You can watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting live on NBC on TV and on the NBC streaming service Peacock, which simulcast the annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special in prime time each year.

Main ways to watch

  • Live on TV:
    • Tune in to your local NBC station during the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special, typically airing from 8–10 p.m. Eastern Time on the night of the lighting.
* This is the primary national broadcast of the ceremony, including performances and the official countdown.
  • Streaming online (Peacock):
    • The special is also streamed live on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform, at the same time as the TV broadcast, so you can watch on phones, tablets, smart TVs, or browsers.

Other viewing options

  • Rockefeller Center digital channels:
    • In some recent years, Rockefeller Center has additionally promoted streaming coverage on its own or partner digital and social channels as a way for people who cannot attend in person to watch the ceremony online.
  • In person in New York City:
    • You can go to Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan (between 49th and 50th Streets) and watch the lighting live, but you must arrive very early and be prepared for large crowds and street closures around the plaza.

Quick note on timing

  • The tree lighting special typically happens in the evening on a Wednesday around late November or early December and is scheduled in advance, with NBC and Rockefeller Center announcing the exact date and start time each year.

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