To kickstart the festive season, the annual holiday tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which dates back to the ‘30s, returns! The ceremony is packed with entertainment and will include brilliant performances from favorite celebrities, a country music legend as the host, and, of course, the lighting of the stunning 75-foot Norway Spruce tree.
Where Is the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony?
The annual ceremony takes place in Rockefeller Center in New York City on Wednesday, December 3. The tree will remain in its location until next year, and in January 2026, it will be donated to Habitat for Humanity to be turned into lumber to build homes for those in need, People reports.
The tradition of the Christmas tree in the center dates back to 1931, and the lighting ceremony started in 1933. This year, the lighting ceremony will be broadcast from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. However, the ceremony will begin an hour earlier at 7 p.m. ET.
But what can you expect? In addition to watching the tree transform from a gorgeous green spruce into a glittering masterpiece, thanks to 50,000 multicolored lights and a Swarovski star, audiences can also enjoy a variety of performances.
Who Is Performing?
This year, beloved country musician Reba McEntire will host the ceremony. This is her first year as host, and she takes the reins from Kelly Clarkson, who hosted the ceremony in 2023 and 2024. “We’re so looking forward to seeing Reba bring her infectious energy to the telecast and create an unforgettable holiday moment,” NBCUniversal Entertainment’s executive vice president Jen Neal said in a statement, NBC News reports.
To make it a memorable occasion, McEntire will be joined by Gwen Stefani, Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, the Radio City Rockettes, New Edition, Brad Paisley, and Carly Pearce, all of whom have performances planned on the night.
It’s going to be a special festive celebration, but it will also be an exciting moment for McEntire, who has never experienced December in New York City before. “To see all the Christmas decorations and to get to be a part of the tree lighting ceremony, Rockefeller Center, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m honored that they asked me to do it,” she told People in an interview in October 2025. “I’m going to triple, quadruple layer.”
