Every November, Harlem’s main street, 125th Street, switches on its holiday lights with a free community celebration. The Harlem Holiday Lights event brings illuminated floats, music and neighborhood performers along the corridor, kicking off the season uptown.
In 2026 the celebration is set for Tuesday, November 17 at 6 p.m., starting near 125th Street and Broadway, with a rain date of November 24.
Quick Facts
| Date | Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 6 p.m. (rain date November 24) |
|---|---|
| Where | 125th Street, starting around Broadway, Harlem, Manhattan |
| Cost | Free |
| Subway | 1 to 125 St; A/B/C/D or 2/3 to 125 St |
| Good for | Families, locals, anyone wanting a neighborhood celebration |
What to Expect
Expect illuminated floats and performers heading along 125th Street as the corridor’s lights are switched on for the season, with music and family activities along the route. It’s a community event rather than a big Midtown spectacle, which is exactly its appeal.
Make It a Harlem Evening
125th Street is lined with restaurants, from classic soul food to newer spots in the Frederick Douglass Boulevard corridor. The Apollo Theater on 125th Street hosts holiday programming during the season, and Harlem’s churches have some of the city’s best gospel holiday concerts (see our Christmas concerts guide).
About 125th Street
125th Street is Harlem’s main commercial street and cultural spine, home to the historic Apollo Theater, the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building. During the holidays, the corridor is strung with lights from Broadway east across Harlem.
Harlem at Christmas
- Gospel: several Harlem churches welcome visitors to Sunday services and host holiday concerts. Be respectful and stay for the whole service.
- Food: soul food classics and newer restaurants along Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Malcolm X Boulevard.
- Music: the Apollo hosts holiday programming in December.
Nearby
Continue south to the Park Avenue trees or the Met’s tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Harlem Holiday Lights 2026?
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 6 p.m., with a rain date of November 24.
Is Harlem Holiday Lights free?
Yes, it is a free public celebration on 125th Street.
