Christmas in New York 2026: Windows, Shows, Skating and a 3-Day Plan

November 6, 2026

Giant red Christmas ornaments on a lit fountain on Sixth Avenue at night, with Radio City Music Hall's neon sign and a tall lit tree behind them

The short answer: build your trip around one show, one rink and one long walk past the store windows, then leave room for everything free. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular runs from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027. New York City Ballet's The Nutcracker runs from November 27, 2026 to January 2, 2027. Macy's windows debut on November 19 and Saks's on November 23. If you want it all up and lit at once, go between December 3 and December 23.

Some 2026 details were still unannounced on November 5, 2026, so we mark what's confirmed and what's last year's pattern.

What is there to do in New York at Christmas 2026?

Short answer: more than fits in one trip, so pick by what you love. We have a full guide for several of these, linked below.

If you love...	Go to	2026 timing
Big, glossy, old-school spectacle	Radio City Christmas Spectacular	November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027
Ballet and live orchestra	The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center	November 27, 2026 to January 2, 2027
Free things to look at	Store windows on Fifth Avenue and at Herald Square	From November 19
The famous tree	Rockefeller Center Christmas tree	Lighting on December 2
Shopping at outdoor stalls	NYC holiday markets and Bryant Park Winter Village	Bryant Park's shops run October 28 to January 3
Over-the-top neighborhood lights	Dyker Heights	Best from mid December

Coming earlier or staying later? We also cover where to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year's Eve in Times Square.

When do the department store windows go up in 2026?

Short answer: Macy's on November 19 and Saks on November 23 are confirmed. Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale's hadn't announced dates when we checked, but both have usually unveiled by late November.

Store	Address	2026 status	Why go
Macy's Herald Square	151 W 34th St	Debuts November 19, telling the story of the Blue Hippopotamus, a Macy's parade character from 1931	For families, and for a window story you can follow
Saks Fifth Avenue	611 Fifth Ave	Windows and light show unveiled November 23	The six center windows follow an animated journey through New York, and the facade show is free
Bergdorf Goodman	754 Fifth Ave	Not announced. In 2025 the windows went up on November 20 and stayed through January 5, 2026	If you love craft and fashion more than Santa
Bloomingdale's	1000 Third Ave	Not announced. In 2025 the windows were part of a Burberry campaign	An easy add-on after Bergdorf
Tiffany & Co.	727 Fifth Ave	No exact date. Usually mid November	Tiny windows that reward getting close to the glass

How to walk it. Start at Macy's on 34th Street, walk up Fifth Avenue to Saks at 50th, continue to Tiffany at 57th and Bergdorf at 58th, then head east to Bloomingdale's. It's about a mile and a half.

Two tips from local guides: see Bergdorf in daylight, when the handwork is easier to see, and watch the Saks show from the Rockefeller Center side of Fifth Avenue, because the sidewalk in front of the store gets packed. Saks hadn't published 2026 showtimes when we checked. Its 2025 show ran nightly from November 24.

Inside Macy's. Santaland has been reimagined for 2026, with free timeslots that you can reserve starting November 20, or premium passes on sale now. Holiday Square, a food and gift market with more than 35 vendors, opened on the lower level on October 31.

Is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular worth it?

Short answer: yes if you're a first-timer, traveling with kids or grandparents, or simply love an unironic kick line. If you've seen it recently or you're after serious dance, put the money toward The Nutcracker.

The run. November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027, with 230 performances, the most since the show's debut in 1933.
What's new. A brand-new scene brings the total to ten Rockettes numbers, including a contemporary tap number called "Ring". The classics stay: "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and the Living Nativity.
How long. About 90 minutes with no intermission, which is why it works so well with small kids.
Who needs a ticket. Everyone aged 2 and up. Infants under 2 can sit on a lap.
What it costs. We couldn't confirm an official starting price. Resale listings in early November began at very roughly $65 to $120 depending on the date, but those aren't face value. Prices change with the date and time, so compare a few dates on the official calendar at rockettes.com before you buy anywhere else.

With 230 performances there are plenty of daytime shows, including morning ones. A morning or early afternoon show leaves your evening free for the lights.

Which Nutcracker should you see in New York?

Short answer: New York City Ballet's for the classic, Brooklyn Ballet's for a New York twist, and Company XIV's if you're an adult group that wants a night out.

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, New York City Ballet. November 27, 2026 to January 2, 2027 at the David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza. This is the one to see if you care about the dancing and the live orchestra. It has more than 120 children from the School of American Ballet, and a one-ton tree that grows from 12 to 41 feet. It runs about two hours and is recommended for ages 5 and up. Everyone needs a ticket, including babies on laps. Two warnings: there's no late seating, and the company's $30 for 30 rush program doesn't apply to these performances. A sensory-friendly performance is listed for January 3 at 1pm.
The Brooklyn Nutcracker, Brooklyn Ballet. December 12 at 7pm and December 13, 19 and 20 at 3pm, at The Theater at City Tech, 275 Jay Street. It mixes ballet with hip-hop and other styles, with a pop-and-locking Drosselmeyer and scenes set from Victorian Flatbush to a Flatbush Avenue subway platform. It's about two hours with an intermission.
Nutcracker Rouge, Company XIV. Previews begin November 12, 2026 and the run closes January 30, 2027, at Théâtre XIV, 383 Troutman Street in Bushwick. It's a burlesque take on the story, so leave the kids at the hotel, and check the age policy when you book.

