Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrives Saturday: Meet the Tree Day hours, free entry and Dec. 2 lighting
A 76-foot Norway spruce from West Edmeston, N.Y., reaches Rockefeller Plaza on Nov. 7. Families can join free Meet the Tree Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the lighting is set for Dec. 2.
Photo: Daniel Dimitrov / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
- The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree — a 76-foot Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York — arrives Saturday, Nov. 7, according to Rockefeller Center.
- Meet the Tree Day runs 10 a.m.–1 p.m. that day with a Holiday Workshop presented by Care Bears and FAO Schwarz: character meet-and-greets, letters, crafts and The Caring Tree wishes.
- The plaza celebration is free and first-come, first-served; a paid Meet the Tree + Top of the Rock ticket adds expedited entry and observatory access.
- The tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 7 to 10 p.m., with more than 50,000 LED lights and the Swarovski star; the tree stays on view into mid-January 2027.
- Anyone can view the tree for free from Rockefeller Plaza and The Rink once it is up; lighting hours and performer announcements may still be updated on the official site.
The holiday spruce is almost here. Rockefeller Center says the 2026 Christmas Tree — a 76-foot Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York — arrives in Midtown on Saturday, Nov. 7, kicking off the plaza’s season before the lights go on in December.
Meet the Tree Day, Saturday 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Back for a second year, Meet the Tree Day invites families to welcome the tree at Rockefeller Center. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Holiday Workshop presented by Care Bears and FAO Schwarz includes meet-and-greets with six Care Bears characters, holiday letter writing, wishes and acts of kindness on The Caring Tree, photos and crafts at the Care-A-Lot Craft Corner.
Entry to the plaza celebration is free and first-come, first-served. Rockefeller Center also sells a Meet the Tree + Top of the Rock ticket for expedited entry plus observatory access with extra photo moments and giveaways.
When the lights go on
The annual tree lighting is set for Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 7 to 10 p.m., Rockefeller Center says. The tree is expected to carry more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights under the Swarovski star. Performers and a host had not been announced as of early Friday; New York Family notes the ceremony typically airs as part of the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast.
Once installed, the tree is free to view from Rockefeller Plaza and The Rink and is scheduled to stay through mid-January 2027 (New York Family cites Jan. 9 for takedown timing). Top of the Rock’s holiday programming, including Santa photos, is listed from Nov. 7 through early January.
Expect Midtown crowds Saturday morning. Bring patience for the free line, or check the official ticket page if you want the Top of the Rock combo. Our events calendar already lists Meet the Tree Day for Nov. 7.
- Rockefeller CenterMeet the Tree Day at Rockefeller Center
- Rockefeller CenterThe Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- New York Family2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in NYC
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