Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Arrives for 2026

Headline: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Arrives Ahead of December 2 Lighting

The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrived at Rockefeller Plaza on Saturday, November 7, after being harvested in West Edmeston, New York, on November 5.

The 76-foot Norway spruce, weighing approximately 11 tons, came from Rebecca Decker’s property in West Edmeston, New York, and was selected by Rockefeller Center head gardener Erik Pauzé.

The specimen is approximately 75 years old and measures 50 feet in diameter. Crews used a specialized crane to lift the tree onto a flatbed truck for its approximately 200-mile journey to Manhattan.

Tree Arrives at Rockefeller Plaza

The tree arrived at Rockefeller Plaza on November 7 and was raised into position near the complex’s outdoor ice skating rink.

Rockefeller Center crews will decorate the tree with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights spanning approximately five miles of wire. A 900-pound Swarovski crystal star, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind and featuring 3 million crystals, will crown the display.

December Lighting and Viewing Schedule

The official lighting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2026, with a national NBC broadcast from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET, also streaming on Peacock.

According to the Central Park event listing, the illuminated tree will remain on public display through January 9, 2027.

What Happens After the Holidays

After the exhibition, the tree’s wood will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity for housing construction.

The annual Christmas tree tradition began in 1931, when construction workers erected a small tree at the plaza. Rockefeller Center’s post-season wood donation program has operated since 2007, extending the tree’s use beyond the holiday display.