Radio City Christmas Spectacular 2026: Tickets, Dates & Tips

The lights dim inside the great Art Deco auditorium of Radio City Music Hall, the orchestra strikes up, and a line of 36 Rockettes kicks in perfect unison. For more than nine decades, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes has been one of New York’s most beloved holiday traditions, a dazzling 90-minute show of precision dance, toy soldiers, flying sleighs and Santa himself. Plenty of New Yorkers saw it as kids and now bring their own families, and for many visitors it’s the highlight of a holiday trip.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2026: dates, tickets, what’s new this year, the scenes, the best seats, and tips for your visit. For the rest of the season, see our list of the best Christmas things to do in NYC.

Quick answer: The 2026 Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes runs from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027 at Radio City Music Hall, with a record 230 performances and a brand-new Rockettes number. Tickets start at $50 at the Radio City box office and $55 online. The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission.

Christmas Spectacular 2026: Quick Facts

In This Guide

• About the Christmas Spectacular
• What’s New in 2026
• Scenes and Numbers
• Tickets and Prices
• Best Seats at Radio City
• Is It Good for Kids?
• Planning Your Visit
• History of the Show
• What to See Nearby
• Frequently Asked Questions

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About the Christmas Spectacular

The Christmas Spectacular is a 90-minute holiday stage show at Radio City Music Hall, starring the Rockettes, the world-famous precision dance company. Alongside the Rockettes, the show features singers, dancers, a live orchestra, Santa Claus and plenty of stage magic, from snow falling over the audience to a 3D sleigh ride through the city.

The show is a mix of classic numbers that have barely changed since the 1930s and modern scenes that use drones, holograms and digital projection. It’s family-friendly, upbeat and unapologetically festive, and it ends with the moving Living Nativity, featuring live animals on stage.

The venue itself is part of the experience. Radio City Music Hall opened in 1932 and seats about 6,000 people beneath its famous golden arches, which glow like a sunrise. It’s one of the grandest theaters in the world.

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What’s New in 2026

• A record run: 230 performances between November 4, 2026 and January 4, 2027, the most in the show’s history.
• A brand-new Rockettes number: This season adds a new scene, bringing the total to ten Rockettes numbers. It’s designed to show off the dancers’ range while honoring the traditions behind the company’s legacy. The scene’s details will be revealed when the show opens.
• New immersive technology: New visual effects will give audiences different perspectives on the Rockettes’ precision, building on the digital projections, holograms and “fairy drones” already in the show.
• Immersive sound: The Sphere Immersive Sound system, introduced during the 2025 centennial season, returns, delivering clear, consistent audio to every seat in the hall.

The dancers rehearse for about 216 hours over six weeks before opening night.

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Scenes and Numbers

The show is a series of musical numbers, each with its own setting and style. Returning favorites for 2026 include:

• Parade of the Wooden Soldiers: The Rockettes march as toy soldiers, ending with their famous slow-motion domino fall. It has used nearly the same choreography since 1933.
• New York at Christmas: A tour of the city aboard a double-decker bus, ending at the Rockefeller Center tree.
• The 12 Days of Christmas: A fast, funny number packed with precision kicks.
• Dance of the Frost Fairies: A shimmering scene with glowing drones swirling above the stage.
• Santa’s sleigh ride: A 3D flight over the city with Santa, so keep your 3D glasses handy.
• The Living Nativity: The show’s reverent finale, with live animals, which has also been part of the show since 1933.

In recent years, the lineup has also included numbers such as Sleigh Ride, The Nutcracker, Rag Dolls and a department-store Santa scene. The full 2026 running order, including the new number, will be confirmed when the show opens.

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Tickets and Prices

• Box office: From $50, at the Ticketmaster Box Office at Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. Buying in person avoids online fees.
• Online: From $55, including $5 in service charges, through the official Rockettes site.
• Groups of 9 or more: Contact Radio City’s group sales team for group rates.

How prices change

Ticket prices vary by date, time and seat location. The cheapest tickets are usually for weekday performances in early-to-mid November, and prices climb steeply in the weeks just before Christmas and during the holiday break. Weekend and evening performances in December are the most expensive.

Tips for the best price

• Go early in the run, especially on a November weekday.
• Choose a weekday morning or early afternoon performance.
• Buy directly from the official site or box office. Resale sites often charge far above face value.
• Book well ahead for December dates, which sell out.

