The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Arrives in Midtown Manhattan
A 76-foot tall, 11-ton Norway Spruce arrived in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday morning, completing a 200-mile journey from its original home in West Edmeston, New York, nbcnewyork.com reported.
The tree rolled into the plaza at approximately 7:30 a.m. aboard a 100-foot trailer, drawing hundreds of spectators who lined the area to witness its entrance. Cut down on Thursday, the spruce was selected by Rockefeller Center head gardener Erik Pauze, who has selected the tree each holiday season for the last 30-plus years.
From Upstate Roots to Plaza Tradition
The family that donated this year’s specimen joined construction crews on Thursday in West Edmeston to drive a ceremonial spike into the trunk with a sledgehammer. Once the transport truck navigated its right turn into the plaza Saturday morning, a crane hoisted the massive spruce into place and secured it into its stand.
Scaffolding will soon surround the tree to allow workers to wrap the branches in 50,000 lights and top the structure with a 900-pound Swarovski star. The public will see the finished display during the official tree-lighting ceremony broadcast via “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on Wednesday, Dec. 2, across NBC and Peacock.
Rockefeller Center Celebrates Ninety Years of Holiday Traditions
The arrival marks the continuation of a holiday institution that dates back to 1931, when the first tree was displayed there. Alongside the main attraction, the plaza is celebrating what is the 90th season of The Rink at Rockefeller Center.
Ahead of the lighting broadcast, the center hosted holiday workshops for “Meet the Tree Day,” inviting families to write letters, contribute acts of kindness to The Caring Tree, and create handmade keepsakes. Festivities expand next week with the Nov. 14 opening of “The Elf Experience” at HERO in Rockefeller Center, offering visitors an interactive journey through scenes from the classic holiday movie, including the Candy Cane Forest, Santa’s workshop, and Gimbels department store.
Post-Season Legacy
The Norway Spruce will remain on display in Midtown through Jan. 9, 2027. Once the holiday season concludes, the tree will be taken down and milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.
