The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation will open a free online lottery at 10 a.m. Eastern on October 28 for tickets to the 2026 National Christmas Tree Lighting. The ceremony is scheduled for December 3 on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, D.C.
The entry period closes at 3 p.m. Eastern on November 4. The agencies say lottery winners will be notified November 12, and each winner may receive up to five tickets. Entering does not guarantee admission, and tickets are free and cannot be sold or transferred for commercial gain.
Source: U.S. National Park Service, “2026 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ticket Lottery Opens Oct. 28”, news release dated October 19, 2026. The release was issued jointly with the National Park Foundation.
The ceremony will feature live performances and holiday music. The annual lighting tradition began in 1923, according to the National Park Service. Visitors should use the official lottery and event pages for entry instructions and later event updates.
0 comments