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Best Seats at Radio City

Radio City Music Hall is huge, but its sightlines are generally excellent. Here’s how the sections compare:

• Orchestra (center): The closest view, where you’ll feel the scale of the stage and see the dancers’ expressions. Center orchestra seats in the middle rows are the best in the house.
• First Mezzanine (front): Many regulars’ favorite. The elevated view shows off the Rockettes’ formations and kick lines, which are designed to be seen from above.
• Second and Third Mezzanine: The most affordable seats. They’re farther from the stage, but you still see the full picture and the hall’s famous arches.
• Side sections: Usually cheaper, though extreme side seats can cut off part of the stage.

Tip: For kids, a front-of-mezzanine seat is often better than the orchestra, since there’s no one tall sitting directly in front of them.

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Is It Good for Kids?

Yes. The Christmas Spectacular is one of the most family-friendly shows in New York.

• Length: At about 90 minutes with no intermission, it’s manageable for most young children.
• Content: Festive and upbeat, with Santa, toy soldiers and plenty of spectacle.
• Tickets: Children 2 and older need their own ticket. Children under 2 can attend free on an adult’s lap.
• Loud moments: There are a few loud effects and bright lights, which can surprise very young or sound-sensitive children.
• Restrooms: Use the restroom before the show starts, since there’s no intermission.

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Planning Your Visit

• Arrive early. Get there at least 30 to 45 minutes before showtime. Security lines can be long, especially in December.
• Travel light. Radio City has no coat or bag check, and large bags aren’t allowed, so bring only what you need.
• Explore the hall. Arrive early enough to admire the Grand Foyer, with its towering mural and sweeping staircase.
• Dress in layers. You’ll keep your coat with you in your seat.
• Accessibility: Radio City offers wheelchair-accessible and transfer seating, which can be booked through the box office or Ticketmaster.
• Getting there: Take the subway to 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, M), right outside, or 49 St (N, Q, R, W), a short walk away. Avoid driving, since Midtown traffic is heavy in December.

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History of the Show

• 1925: The dance troupe that became the Rockettes is founded in St. Louis as the Missouri Rockets.
• 1932: Radio City Music Hall opens, and the dancers join the company soon after.
• 1933: The first Christmas Spectacular is staged, including Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and The Living Nativity, which still appear today.
• Late 1970s: The popularity of the Rockettes helps save Radio City Music Hall from closure.
• 2008: The show is fully revamped for its 75th anniversary.
• 2025: The Rockettes celebrate their centennial season, and the Sphere Immersive Sound system debuts.
• 2026: A record 230 performances and a brand-new Rockettes number.

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What to See Nearby

Radio City sits at the heart of Midtown’s holiday district, so it’s easy to build a whole day around the show.

• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: One block east, lit on December 2, 2026. See our Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree guide.
• Saks Fifth Avenue light show: Two blocks east, every few minutes after dark. See our Saks light show guide.
• The Rink at Rockefeller Center: Skate beneath the tree. Compare rinks in our guide to ice skating in NYC.
• Bryant Park Winter Village: About a 10-minute walk south. See our Bryant Park Winter Village guide.
• Fifth Avenue windows: Walk north toward Bergdorf Goodman for more holiday windows. See our guide to NYC holiday window displays.

A perfect pairing: Book an afternoon show, then step outside at dusk to see the Rockefeller tree and the Saks light show, both within two blocks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2026?

The 2026 Christmas Spectacular runs from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027 at Radio City Music Hall, with 230 performances.

How much are Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets?

Tickets start at $50 at the Radio City box office and $55 online, including fees. Prices rise for December dates, weekends and premium seats.

How long is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular?

The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission.

What’s new in the 2026 Christmas Spectacular?

The 2026 show adds a brand-new Rockettes number, for a total of ten, plus new immersive technology that gives audiences fresh perspectives on the dancers. It also has a record 230 performances.

Is the Christmas Spectacular good for young kids?

Yes. It’s a family-friendly, all-ages show. Children 2 and older need a ticket, while children under 2 can sit on an adult’s lap for free.

What are the best seats for the Christmas Spectacular?

Center orchestra seats give the closest view, while front mezzanine seats show off the Rockettes’ formations best. The upper mezzanines are the most affordable.

Is there a bag check at Radio City Music Hall?

No. Radio City doesn’t have a coat or bag check, and large bags aren’t allowed, so bring only what you can keep with you in your seat.

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We update this guide as the Rockettes announce new details about the 2026 show.