Every holiday season, one Tree transforms the heart of Manhattan into one of New York City's most iconic holiday destinations. This year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree returns to the Plaza on November 7, marking the beginning of another festive season.
The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a 76-foot-tall Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York. Approximately 75 years old, the Tree measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs about 11 tons.
A New York Holiday Tradition
The Tree's arrival on November 7 kicks off the holiday season at Rockefeller Center. To celebrate, Meet the Tree Day returns for its second year with festive, family-friendly activities, special photo moments, and the Holiday Workshop presented by Care Bears and FAO Schwarz.
The tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dates back to 1931, when construction workers building Rockefeller Center erected a small tree decorated with handmade garlands. The first formal Tree Lighting Ceremony followed in 1933, beginning a tradition that has become synonymous with the holidays in New York City.
What I look for is a tree you’d want in your living room, but on a grander scale,” Pauze says. “It needs to make people smile the second they see it.
For more than three decades, Rockefeller Center's head gardener Erik Pauzé has played a central role in selecting the annual Tree, searching for the perfect evergreen to take its place on the Plaza.
A Star Worthy of the Season
The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 2, from 7–10 PM.
The Tree will sparkle with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights strung along approximately five miles of wire. At its peak sits the dazzling Swarovski star, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018. Weighing approximately 900 pounds, the star features 70 spikes covered in three million crystals.
Experience the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Few holiday experiences are as quintessentially New York as seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in person. Visitors can admire the Tree from the Plaza, glide beneath its illuminated branches at The Rink, or capture the moment with The Official Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Photo experience.
For an unforgettable visit, the best way to see the Christmas Tree is with a Holiday Top of the Rock ticket. Enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of New York City from 70 floors up, plus up-close access to the Tree at ground level for memorable holiday photo opportunities.
HOLIDAY MAGIC FROM EVERY ANGLE
Make the most of your holiday visit with a Holiday Top of the Rock ticket, featuring up-close Christmas Tree access and unforgettable skyline views.
A Gift That Keeps on Giving
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree's story doesn't end when the holiday season is over. Continuing a longstanding tradition, the Tree will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity, where the receiving affiliate will determine how the wood can best serve its community.
Each Tree is typically selected as it approaches its maximum height or becomes too large for its original property. Following its removal, the donor's property is replenished with new trees or greenery.
From its roots in West Edmeston to its time illuminating Rockefeller Plaza, the 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree carries on a tradition of celebration, community, and giving back.
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