How to Watch Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé & More Perform at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2025 Online for Free
The holiday season officially kicks off for many with the highly anticipated lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a cherished tradition that marks its 93rd annual ceremony this year. Scheduled for December 3, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET, this year’s event features a stunning 75-foot Norway Spruce adorned with over 50,000 multicolored lights and topped with a dazzling 9-foot-diameter Swarovski star. The tree, which was cut in early November and transported to the iconic Center Plaza, promises to illuminate the New York skyline and evoke the festive spirit in viewers around the world.
Hosted by country music legend Reba McEntire, the lighting ceremony will showcase an impressive lineup of musical performances from renowned artists such as Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, and the Radio City Rockettes, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be broadcast live on NBC and available for streaming on Peacock, making it accessible to audiences everywhere. Viewers can catch the two-hour special either through their local NBC affiliate or via streaming platforms, with options like SlingTV and Hulu + Live TV providing additional ways to watch.
For those looking to enjoy the festive celebration without a hefty cable bill, several streaming services offer free trials, allowing viewers to experience the magic of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting without financial commitment. With the holiday season fast approaching, this beloved event not only serves as a hallmark of New York City’s festivities but also as a reminder of the joy and togetherness that the holidays bring. So, whether you are in the city or watching from the comfort of your home, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting is sure to ignite the holiday spirit for all.
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For some, the holiday season officially begins once the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit.
Get ready to jingle your bells, the Rockefeller Center will be hosting its 93rd annual lighting ceremony on Wednesday (Dec. 3) at 8 p.m. ET. The 75-foot Norway Spruce will be lit up with over 50,000 multicolored lights and a 9-foot-diameter 2018 Swarovski star, lighting up the New York skyline. The spruce was cut early in Nov. and arrived at the iconic Center Plaza on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Whether you’ve snagged
travel deals
to see it in person or plan to watch the holiday tradition from the comfort of your couch, the 2025 Christmas tree-lighting ceremony is bound to get you in the holiday spirit with the help of a slew of guests and musical performances.
This year’s festivities will be hosted by
Country music icon Reba McEntire
, joined by a slew of musical guests including Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce Gwen Stefani and the
Radio City Rockettes
, who are currently celebrating their 100th anniversary.
If you want to join in on the festive fun (from the comfort of your own home, not the Big Apple), we’ve compiled everything you need to know to watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony online and on TV for free.
Check below for the
streaming options
available.
How to Watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2025 on NBC, Peacock & SlingTV
The
Christmas in Rockefeller Center
special will air on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025 during. The two-hour holiday special will air live from New York at 8 p.m. ET on NBC
and simulcast on Peacock. If you have cable, you can watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony on TV through your local NBC affiliate — just check your cable provider’s channel guide to find your local NBC channel.
Cable cutters can also use NBC’s official streaming platform,
Peacock
, which will be live streaming the ceremony. Already have Peacock? You can watch the ceremony for no additional cost by logging into your account and going to live TV.
Don’t have a subscription? A subscription to the streaming service, including NBC, currently will cost you $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year.
$10.99 a month
get peacock here
Besides the 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, a Peacock subscription will give you access to the entire Peacock library including exclusive and original TV series, movies, sports and more such as
Bupkis, Mrs. Davis,
Poker Face
,
Bel-Air
,
Poker Face
,
Yellowstone
and
Based on a True Story
. You’ll also be able to watch NBC and Bravo programs like the
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
,
Saturday Night Live
, Parks & Recreation, The Office,
Vanderpump Rules
and more.
get slingtv here
SlingTV’s Blue plan
includes NBC and its affiliated channels for $50.99 a month and will give you access to DVR storage, the ability to stream on up to three devices at once and more. You can expand your channel offerings by combining the Blue and Orange plans for even more content for only $33 (reg. $65.95).
Click here
or the button below to sign up.
Additional Ways to Watch Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2025 for Free
Looking for more money-saving options? Live TV streamers are offering free trials and promos that can save you even more without having to pay hundreds of dollars on cable each month.
You can get
NBC on DirecTV
by utilizing the service’s five-day free trial via the
Entertainment package
. If you’re thoroughly impressed by the free tiral, the service’s
Entertainment package is available now
for $49.99 a month
, a package which includes access to NBC. Along with you your subscription to this package, you’ll have access to 90+ local channels ESPEN Unlimited and Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads and 130+ MyFree DIRECTV channels.
watch the tree lighting with directv
Hulu + Live TV
comes with a 3 day free trial and gives you the most content options as you’ll not only have access to the NBC channel as well as many more live TV channels, but also the entire Hulu library. You can also bundle it with
Disney+
and
ESPN+
for even more programs to watch. Once your free trial is over, you’ll be charged the normal subscription fee of $89.99 a month. Click here or below to launch your free trial.
get hulu + live tv free trial here
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering Celeb & Ent news.
