Rockefeller Center reveals 2026 Christmas Tree
Credit: Tishman Speyer
This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been revealed: a monumental spruce hailing from upstate New York. Discovered in West Edmeston, the 76-foot-tall Norway spruce will be cut down on Thursday, November 5, and arrive in Manhattan on Saturday, November 7, before becoming the centerpiece of the city’s holiday celebrations. Following the tree’s signature adornment with thousands of twinkling lights and its glittering Swarovski star, the annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 2.
Donated by Rebecca Decker, the approximately 75-year-old tree measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs roughly 11 tons. As he has done for more than 30 years, Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, found the tree.
Each tree Pauze selects is typically reaching its maximum height and often becoming too large for the property it sits on. Most trees selected are Norway spruce, renowned for their impressive size and sturdy branches that can hold holiday lights, Pauze explained in an interview with The Center Magazine, run by Rockefeller Center, as 6sqft previously reported.
Upon arriving in Midtown, the tree will be decorated with more than 50,000 multicolored, energy-efficient LED lights strung across five miles of wire, along with its famed 900-pound Swarovski star, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018. After the holiday season, the tree will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.
On November 7, holiday revelers can witness the tree’s arrival on the plaza during “Meet the Tree Day 2026,” which will feature a range of family-friendly activities. Programming includes a holiday workshop presented by Care Bears and FAO Schwarz, meet-and-greets with six iconic Care Bears characters, festive photo opportunities, and arts and crafts.
Meet the Tree Day is free and open to the public, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors can secure guaranteed, expedited entry by purchasing a Meet the Tree + Top of the Rock ticket.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will remain 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 now open for the season, inviting skaters daily from 9 a.m. to midnight. Tickets start at $22 and can be purchased here.
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