You might know NBC as home to your favorite shows. But did you also know it’s a pioneer in broadcasting history? Originally a radio network, NBC aired its first ever broadcast on November 15, 1926, before leading the way for television in 1939, and pioneering color broadcasting in 1953. 100 years since that first broadcast, NBC continues to create reasons for Americans to gather around the same screen—from the Olympics to Thursday-night sitcoms and the evening news.
For 93 years and counting, Rockefeller Center has been proud to be the place NBC calls home. 30 Rockefeller Plaza (aka 30 Rock) is where Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and other iconic NBC shows are filmed in front of a live studio audience.
Walk past on a weekday morning, and you're likely to see the hosts of TODAY broadcasting live from behind the street-level windows of Studio 1A, where the show is gearing up for its 75th anniversary in January 2027.
And during the holidays, NBC broadcasts The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting: a tradition that draws thousands of visitors and millions of viewers each year.
There are so many reasons to celebrate NBC’s 100th anniversary, and so many ways to celebrate—some at Rockefeller Center, and others just a few blocks away.
Grab a Bite at the Dun Dun Diner
Two of NBC’s longest-running and most loved shows, Law and Order and Law and Order: SVU, return for new seasons this fall. To celebrate, Bills Bar & Burger in Rockefeller Center will transform into the Dun Dun Diner on October 9th and 10th.
Guests can choose from entrees and desserts by NYC icons Ess-a-Bagel, Katz’s Deli, Magnolia Bakery, and Serendipity3, purchase branded merch, and enjoy themed interactive touches and exclusive photo opportunities.
Free and paid reservations went live on September 18th.
See Where Television Magic Gets Made
30 Rockefeller Plaza is home to Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. The Tour at NBC Studios takes you behind the scenes of all three.
During your tour, you’ll explore the halls of 30 Rock, where you might step inside Studio 8H, SNL’s home since 1975, or see where The Tonight Show is taped. (Exactly which studios you’ll visit depends on that day’s production schedule.) Along the way, you’ll get a look at the headquarters behind some of America’s favorite news programs, including TODAY, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, local stations WNBC and WNJU, and NBC News NOW.
Before you leave, you’ll team up with your fellow guests to produce a show of your own! For television lovers, there's no better way to celebrate NBC's 100th anniversary than stepping inside the studios where so much of its history was made.
Take a Spin On The Rink at 90
NBC isn't the only Rockefeller Center icon celebrating a milestone year. The Rink at Rockefeller Center turns 90 this season, and it sits right at the foot of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The Rink opened on Christmas Day 1936, just three years after NBC moved into 30 Rock, and the two have been neighbors ever since. General Skate opens October 10, with tickets starting at $22 for a 60-minute session. On November 14, the brand-new Skate House and the expanded VIP Skate experience open too.
Pair a morning on the TODAY plaza or an afternoon on The Tour at NBC Studios with a spin on the ice to celebrate two Rockefeller Center milestones in one visit.
Immerse Yourself in the World of NBC
Just a block north of Rockefeller Center, The Paley Museum is marking the milestone with NBC100: A Century Together, an interactive exhibit packed with costumes, props, and photo ops from a century of NBC programming. The exhibit opened September 18 at 25 West 52nd Street and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.
Start with the wardrobe. Get an up close look at costumes worn by NBC stars, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s signature look as Elaine in Seinfeld and the many-layered outfit Matt LeBlanc wore in Friends when Joey put on every piece of Chandler’s clothes. From there, check out props and memorabilia from ER, Friday Night Lights, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Meet the Press, Parenthood, The Howdy Doody Show, and The Sound of Music Live.
For a fun photo opp, visitors can pose behind Johnny Carson’s legendary Tonight Show desk, take a seat in one of The Voice’s famous coaches’ chairs, step onto the TODAY set, or claim the top spot on an Olympic Games victory podium. The exhibit is family-friendly, too. Kids can make their own version of the NBC peacock and participate in arts-and-crafts activities inspired by NBC's history.
Watch Iconic Episodes
Between galleries, settle into one of The Paley Museum’s theaters for a special screening series celebrating NBC’s history. The lineup revisits iconic programming from the past 100 years, along with exclusive Paley events featuring the casts of shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and This Is Us.
Celebrate From Home
Can’t make it to Midtown? You can still join the celebration. On Thursday, December 10, NBC will air a three-hour live special honoring a century of must-see TV, with music, comedy, and plenty of familiar faces. Tune in on NBC or stream it on Peacock.
What to Know Before You Go
- Dun Dun Diner, October 9 and 10: Head to Bill's Bar & Burger at 16 West 51st Street in Rockefeller Center. Reservations are recommended, and sit-down seating is limited to parties of four or fewer.
- The Tour at NBC Studios: Enter at 30 Rockefeller Plaza through the Sixth Avenue entrance between 49th and 50th Streets. Tours last about 75 to 90 minutes and aren't open to children 7 and under.
- NBC100: A Century Together: The Paley Museum is at 25 West 52nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, one block north of Rockefeller Center. It's open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.
- Subway: Take the B, D, F, or M train to 47–50th Streets/Rockefeller Center.
- Tickets: Book The Tour at NBC Studios in advance at thetouratnbcstudios.com. Timed-entry tickets for The Paley Museum are available on its website, and walk-ups are welcome if space is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is NBC's 100th anniversary?
NBC aired its first radio broadcast on November 15, 1926, so the network turns 100 on November 15, 2026. Celebrations are happening throughout the year, and a three-hour live special airs on NBC and Peacock on Thursday, December 10.
How long has NBC been at Rockefeller Center?
NBC has called 30 Rockefeller Plaza home since 1933. Today, it's where Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and TODAY are made.
What is the Dun Dun Diner?
It's a pop-up celebrating the new seasons of Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU. On October 9 and 10, Bill's Bar & Burger in Rockefeller Center becomes a themed diner with food and desserts from Ess-a-Bagel, Katz's Deli, Magnolia Bakery, and Serendipity3, plus merch and photo ops. A $30 sit-down reservation and a free Grab & Go option are both available.
Can I see where Saturday Night Live is filmed?
Yes. The Tour at NBC Studios takes guests behind the scenes at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and depending on the day's production schedule, the tour may stop at Studio 8H, SNL's home since 1975.
Is the NBC100 exhibit good for kids?
Yes. Younger visitors can design their own version of the NBC peacock and do hands-on crafts inspired by 100 years of NBC programming. Kids also tend to enjoy the photo ops, like The Voice coaches' chair and the Olympic victory podium.
