The National Park Service has set the date: the 2026 National Christmas Tree Lighting is Thursday, December 3, 2026, on the Ellipse in President’s Park, just south of the White House. When we wrote our D.C. holiday guide in mid-October, the date hadn’t been posted. Here’s what’s confirmed as of November 2026, what to do if you missed the ticket lottery, and how to make it a points trip.
What was announced
The NPS and the National Park Foundation announced the ceremony in a joint release dated October 19, 2026. The lighting tradition dates to 1923, and this year’s ceremony promises live performances and holiday music. Performers had not been announced as of early November, and the NPS hadn’t published a start time.
Tickets are free but were handed out by online lottery on Recreation.gov, and that lottery has now closed.
| Item | Detail (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, on the Ellipse (President’s Park) |
| Start time | Not announced yet |
| Lottery opened | 10 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Oct. 28 |
| Lottery closed | 3 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 4 |
| Winners notified | Thursday, Nov. 12 |
| Tickets per winner | Up to five |
| Cost | Free to enter and free tickets |
| Who needs a ticket | Every attendee, including infants (per FOX 5 DC) |
| Visiting the tree site afterward | Free; 2026 dates and hours “forthcoming,” per the NPS |
The NPS says entering the lottery does not guarantee tickets, and tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial gain. Treat any resale listing with suspicion. Winners will get arrival, security screening and prohibited-items details before the event, and the NPS says updates will be posted at thenationaltree.org and nps.gov/whho.
If you don’t have ceremony tickets
Missing the lottery isn’t a reason to skip the trip. The NPS says there is no fee to visit the National Christmas Tree site, which normally opens to the public after the lighting. For reference, when we checked the NPS page in October, it listed the 2025 tree site as open from December 6, 2025, through January 1, 2026. The 2025 “America Celebrates” display had 59 smaller trees decorated with student-made ornaments representing the 56 U.S. states and territories, plus other participating schools and contest winners. The NPS hasn’t said whether 2026 will follow the same format.
A few other things to fit into a December visit:
- Washington Monument: open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but closed Christmas Day and for monthly maintenance, which in December 2026 falls on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Plan around that date.
- ZooLights: Destination DC lists it as daily from Nov. 20, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
- Holiday markets and other tree lightings: we rounded these up in our D.C. on points guide.
Where to stay on points near the Ellipse
The Ellipse is in the middle of downtown, so most hotels near the White House, the National Mall or Metro Center are a walk away. Our full D.C. hotel guide has the details by program; here’s the short version.
| Program | Hotels to check | How pricing works |
|---|---|---|
| World of Hyatt | Hyatt Place Washington D.C./White House, Grand Hyatt Washington, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill | Published chart with five price levels per category since May 20, 2026. Category 4: 12,000 to 25,000 points a night. Category 5: 15,000 to 35,000. |
| Marriott Bonvoy | The St. Regis Washington, D.C., Washington Marriott at Metro Center | Dynamic: points track cash rates |
| Hilton Honors | Conrad Washington, DC (CityCenterDC) | Dynamic |
| IHG One Rewards | InterContinental Washington D.C. – The Wharf (farther from the Ellipse, on the Southwest waterfront) | Dynamic |
Check your hotel’s current Hyatt category on hyatt.com before you transfer points, since the guides we reviewed for our October post didn’t always agree. Early December weeknights are often cheaper than holiday weekends under both Hyatt’s new levels and the dynamic programs, but there’s no guarantee. Lighting night itself could price higher near the White House.
How to use points and miles for this trip
- Transfer only after you find space. Chase Ultimate Rewards lists World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards as hotel transfer partners. Transfers can’t be undone, so search award availability first.
- Book refundable. If you entered the lottery, you won’t know until Nov. 12 whether you have tickets. A cancellable award protects you either way.
- Fly into an airport on Metro. WMATA lists direct Metrorail service to Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles (IAD), so you can skip a rental car and hotel parking. Our DCA vs. IAD vs. BWI comparison covers which airport makes sense for your miles.
Want to cover a D.C. holiday stay with transferred points? Chase Sapphire cards earn Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards. You can compare current offers and apply with our Chase referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
The upside: having a confirmed date makes early December easier to plan. Washington is a strong points city, with Hyatt’s chart still published, several hotels within walking distance of the Ellipse, and Metro straight from two of the three airports. Even without ceremony tickets, the tree site is free to visit once it opens, and most of the city’s big sights are free too.
The downsides: the lottery is already closed, tickets aren’t guaranteed even for people who entered, and the NPS hasn’t posted the 2026 tree-site dates, the start time or the performers. We’d book a refundable award for early December now and adjust once winners are notified on Nov. 12 and the NPS posts its visitor details.
Sources
- National Park Service: 2026 National Christmas Tree Lighting ticket lottery opens Oct. 28
- National Park Service: National Christmas Tree
- FOX 5 DC: National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2026 ticket lottery opens
- National Park Service: Washington Monument hours
- Destination DC: Zoo Lights 2026
- The MileLion: World of Hyatt revises award charts
- Frequent Miler: Hyatt’s new World of Hyatt chart in May 2026
- Chase: How to transfer Ultimate Rewards points
- WMATA: Airports and train stations
Event details, hotel prices and points rates change often; confirm with the National Park Service and the hotel before you book. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
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