Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting: How to Watch It Free
Catch the Dec. 2 tree lighting free on NBC with an antenna, or visit the lit tree in person through January.
You can watch the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting free with a TV antenna tuned to NBC or by visiting the tree on another day. The Tree Lighting is the annual ceremony when Rockefeller Center lights its large Christmas tree in Manhattan. According to Rockefeller Center, the next ceremony is Wednesday, December 2, 2026, from 7-10 p.m.
ET Rockefeller Center ceremony guide. Remote viewers can use the NBC television broadcast for ceremony night. In-person viewing is a separate option after that night.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.
When is the 2026 ceremony?
According to Rockefeller Center, the ceremony runs December 2, 2026, from 7-10 p.m. ET. The organization traces the Midtown holiday tradition to 1933.
The 2026 tree is a 76-foot Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York. Rockefeller Center notes the tree arrives November 7, 2026. It remains on display through mid-January 2027 for later sidewalk viewing Rockefeller Center tree page.
That longer window matters for free planning.
Can you attend on lighting night?
Rockefeller Center states the 2026 annual Tree Lighting Ceremony itself is not open to the public. The ceremony footprint is therefore not a walk-up viewing option. Do not travel to the Plaza expecting ceremony-night entry.
This limit makes remote viewing the practical choice for that evening. Use the NBC broadcast rather than going to the ceremony area. Save an in-person trip for another date.
How do you watch the broadcast free?
The free over-the-air option is a TV antenna. The FCC explains that local broadcast stations are received free with no charge for over-the-air reception, subject to local signal coverage and antenna placement FCC antenna guide. Check reception before showtime and adjust antenna placement if needed.
NBC lists the same special as simulcast on Peacock and available through NBC.com/live and the NBC app NBC holiday schedule. Those streaming routes need Peacock access or a participating TV-provider login. For a no-cost setup:
- Use an antenna on a TV that receives local NBC.
- Test the NBC channel before December 2.
- Use Peacock only if you already have access.
- Use NBC.com/live or the NBC app only with a participating provider login.
How do you see the tree free another day?
Outside ceremony night, anyone can see the illuminated tree free from the Plaza or the Rink area. No ceremony-night crowd controls apply on a normal visit. Walk up, view from the sidewalk, and leave when ready.
Rockefeller Center notes the 2026 tree carries more than 50,000 multicolor LED lights under a Swarovski star. The display remains up through mid-January 2027.