One of New York’s most beautiful holiday trees is indoors. Each year the Metropolitan Museum of Art installs a 20-foot blue spruce in its Medieval Sculpture Hall, decorated with dozens of 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs. At its base is an elaborate Baroque Nativity scene with more than 200 figures, set against the hall’s 1763 Spanish choir screen.
The tree typically goes up in late November and stays until early January. The Met announces 2026 dates closer to the season.
Quick Facts
| When | Typically late November through early January (2026 dates to be announced) |
|---|---|
| Where | Medieval Sculpture Hall, The Met Fifth Avenue, 1000 Fifth Ave |
| Cost | Included with museum admission (pay-as-you-wish for New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students) |
| Lighting ceremonies | Usually held on select evenings with recorded music |
| Subway | 4/5/6 to 86 St |
Why It’s Special
The crèche came to the museum through collector Loretta Hines Howard, and the angels, shepherds and Magi are carved and dressed with remarkable detail. The museum typically hosts nightly lighting ceremonies during the season. Visit on a Friday or Saturday evening, when the Met stays open late.
Nearby
Walk down Fifth Avenue for the Bergdorf Goodman windows or across Central Park to the AMNH Origami Tree. On the Upper East Side, the Park Avenue tree lighting is a short walk east.
What to Look For
The crèche is set in a landscape with ruins and townspeople, and the figures, carved and dressed with real fabric, show the Nativity alongside a lively 18th-century Neapolitan crowd: shepherds, animals, musicians and the procession of the Magi. Angels and cherubs hover in the branches above. Look for the exquisite detail on the faces and costumes.
Make a Day of It
- Visit on a Friday or Saturday evening, when the museum is open later and calmer.
- Pair the tree with the Medieval galleries around it, then the rooftop or the European paintings.
- For a quieter medieval experience, The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park is also decorated for the season.
Nearby
The Park Avenue trees are two blocks east, and Bergdorf Goodman’s windows are a pleasant walk down Fifth Avenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Met Christmas tree on display?
It usually goes up in late November and stays until early January.
Where is the Met Christmas tree?
In the Medieval Sculpture Hall on the first floor of The Met Fifth Avenue.
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