My Christmas in New York

When Does the Rockefeller Tree Go Up in 2026?

By Dora
·
Last updated August 27, 2026

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree goes up on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The official hoisting starts around 7 am at Rockefeller Plaza.

The tree actually arrives in Midtown the night before, on November 6. By Saturday morning, crews are ready to lift it into place above the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink.

You can watch the hoisting for free, and we recommend arriving early. The family who donated the tree is usually there too, which makes the morning feel surprisingly personal for an event in the middle of Midtown Manhattan.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree being hoisted into place by crane at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City
QUICK GUIDE

Rockefeller Tree 2026: Arrival, Hoisting and Scaffolding Dates

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrives on November 6, 2026, and goes up the next morning, November 7. The hoisting starts around 7 am, and the scaffolding comes down on November 25.

Arrives

The tree reaches Rockefeller Plaza the night before the official hoisting.
Goes up

The official hoisting takes place Saturday morning.
Hoisting
Around 7 am
A crane lifts the Norway spruce into position above the skating rink.
Scaffolding off

The fully decorated tree is revealed the day before Thanksgiving.

Where does the Rockefeller Tree go up?

At 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, between West 49th and West 50th Streets in Midtown Manhattan.

Can you watch the Rockefeller Tree go up?

Yes. Watching the Rockefeller Tree hoisting is free. Come early on November 7 to see the tree lifted into place. The donating family is usually there, and Santa often appears toward the end.

What's Inside This Guide

What Happens When the Rockefeller Tree Goes Up?

The Rockefeller Tree hoisting is much more relaxed than the famous Tree Lighting in December. You can watch the enormous Norway spruce being lifted by crane and slowly positioned above the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink.

The process normally takes a couple of hours. There is usually a great atmosphere around the plaza, with the donating family present and plenty of people stopping to watch. Santa often appears toward the end.

You do not need a ticket to watch. We recommend coming early, grabbing a coffee and finding a place around Rockefeller Plaza before the hoisting begins.

It is also worth staying after the tree is upright. Crews sometimes hand out small branches from the tree. We have also seen Rockefeller Center stickers and little bags of Norway spruce seeds given to visitors.

They make a fun, very New York Christmas souvenir and are one of the reasons we enjoy staying until the end.

How Long Does the Rockefeller Tree Stay Covered in Scaffolding?

Once the tree is secure, scaffolding goes up around it for almost three weeks while crews decorate it.

More than 50,000 lights are added, together with the Swarovski star at the top. If you visit Rockefeller Center in mid-November, much of the tree will be hidden behind scaffolding, but we still think it is worth seeing.

There is something special about watching the Rockefeller Tree take shape. You can see the scale of the decorating work up close, and the plaza already feels festive before the December crowds arrive.

In 2026, the scaffolding comes down on Wednesday, November 25, the day before Thanksgiving. From then on, the fully decorated Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Swarovski star are visible in the plaza.

The lights remain off until December 2. Those few days between November 25 and Tree Lighting night are one of our favorite times to visit. You get the finished tree with noticeably fewer crowds than after the lights switch on.

For the full Christmas season, including daily tree hours, photo tips and the best times to visit, read our complete Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree guide.

If you are planning to attend the ceremony on December 2, continue with our Rockefeller Tree Lighting 2026 guide.

Explore Christmas With Us

NYC Christmas Tours & Travel Packages