New York City has finally gotten this year’s Christmas tree, according to the Rockefeller Center on Monday. The 2026 New York City Christmas Tree comes from West Edmeston, a New York State town 200 miles north of Manhattan. Donated by Rebecca Decker, the 75-year-old, 76-foot-tall Norway Spruce will be cut and transported to Midtown in time for the holiday festivities.
The 11-ton tree will be cut on Thursday, November 5, and arrive in NYC two days later, Saturday, November 7. Once it arrives, the tree will be decorated with 5 miles of wire dotted with over 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and crowned with a Swarovski star.
The trees are selected for this iconic New York City tradition because they have reached their maximum height. After the viewing period, the 2026 Christmas tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and processed into lumber for home building. This is a tradition the Rockefeller Center has continued since 2007.
The lighting ceremony for the 2026 NYC Christmas tree occurs on December 2 from 7 PM to 10 PM EST and is broadcast live on NBC. Visitors will be able to view the lit tree until January 9, 2027.
Locals and visitors can meet the tree early on its November 7th arrival day, fittingly named Meet the Tree Day, an event that will be in its second year. According to the Rockefeller Center, the event is open to the public. Meet the Tree Day is free and open to the public.
For more information, head over to the Rockefeller Center’s official website.
