Lottery for 5 tickets per household opens for 2026 Christmas tree lighting
Applications are due by November 4 to attend the December 3 ceremony at President's Park.
By Elijah Davidson ·
The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation opened a free online lottery on Wednesday for the 2026 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The process allows the public to compete for limited access to the annual holiday event in Washington.
Applications are being accepted from 10 a.m. on October 28 until 3 p.m. on November 4. Participants will receive updates on their ticket status by November 12. The ceremony itself is set for December 3 at President's Park.
The tradition began in 1923 under President Calvin Coolidge. Recent years have seen the event held on the Ellipse, where President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the 2025 lighting on December 4.
Each household may submit up to five ticket requests. All attendees, including infants, require a ticket for entry. The event remains free to enter, though capacity is restricted.
Past performers have included Patti LaBelle, Mannheim Steamroller, and the U.S. Navy Band. Organizers have not yet released the lineup for this year's entertainers and special guests. Those details will be announced at a later date.
Information for the application process is available through Recreation.gov and the National Park Service. The lottery serves as the primary method for distributing tickets to the public for the December 3 celebration.
Source: FOX 5 DC
