Christmas lights in NYC 2026: where to see them and what they cost

Homeowners in this residential neighborhood compete to outdo each other with giant inflatables, animatronics and music. Most houses light up in late November or early December and stay on through Christmas, some into early January. The busiest times are weekend evenings in mid-December, roughly 5 to 9pm; a weeknight is far calmer.

The D to 79th Street is the closest subway, with a walk of 10 to 15 minutes; the R to 86th Street is a longer walk. Driving is a bad idea. Remember people live here: stay on the sidewalk and keep the noise down.

Rockefeller Center had not announced the 2026 tree or its lighting date. In 2025 the tree arrived on November 8 and the lighting ceremony was on Wednesday, December 3, from 7 to 10pm, broadcast on NBC; it came down on January 10. The ceremony is traditionally the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, which in 2026 would be December 2 — treat that as a guess until it is confirmed.

Watching the ceremony in person means arriving in the early afternoon and standing for hours with limited views. Most people are better off watching on TV and visiting on a weekday morning later in the season.

The store's facade becomes a light-and-music show. In 2025 it started on November 24 and ran every 10 minutes from 5 to 11pm nightly into early January. Saks had not announced the 2026 show. Watch from the Rockefeller Center side of Fifth Avenue for the full facade.

An after-dark trail of large light installations through the garden. Prices vary by night, weeknights are cheapest, and children under 3 are free. Public sale opens September 29. 2/3 to Eastern Pkwy–Brooklyn Museum.

Lantern animals and light displays along the zoo paths. Date-specific deal-day tickets are $29.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 3 to 12; any-night tickets are $42.95 and $27.95. Children 2 and under are free. Lights come on at 4:30pm and the ticket includes zoo entry from 1pm. New this year, the Children's Zoo farmyard and the World of Darkness and World of Reptiles buildings stay open at night.

Model trains run through nearly 200 New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and seeds in the conservatory; the new model this year is One Vanderbilt. On Holiday Train Nights the show stays open until 8pm (last entry 7pm): November 27–29, December 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20 and 26–30, and January 2. NYBG had not published 2026 prices when this was written. Metro-North Harlem Line to Botanical Garden is the easy way in.