The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a 76-foot Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York, will be cut down Thursday, November 5, and reach Manhattan on Saturday, November 7. Rockefeller Center marks its arrival with Meet the Tree Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the tree will be lit on December 2.
Key Takeaways
- The tree is a Norway spruce about 75 years old, 76 feet tall and 50 feet in diameter, and it weighs roughly 11 tons.
- Meet the Tree Day, now in its second year, runs on arrival day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Rebecca Decker donated the tree from West Edmeston, about 200 miles north of Manhattan.
- The lighting ceremony is Wednesday, December 2, from 7 to 10 p.m., during the live broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.”
- The tree stays on display through January 9, 2027, and will then be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.
Rockefeller Christmas Tree 2026 Leaves West Edmeston on November 5
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree’s trip to Midtown begins Thursday, November 5, when the spruce is cut down in West Edmeston, a hamlet in central New York about 200 miles north of Manhattan. It is scheduled to arrive at Rockefeller Center two days later, on Saturday, November 7.
The tree is a big load to move. Rockefeller Center lists it at about 75 years old, 76 feet tall and 50 feet in diameter, with a weight of roughly 11 tons. Rebecca Decker donated it. Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, found it, as he has found the center’s trees for more than 30 years.
Meet the Tree Day Welcomes the Spruce on November 7
The Rockefeller tree arrival now comes with its own event. Meet the Tree Day returns for a second year on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rockefeller Center describes it as a morning of family activities, holiday workshops and photo opportunities to mark the tree’s official arrival.
Coverage of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has usually focused on the December lighting, but arrival day gives New Yorkers a different view. Visitors on November 7 will see the spruce before any lights or ornaments go on. The bare tree is how it looked standing in West Edmeston.
How Rockefeller Center Chooses Its Christmas Tree
Rockefeller Center says its trees are usually picked as they near their full height or grow too big for the property where they stand. After a tree is removed, the donor’s land is replanted with new trees or other greenery.
That approach explains why so many of the trees are older Norway spruces on private land. A 75-year-old spruce that has outgrown a front yard can become the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, and the donor’s property gets new plantings to replace it.
Weeks of Preparation Separate Arrival From the Lighting
Almost four weeks pass between the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree’s arrival on November 7 and its lighting on December 2. During that time the spruce is wrapped in more than 50,000 LED lights and topped with a Swarovski star.
Midtown’s holiday calendar fills up during those same weeks. Visitors who come to see the undecorated tree can also plan around the rink hours at Bryant Park Winter Village that run until midnight starting November 19, a short walk away.
Rockefeller Tree Lighting 2026 Set for December 2
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit on Wednesday, December 2, during the live broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.” The ceremony runs from 7 to 10 p.m.
For anyone searching for Christmas tree lighting dates in NYC, the timing is simple. The tree arrives on November 7, crews decorate it through November, and it lights up the Wednesday after Thanksgiving.
The Tree Stays Through January 9 Before Becoming Habitat for Humanity Lumber
Once it’s lit, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center stays on display through January 9, 2027. Visitors can see it from the Plaza or from The Rink. Rockefeller Center says it will announce viewing hours later.
After the season, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity. The spruce that stood in West Edmeston for about 75 years will go on to become building material for a home.
FAQs
When does the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrive in 2026?
The tree arrives Saturday, November 7, 2026, after being cut down in West Edmeston, New York, on Thursday, November 5.
When is the Rockefeller tree lighting in 2026?
The lighting is Wednesday, December 2, 2026, from 7 to 10 p.m., during the live broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.”
How tall is the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center this year?
The 2026 tree is a 76-foot Norway spruce. It is about 75 years old, measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs roughly 11 tons.
Where is the Christmas tree in NYC?
The tree stands at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. Visitors can see it from the Plaza or from The Rink.
Is the Christmas tree up at Rockefeller Center yet?
The tree arrives November 7. It will be decorated over the following weeks and lit on December 2.
When does the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree come down?
The tree stays on display through January 9, 2027. It will then be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.
