when will they light the tree in rockefeller center

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting for 2025 occurred on Wednesday, December 3 , during a live NBC broadcast from 7-10 PM ET.

Event Recap

This year's 75-foot Norway Spruce from Upstate New York dazzled with over 50,000 energy-efficient LED lights and a Swarovski crystal star, drawing massive crowds despite chilly temps. Hosted by Reba McEntire, the ceremony featured stars like Gwen Stefani, Brad Paisley, and Carly Pearce, turning it into a festive musical extravaganza broadcast nationwide. The tree stayed lit daily from 5 AM to midnight (24 hours on Christmas Eve, until 9 PM on New Year's Eve) through mid-January 2026.

Why It Already Happened

Today is January 4, 2026—over a month past the event—so no future lighting is scheduled this season. Tradition holds it on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving (November 27 in 2025), confirming December 3 as the date across official sources. One outlier site mentioned December 2, but most reliable updates align on the 3rd.

Viewing the Tree Now

• Daily Hours : Lights on 6 AM-midnight until mid-January takedown (exact end varies yearly).

• No Tickets Needed : Free public access, though expect crowds—NYPD ramps up security with drones.

• Post-Event Vibes : Reddit users call it a "shitshow" worth braving for the magic, advising early arrival.

Fun Traditions & Next Year

Since 1933, this tree has symbolized NYC holidays, milled into Habitat for Humanity lumber afterward. For 2026, expect early December again (likely December 2 if Thanksgiving is November 26). Catch it live or streamed—pure holiday storytelling in steel and lights!

TL;DR : Lit December 3, 2025; view now through mid-January or plan for 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.