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Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The heart of the holiday season officially begins on December 3, when the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is lit for the first time during the live “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast. After being wrapped with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights and crowned with a dazzling Swarovski star, the Tree will shine nightly through mid-January 2026.

This year’s Norway Spruce comes from East Greenbush, New York. It arrived in New York City on November 8 and we kicked off festivities with our annual Meet the Tree Day celebrations.

For those looking to see the Rockefeller Center Tree in person, you can view it from the plaza or from The Rink for that classic New York moment. For an even more memorable experience, Top of the Rock offers exclusive Tree access during the season, along with stunning skyline views and unforgettable photo opportunities overlooking the plaza.

After the holidays, the Tree will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity, continuing a long-standing tradition of giving back.

Visiting Hours

The tree will arrive on November 8th and be on view through mid-January 2026. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 3, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Contact & Directions

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
1.212.588.8601
Contact Us
Tree Lighting Day

Holiday Activities

Family smiling in front of the rockefeller center christmas tree

The Official Christmas Tree Photo

Professional digital photos of you and your loved ones captured from an exclusive vantage point on The Rink steps for the perfect view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. One reservation includes a photo session for up to ten guests. Buy in advance and save $5!

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Rink-side chalet cabins decorated for the holidays

Après Skate Chalets

Enjoy your own cozy, private Après Skate Chalet presented by Balsam Hill, overlooking The Rink and the world-famous Christmas Tree. Each 40-minute reservation for up to six guests includes two digital chalet photos, with food and beverage service provided by 5 Acres. Explore the menu.

group of smiling women in front of rockefeller center christmas tree

VIP Rock Pass: Holiday Edition

The only tour in NYC with up-close viewing of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree from Center Plaza (normally closed to the public). This 2-hour guided experience begins in our VIP Lounge and includes a tour to one of Rockefeller Center’s hidden rooftop gardens, plus a Champagne Toast, and VIP access to Skylift and The Beam Experience at Top of the Rock.

Skaters on The Rink at Rockefeller Center under the Christmas Tree

General Skate

Skate on the world-famous Rink at Rockefeller Center — a New York tradition since 1936. General Skate includes a 60-minute session in this iconic setting.

Skaters on the rink at rockefeller center under the prometheus statue

VIP Skate

Enjoy a 60-minute session on the ice, priority Rink entry, access to our heated VIP lounge with warm beverages, complimentary skate rental, and 20% off at the gift shop — all at New York City’s most iconic Rink.

History of the Tree

For more than eight decades, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has stood as a holiday beacon for New Yorkers and visitors alike. While the lights, decorations, and stars have changed through the years, visiting the Tree remains a quintessential New York experience.

The Christmas Tree FAQs

You can see the Tree up close from Rockefeller Plaza, between 49th and 50th Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The most iconic street-level view is from 5th Avenue, looking west toward the Tree, Prometheus, and The Rink.

For an even more special experience, this year’s Top of the Rock ticket includes exclusive, close-up access directly under the Christmas Tree—a limited-time vantage point available December 4–January 10. Guests who purchase a General Admission ticket, All-In Pass, or Express Pass can enjoy this seasonal perk.

If you’d like to see the Tree from a calmer perspective, head up to Top of the Rock for sweeping skyline views and incredible photo angles overlooking the plaza.


Two of our most popular holiday experiences offer unforgettable ways to enjoy the season:

VIP Rock Pass: Holiday EditionEnjoy the only tour in NYC that grants up-close viewing of the Christmas Tree from Center Plaza—an area normally closed to the public. This two-hour guided experience begins in our VIP Lounge and includes a visit to one of Rockefeller Center’s hidden rooftop gardens, a Champagne Toast, and VIP access to both Skylift and The Beam Experience at Top of the Rock.

Skate at The RinkSkate on the world-famous Rink at Rockefeller Center, a New York tradition since 1936. General Skate includes a 60-minute session on the ice with a perfect view of the Tree—an iconic holiday moment for visitors of all ages.

These offerings sell out quickly during the season, so booking in advance is strongly recommended.

For the most iconic shot, book The Official Christmas Tree Photo experience. A professional photographer will capture you and your loved ones from an exclusive vantage point on The Rink steps—perfectly framed with the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree behind you.

Each reservation includes a private photo session for up to ten guests, and you’ll receive high-quality digital images. Pro tip: Buy in advance and save $5.

The 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands 75 feet tall, 45 feet in diameter, and weighs approximately 11 tons.

This year’s Tree is approximately 75 years old.

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was sourced from East Greenbush, New York. Want the full story? Read about the Tree’s history, journey, and the family who donated it in our Behind the 2025 Rockefeller Center Tree feature.

The Tree features more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights strung along 5 miles (8 km) of wire.

The dazzling Swarovski star designed by Daniel Libeskind weighs about 900 pounds and contains 3 million crystals across 70 spikes.

The Tree arrived a few weeks before the lighting ceremony to allow for decorating. This year, it arrived on November 8, with a full day of festivities. Learn more on our Meet the Tree Day event page.

The 2025 Tree Lighting takes place on Wednesday, December 3, from 7:00–10:00 p.m. at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

You can experience the magic in person at Rockefeller Plaza during the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 3, 2025. At 10:00 p.m. EST, the Tree’s 50,000 multicolored lights and dazzling Swarovski star will be illuminated for the first time—officially ushering in the holiday season.

Prefer to watch from home? Tune in to the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast live on NBC from 7:00–10:00 p.m. EST.

For the full guide, read our article: How to Watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting.

The Tree remains lit through early January. Final dates will be announced later in the season.

Yes—Rockefeller Center is home to dozens of restaurants, cafés, and shops. It’s easy to turn your tree-viewing into a full holiday day out.

Visiting Hours

The tree will arrive on November 8th and be on view through mid-January 2026. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 3, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Contact & Directions

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
1.212.588.8601
two people holding hands on the ice rink

Holidays

Rockefeller Center and its iconic Christmas Tree are the epicenter of holiday celebrations in New York.
Experience the Holidays in NYC
Habitat for Humanity—A Gift that Keeps on Giving

Habitat for Humanity—A Gift that Keeps on Giving

Continuing a longstanding holiday tradition, the 2024 Christmas Tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, milled, treated, and made into lumber that will be used for home building. A symbol of hope, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree inspired the children’s book, The Carpenter’s Gift, written by David Rubel and illustrated by Jim LaMarche in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity.
Donate Your Tree

Donate Your Tree

Traditionally we've selected a Norway spruce in the later years of its life cycle, measuring at least 75 feet tall and 45 feet in diameter. If you have a Norway spruce you would like us to consider as the centerpiece for this historic Rockefeller Center tradition, we would love to hear from you.

The Holidays in The Center Magazine

Read Our Stories
A woman pointing at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Events
11.26.25
Christmas at Rockefeller Center: 5 Magical Experiences
The 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Arts & Culture
10.27.25
The 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: From East Greenbush to the Heart of New York City
Man milling the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree into lumber
Arts & Culture
11.09.22
Where the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Goes Next
2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree from West Stockbridge, MA
Arts & Culture
10.28.24
Meet the Man Who Has Picked the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for Three Decades

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