, during the live "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" broadcast.

On arrival day, the Plaza hosts Meet the Tree Day. The programming is aimed at families: a holiday workshop presented by Care Bears and FAO Schwarz, meet-and-greets with six Care Bears characters, photo moments and arts and crafts. Entry is free and first-come, first-served. A Meet the Tree + Top of the Rock ticket gives guaranteed, expedited entry.

The tree will be 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. When the season ends, it will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center has already opened for the season. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to midnight, and tickets start at $22. Rockefeller Center says tickets to the Rink and to Top of the Rock are available through the link in its Instagram bio.