The New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show opens November 14, 2026, for its 35th season and runs through January 10, 2027. Nearly 200 plant-built landmarks, including a new One Vanderbilt, fill the Haupt Conservatory. Visitors can choose among daytime visits, 15 extended evening nights, and two sensory-friendly mornings.
Key Takeaways
- The Holiday Train Show runs November 14, 2026, through January 10, 2027, with a Members-Only Preview on November 13.
- A botanical replica of One Vanderbilt joins nearly 200 landmark models made from plant parts.
- On 15 dates, the Conservatory stays open until 8 p.m., with last entry at 7:15 p.m. and live jazz sets at 5:15, 6:15, and 7:15 p.m.
- Sensory Friendly Mornings run Saturday, November 21, and Saturday, January 9, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Tickets are untimed on most Tuesdays through Fridays, and timed on weekends, November 27, and December 21 through January 4.
- The Garden is closed Mondays (except select Monday holidays), Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The 35th Season Adds One Vanderbilt to a Skyline Built From Plants
The New York Botanical Garden first staged the Holiday Train Show outdoors in 1992. The 2026 edition marks its 35th season inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Applied Imagination, a Kentucky-based studio, has built the show’s replicas since the start, and nearly 200 landmark models now line the tracks. Each one is made from plant parts such as palm fronds, pinecones, and cinnamon sticks, and an outdoor mountain-scape carries more trains outside the glasshouse.
This season’s addition is One Vanderbilt, the tower beside Grand Central Terminal. NYBG describes the replica as recreating the building’s tapered form and its SUMMIT observatory in natural materials. A glass-and-steel skyscraper of the 2020s now sits among models of older city landmarks, which shows how the collection keeps pace with the skyline it depicts.
The Day of the Week Decides How Tickets Work
The NYBG Holiday Train Show is included with the All-Garden Pass. The pass also covers the Haupt Conservatory, the Tram Tour, and the Garden’s outdoor collections. The new ticketing structure for 2026 rewards weekday planning.
On most Tuesdays through Fridays, tickets are untimed. Visitors can reserve online for quicker entry or buy at a ticket window on arrival. Weekends, November 27, and the stretch from December 21 through January 4 use timed entry, and those time slots tend to fill early. For timed dates, a Flex ticket upgrade allows arrival any time before 4:30 p.m. on the chosen day.
Prices vary by date and ticket type, so the ticket calendar on NYBG’s site gives the current rate for each day. The Garden keeps its regular 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule Tuesday through Sunday. It is closed Mondays except select Monday holidays, and closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Fifteen Extended Evening Nights Bring Live Jazz to the Conservatory
On 15 select dates, the NYBG Holiday Train Show stays open after dark. The Conservatory remains open until 8 p.m., with last entry at 7:15 p.m. and programming from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The evening dates are:
- November 27, 28, and 29
- December 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30
- January 2
Two jazz trios split the schedule, each playing sets at 5:15, 6:15, and 7:15 p.m.:
- The Samantha Louise Trio plays November 27, 28, and 29 and December 5, 18, 19, 27, 28, 29, and 30.
- The Skyler Floe Trio covers December 11, 12, 20, and 26 and January 2.
NYBG Train Conductors are on hand for photos. The evening format suits adults and older children who would rather see the models lit against a dark sky than at midday. Visitors still in the mood for something seasonal after an 8 p.m. exit have options back in Manhattan, where Bryant Park’s rink stays open until midnight through January 3.
Sensory Friendly Mornings Offer a Calmer Visit
The NYBG Holiday Train Show sets aside two mornings for visitors who prefer a quieter experience: Saturday, November 21, 2026, and Saturday, January 9, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Videos and music are turned off during those hours, while the trains and waterfalls keep running. A quiet space and an alternate Conservatory exit are available throughout. An NYBG Train Conductor is present for families who want photos, and the ticket includes an All-Garden Pass for the rest of the day.
Holiday programming built around sensory needs has spread across the city this season, including the sensory-friendly matinee closing New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker run. That gives families with autistic children or sensory sensitivities more than one planned option across the season.
Evergreen Express Gives Young Visitors a Second Stop
The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden runs Evergreen Express daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the NYBG Holiday Train Show. Children can:
- follow a Story Trail featuring the book Snow Birds
- explore evergreens up close on the Tree Top Walk
- make a mini evergreen swag to take home
- play conductor on large outdoor train toys
Families should plan around a few Garden rules:
- Strollers are not permitted inside the Conservatory, so parents park them at the entrance before viewing the trains.
- Backpacks must be worn front-facing in exhibition areas.
- The Garden has no coat check, so packing light makes a long day easier.
Getting to the Garden During Station Renovations
The NYBG Holiday Train Show is about 20 minutes from Grand Central Terminal on the Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station. The station sits across the street from the Garden’s Mosholu Entrance. A City Ticket for travel within New York City costs $5.25 off-peak or $7.25 peak.
The MTA is renovating the station for accessibility through 2026. The pedestrian overpass above the tracks has been closed since July 21. Riders heading to the southbound platform follow posted detour signs across the Bedford Park Boulevard bridge and around the NYBG Parking Garage. NYBG advises allowing 10 to 15 extra minutes, though train service continues without interruption.
Subway riders can take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Boulevard. From there, they can take the Bx25 or Bx26 bus east to the Mosholu Entrance, or walk about 20 minutes downhill. On-site parking costs $25 per vehicle. Families spending a full day in the borough can pair the trains with Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights and its new 1 p.m. park entry, which opens November 21 a short distance south of the Garden.
FAQs
When does the NYBG Holiday Train Show 2026 open?
The Holiday Train Show opens to the public Saturday, November 14, 2026, and runs through January 10, 2027. A Members-Only Preview takes place November 13.
Do NYBG Holiday Train Show tickets have a set entry time?
Tickets are untimed on most Tuesdays through Fridays. Weekends, November 27, and December 21 through January 4 use timed entry, and a Flex ticket upgrade on those dates allows arrival any time before 4:30 p.m.
Which nights is the Holiday Train Show open late?
The Conservatory stays open until 8 p.m. on November 27, 28, and 29; December 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30; and January 2. Last entry is 7:15 p.m.
When are the Holiday Train Show sensory friendly mornings?
Sensory Friendly Mornings take place Saturday, November 21, 2026, and Saturday, January 9, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Music and videos are off, and a quiet space and alternate exit are available.
How does the Botanical Garden Station renovation affect Metro-North riders?
The pedestrian overpass is closed, so riders going to the southbound platform follow detour signs across the Bedford Park Boulevard bridge. NYBG recommends allowing 10 to 15 extra minutes, and train service is not interrupted.
