Radio City Music Hall Guide: Christmas Spectacular 2026, Seats and Tips
Radio City Music Hall is the biggest theater in New York and one of the most famous in the world. Every holiday season it hosts the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, and this year’s run is already underway, from November 4, 2026 through January 4, 2027. This guide covers the 2026 show, how the hall is laid out, where to sit, ticket prices, the bag policy and what to expect on the day.
Radio City Music Hall at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1260 Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue), between 50th and 51st Streets, in Rockefeller Center |
| Seats | About 5,960, with roughly 3,500 on the orchestra level |
| Levels | Orchestra plus first, second and third mezzanines |
| Opened | December 27, 1932 |
| Design | Art Deco. Architect Edward Durell Stone, interiors coordinated by Donald Deskey |
| Operator | Madison Square Garden Entertainment |
| Nearest subway | 47th to 50th Streets Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, M), 49th Street (N, Q, R, W), 50th Street (1 and C, E) |
Christmas Spectacular 2026
The 2026 Christmas Spectacular runs from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027, with a record 230 performances. This year adds a new Rockettes number, bringing the show to ten Rockettes numbers in total, along with new immersive technology meant to give the audience closer views of the precision dancing.
- Running time: about 90 minutes with no intermission.
- Prices: tickets start at $50 at the Radio City box office and $55 online, including service charges, according to TicketNews. Prices rise sharply for weekends and the weeks right before Christmas.
- Children: children under 2 do not need a ticket but must sit on a parent’s lap.
- Official sellers: the Rockettes website, which completes purchases on Ticketmaster, and the Radio City box office.
- Refunds: all sales are final.
With so many performances, there are often four or more shows a day in December. The earliest morning shows and the late evening shows on weekdays in November are usually the cheapest. The week before Christmas and the days between Christmas and New Year’s are the most expensive and sell out first.
A short history
Radio City opened on December 27, 1932, as part of John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s Rockefeller Center development. It was designed as a palace for the public, with Art Deco interiors that are still largely intact. The interior became a New York City landmark in 1978 and the exterior in 1985. For decades it combined first run movies with live stage shows, and the Christmas show became such a draw that lines stretched around the block in the 1940s. Today it hosts concerts, award shows, comedy and, every winter, the Rockettes.
The Great Stage
The stage is part of the reason the Christmas Spectacular looks the way it does. It measures about 66 and a half feet deep and 144 feet wide and sits inside a proscenium arch designed to look like a setting sun. The floor has a 50 foot turntable in the center and three 70 foot sections that can rise or sink separately or together, and the orchestra pit sits on its own lift. The stage machinery was named a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 2001. The hall also has a famous Wurlitzer theater organ, with pipes hidden behind grilles in the ceiling.
Where to sit
With nearly 6,000 seats, where you sit makes a real difference to price and view.
- Center orchestra. The closest view of the Rockettes and the most expensive. The orchestra is very large, so seats in the rear orchestra are further back than you might expect. The rear orchestra sits under the overhang of the mezzanines, which does not block the stage but hides much of the famous arched ceiling.
- First mezzanine, front rows. Many regulars think these are the best seats for the Christmas Spectacular. You look down on the stage and can see the patterns of the precision dance numbers, which is a large part of the appeal.
- Second and third mezzanines. Cheaper and still well angled toward the stage, but much further away. The third mezzanine is the highest point in the hall. Bring binoculars if you want to see faces.
- Side sections. The hall is wide, so far side seats see the stage at an angle. Stay toward the center if you can.
Bag policy and entry
Radio City’s rules for the Christmas Spectacular are strict, and knowing them saves time at the door:
- Bags must fit under your seat and be no larger than 22 by 14 by 9 inches. All bags are screened by x ray.
- There is no bag or coat check. The only exception is a free stroller check.
- Doors open one hour before the show. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
- Latecomers are held until a break between scenes, and there is no re entry once you leave.
- Photos and video are not allowed during the performance. Large cameras with zoom lenses, tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted in the building.
- Outside food and drinks are not allowed.
Accessibility
Accessible seating can be booked through Ticketmaster or the Radio City accessibility line at 888-609-7599. The box office lobby entrance is accessible. The hall is certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity, offers free sensory bags with ID, and has a sensory room that guests can use with a staff escort. Note that the show uses confetti, pyrotechnics, smoke, flashing lights and loud sound effects.
Getting there
Radio City is on Sixth Avenue at 50th Street, across from the Rockefeller Center plaza. The B, D, F and M trains stop at 47th to 50th Streets Rockefeller Center, directly underneath the complex. The N, Q, R and W stop at 49th Street, a short walk west, and the 1, C and E stop at 50th Street. In December, Rockefeller Center is extremely crowded because of the tree and the skating rink, so give yourself extra time even if you are only walking a few blocks.
The box office is inside the main entrance on Sixth Avenue at 50th Street. It is cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment.
Tips for a first visit
Plan your day around the show time rather than the other way around. Rockefeller Center in December is busy from morning to night, and the walk from the subway to your seat can take longer than the show’s opening number. Eat before you arrive, since there is no intermission and outside food is not allowed. Check your coat situation too: with no coat check, a bulky winter coat stays with you at your seat, so dress in layers. If you are bringing children, use the restrooms before the show starts, because leaving during the performance means waiting for a scene break to get back in. Finally, take a few minutes in the Grand Foyer before you sit down. The murals, chandeliers and staircases are part of the experience.
Groups
Groups of nine or more can book through Radio City group sales at 212-465-6080. Group bookings come with group pricing and a dedicated sales representative, which can be worth it for a school, office or family outing.
More holiday shows
If the Christmas Spectacular is sold out on your date, or you want something different, see our guides to A Christmas Carol in 2026, The Nutcracker in 2026, including New York City Ballet’s production at Lincoln Center, and the Grinch musical tour. For Broadway theaters nearby, read our guides to the Gershwin Theatre, the Minskoff Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
Related guides
NYC theater guides
- Gershwin Theatre guide (Wicked)
- Minskoff Theatre guide (The Lion King)
- Richard Rodgers Theatre guide (Hamilton)
Holiday shows 2026
Radio City Music Hall: Common Questions
When is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2026?
November 4, 2026 through January 4, 2027, with 230 performances.
How long is the Christmas Spectacular?
About 90 minutes with no intermission.
How much are Christmas Spectacular tickets?
TicketNews reports prices starting at $50 at the box office and $55 online, including service charges. Peak dates cost much more.
What is the Radio City bag policy?
Bags must fit under your seat and be no larger than 22 by 14 by 9 inches. There is no bag or coat check except for strollers.
How many seats are in Radio City Music Hall?
About 5,960, with roughly 3,500 on the orchestra level and the rest in three mezzanines.
Do babies need a ticket for the Christmas Spectacular?
Children under 2 do not need a ticket but must sit on a parent’s lap.
Featured photo: Radio City Music Hall at Christmas. Photo: Nikanavi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized for web.
Sources and corrections
Dates and details were checked on November 8, 2026 against these sources:
- Rockettes: what is new in 2026 (2026 run dates, new number, ten Rockettes numbers)
- Rockettes: Christmas Spectacular FAQ (Running time, bag policy, entry rules, accessibility, groups, box office)
- TicketNews: 2026 Christmas Spectacular (230 performances and starting prices)
- Wikipedia: Radio City Music Hall (Seats, opening, design, landmark status, Great Stage)
- Wikimedia Commons: featured photo (Photographer and license)
Dates change. Always confirm your performance on the official page before you buy. Spot an error? Email info@theatertickets.com and we will check it and update this page.
