The day has finally come for the lights on the most iconic Christmas tree in the world to be ceremoniously switched on.
The 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be illuminated for the first time tonight, Wednesday, December 3, in front of a crowd of New Yorkers and celebrities in Midtown Manhattan.
As for exactly when the celebration and tree lighting will happen, we’ve got all the details.
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What time is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lit?
The annual special around the tree lighting, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, begins on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and and Peacock. The actual lighting of the evergreen usually goes down near the very end of the two-hour special, so expect it to happen shortly before 10 p.m. ET.
While the tree lighting doesn’t usually happen until the end of the special, you won’t want to miss a single second of the festivities before the big moment. That’s because the event will be packed with stars performing and appearing throughout the evening.
Performers at Christmas in Rockefeller Center include Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, and Gwen Stefani.
Country music star and actress Reba McEntire, who can be seen on NBC‘s Happy’s Place and The Voice, is not only hosting the special, but performing.
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And the Radio City Rockettes, who celebrate their milestone 100th anniversary this year, will also perform.
If you’re a fan of TODAY, keep your eyes peeled for anchors Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, and Al Roker, who are taking part in the event.
This year’s tree stands 75-feet-tall, a foot taller than last year’s tree. The Norway spruce comes from East Greenbush in Rensselaer County, New York, about 150 miles north of Rockefeller Center.
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The tree is about 75 years old and came from property owned by the Russ family for more than 60 years. “I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree,” Judy Russ, who lives in her family home on the property, told The Center Magazine.
Tune in to Christmas in Rockefeller Center on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock to see the tree in its new home.