West Edmeston Norway Spruce Selected for 2026 Rockefeller Center Holiday

Key points

• The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a Norway spruce from West Edmeston, Chenango County, New York.
• The tree stands 76 feet tall, is 50 feet wide, and weighs about 11 tons, according to WBNG.
• The tree will be cut down on November 5 and transported to Rockefeller Center on November 7.
• The tree will be adorned with more than 50,000 energy-efficient LED lights and a Swarovski star.
• The official lighting ceremony occurs on December 2, and the tree remains on display until January 9, 2027.
• After removal, the tree will be milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Background

This selection follows a similar choice in 2023, when a tree from Vestal, New York, was selected for Rockefeller Center. The archive does not contain prior specific details on the 2026 tree selection process, but notes that the annual event is a major holiday tradition in New York City.

How outlets are covering it

All four sources agree on the core facts: the tree is from West Edmeston, will be cut on November 5, arrives November 7, and is unveiled December 2. ABC News and WKTV emphasize the energy-efficient LED lights and the Swarovski star. NBC New York provides additional detail on the post-holiday process, noting the tree is milled into two-by-four and two-by-six beams in New Jersey before donation. WBNG highlights the tree’s physical dimensions and weight, and notes this is the second time in three years a tree from the region has been selected. No significant disagreements exist among the outlets.

Why it matters

The selection of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a significant cultural event in New York City, drawing millions of visitors and global media attention. The choice of a local New York tree supports regional forestry and provides a tangible link between upstate New York and Manhattan. The subsequent donation of the tree to Habitat for Humanity underscores the event’s charitable impact, turning a temporary holiday symbol into a lasting contribution to housing initiatives.

What to watch

The tree will be cut on November 5 and transported to Manhattan by November 7. Decoration will begin immediately, with the public unveiling scheduled for December 2. The tree will remain on display until January 9, 2027, after which it will be processed into lumber for donation.