Where should you go ice skating in New York at Christmas?

Short answer: Rockefeller Center for the tree overhead, Bryant Park if you own skates, Wollman for Central Park, and Roebling for the bridge. Book timed tickets early for any holiday date.

Rink	2026 to 2027 season	Price when we checked	Go if
The Rink at Rockefeller Center	October 10 to March 27	General Skate from $22, VIP Skate from $131	You want the one in the movies, and don't mind paying for it
Bryant Park	October 28 to February 28	Free with your own skates, rentals $18.72 to $64.48	You want Midtown on a budget, with shops beside the ice
Wollman Rink, Central Park	October 28 to March 16	Adults $16, $28 or $40 depending on the day; ages 4 to 12 and 65+ $12; rental $12	You want skyscrapers rising above the park
Roebling Rink, Brooklyn Bridge Park	November 14 to January 31	NYC residents $16 plus $8 rental; others $20 plus $12 rental	You want the Brooklyn Bridge above you

Rockefeller Center's new Skate House and VIP Skate open on November 14, the rink's 90th season. One guide lists the rink as closed on December 1 and 2, around the tree lighting. Wollman keeps shorter hours early in the week: 10am to 2:30pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.

If you'd rather skate where visitors are rarer, the Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center on the Harlem Meer runs from November through March. Sessions started around $5 last season, but we couldn't confirm 2026 prices.

What's a good three-day Christmas plan for New York?

Short answer: one day in Midtown, one day split between shopping and the ballet, one day in Brooklyn. Aim for a weekday or two between December 3 and December 23, when everything is lit.

Day 1: Midtown on foot

Morning: see the Rockefeller Center tree early, before the crowds, then skate.
Midday: walk across to Radio City for a daytime show. The giant red ornaments that usually appear across Sixth Avenue from the theater are a quick, free photo.
Late afternoon: Saks, Tiffany and Bergdorf while there's still daylight.
After dark: back to Saks for the light show.

Day 2: Herald Square to Lincoln Center

Morning: Macy's windows, plus Santaland if you've reserved a slot.
Midday: walk up to Bryant Park for the Holiday Shops, then on to the Grand Central Holiday Fair, which runs November 9 to December 24.
Evening: The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. Arrive early, since there's no late seating.

Day 3: Brooklyn

Late morning: skate at Roebling Rink and walk the Dumbo waterfront.
Lunch: Time Out Market in Empire Stores, a two-floor food hall with waterfront views.
Dusk: take the D to 79 St or the R to 86 St for the Dyker Heights lights. Allow 45 to 55 minutes from Midtown, and go on a weeknight if you can.

One swap for art lovers. The Met's 20-foot blue spruce, hung with 18th century Neapolitan angels above a Baroque crèche, ran from November 25, 2025 to January 6, 2026 in the Medieval Sculpture Hall. The 2026 dates weren't posted when we checked. The Met is closed on Wednesdays.

With timed tickets for a show, the ballet and a rink, confirmations pile up fast. If you're going with friends, you can forward each confirmation email to Otta and she files it in one trip the whole group can see.

For where to eat between all of this, start with our New York guide.

What's open in New York on Christmas Day?

Short answer: less than you'd think. In 2026, December 25 is a Friday, so plan a quiet day with one booked thing.

Mostly closed: most shops, including the big department stores, and most major museums. The Met and the New York Transit Museum both list December 25 as closed.
Usually open: restaurants in Chinatown, and outdoor rinks, weather permitting. The windows stay lit even when the stores are shut.
Shows: Radio City has played on Christmas Day in past years, and some Broadway shows do too. Check the 2026 calendars before you count on it.
Services: St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine have traditionally held Christmas Day services.
Transit: subways and buses run on a modified holiday schedule.

Book any Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meal well ahead, because far fewer kitchens are open.

FAQ

When is the Rockefeller Center tree lit in 2026?

The lighting ceremony is on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. Our Rockefeller Center tree guide has the best times to see it.

What's the best week to visit New York at Christmas?

If you want everything lit with slightly thinner crowds, aim for a weekday between December 3 and December 18. The days between Christmas and New Year's are among the busiest.

Is any ice skating free in New York?

Admission to Bryant Park's rink is free if you bring your own skates. You still need a timed session, and tickets are released daily a week ahead.

Is The Nutcracker suitable for young kids?

New York City Ballet recommends it for ages 5 and up, and everyone needs a ticket, even on a lap. For younger kids, the 90-minute Radio City show with no intermission is the easier choice.