Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

By helitra·November 4, 2026·7 min read

Every year, Christmas lovers from around the country kick off the holiday season with the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting in New York City. Whether they tune in to watch on TV or make a trip to the Big Apple, spectators can catch a slew of festive performances, all designed to celebrate the main attraction: the giant Christmas tree that sits front and center above the iconic skating rink.

But here’s the big question: How much do you really know about the Rockefeller Center tree? If you’re eager to get into the holiday spirit and want to know everything—from when the tree lighting kicks off to how to catch the ceremony to some surprising fun facts—you’re in the right place.

Keep reading as we unwrap details about the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree 2026 and the history of this iconic Christmas tradition.

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What is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree like this year?

The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a 76-foot-tall Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York, about 200 miles north of Manhattan. And it’s quite the sight. The massive evergreen is approximately 75 years old, stretches 50 feet wide and weighs a whopping 11 tons.

The tree was donated by Rebecca Decker, who gets to see her longtime neighborhood evergreen become one of the most famous Christmas trees in the world. Talk about a holiday glow-up!

On Thursday, Nov. 5, crews will carefully cut down the tree before sending it on its journey to the Big Apple. It’s expected to arrive at Rockefeller Center on Saturday, Nov. 7, where New Yorkers and tourists can welcome it during the second annual Meet the Tree Day. The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes family-friendly activities, festive workshops and plenty of photo opportunities.

How is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree decorated?

Once the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrives at its holiday home, crews will dress it up with more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights spread across approximately five miles of wire. Yes, five miles! But unlike the Christmas tree in your living room, you won’t find any ornaments hanging from its branches. Instead, the real star of the show is, well, an actual star. Sitting at the very top is a sparkling 9-foot Swarovski creation designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2018.

And this isn’t your average tree topper. The star weighs an incredible 900 pounds and features 70 spikes covered in more than 3 million crystals. It’s safe to say this tree doesn’t need any extra decorations to make an impression.

How is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree chosen?

Every year, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauze, searches far and wide for the perfect Christmas tree—a job he’s been doing for more than 30 years. He spends months scouting backyards and fields in Christmas towns, from New York and Connecticut to Massachusetts and beyond, always looking for that one tree with the “wow” factor.

“What I look for is a tree you’d want in your living room, but on a grander scale,” Pauze says on the Rockefeller Center’s website. “It needs to make people smile the second they see it.”

The Russ family’s tree caught his eye after a Rockefeller Center security supervisor shared a photo of it. One look was all it took. He even returned several times throughout the year to check on and care for the tree himself—a personal touch that’s become part of his tradition.

When is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony?

The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is happening on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. EST. The beloved annual tradition brings thousands of visitors to Rockefeller Plaza for an evening of festive performances, holiday cheer and, of course, the big moment when the tree finally lights up.

And don’t worry if you can’t make it to the ceremony. The tree will continue sparkling throughout the holiday season, so there’s plenty of time to see it in person. In previous years, the lights have been on daily from 5 a.m. to midnight, with the tree staying illuminated for a full 24 hours on Christmas Day. On New Year’s Eve, the lights typically go out a little earlier, at 9 p.m.

How do I watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting?

Can’t make it to Rockefeller Center? You can still get in on the holiday magic without leaving your couch (or changing out of your pajamas). NBC will bring the festivities straight to your living room with its annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center special on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Expect plenty of holiday music, festive performances and the moment everyone’s waiting for: the official lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

In previous years, viewers have also been able to stream the celebration on Peacock.

What will happen to the Rockefeller Center tree after Christmas?

All good things must come to an end, even the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. But the good news is that you don’t have to say goodbye as soon as Christmas is over. This year’s tree will stay on display through Jan. 9, 2027, giving New Yorkers and visitors a little extra time to soak up the holiday magic (and snap that picture they might have missed in December).

And once the lights come down, the tree will go on to do something pretty special. Continuing a longstanding tradition, Rockefeller Center will donate the spruce to Habitat for Humanity, where it will be milled and treated to create lumber for home-building projects.

What else should I know about the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree?

It may be the most famous Christmas tree in America, but its history is hardly well-known. Brush up on these facts before watching the 2026 Rockefeller Center tree lighting.

The inaugural Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting in 1933 dazzled with 700 sparkling lights.
NBC first broadcast the Rockefeller Center tree lighting in 1951 on The Kate Smith Show, and in the mid-1950s, it appeared on The Howdy Doody Show.
The 50th anniversary of the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting in the ’80s featured a special appearance by Bob Hope.
In a gesture of goodwill, Canada gifted the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to the United States in 1966 as part of the country’s centennial celebration.
To create a snowy, wintry look, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was painted silver in 1949.
The tree first shone with a Swarovski star topper in 2004, marking a new (and sparkly) tradition.
If you laid out all the wires from the Rockefeller Christmas tree lights end to end, they would stretch an impressive 5 miles.
In 2021, Maryland had the honor of providing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree for the very first time.
For over 30 years, Erik Pauze, affectionately known as the “Santa Claus of Christmas trees,” has handpicked the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
In 1942, Rockefeller Center displayed three Christmas trees, each adorned in red, white and blue to boost the patriotic spirit during World War II.
Approximately 125 million people visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree each year, with around 500,000 to 750,000 estimated visits per day.
While some families have received small compensation for donating their Christmas tree, most aren’t paid; they usually receive free landscaping after the tree is removed.

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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on the Rockefeller Christmas tree, writer Marisa Hillman tapped her experience covering holidays and more for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

Rockefeller Center: “Meet the 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: From West Edmeston to New York City”
Today: “The history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree spans all the way back to 1931”
NYC Tourism: “Mind-Blowing Facts About the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree”
The New York Times: “It’s No Simple Matter Before a Tree Joins Rockefeller Center History”