The Rink at Rockefeller Center opens for its 90th season this Saturday, with the first skaters expected to take the ice at 9 a.m. The Manhattan landmark kicks off its 2026–2027 run on October 10, offering general admission tickets starting at $22 per person for a 60-minute session on the ice.
According to PIX11, weekend ticket prices can peak at $74, with rink ticket prices varying by time and day. The venue sits at 49th Street on the Rink Level, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, and has operated as a New York tradition since 1936, according to rockefellercenter.com.
Skate rentals run $12, and complimentary lockers are available for smaller items, the rink's ticket page notes. All guests entering the rink, including non-skaters, must have a valid ticket, and children under 6 must skate with an adult while those ages 7 to 13 must be supervised.
New Check-In Process for the Anniversary Season
For this 90th-anniversary season, skaters will use a temporary check-in setup from October 10 through November 13, before the rebuilt Skate House is scheduled to open on November 14, per the rink's own guide to ice skating. The guide also notes that general admission starts at $22 for adults and children, while admission for tots ages 5 and under starts at $12.
A VIP Skate ticket is also being offered starting at $112 for the anniversary season, the same guide states. PIX11 reports that rink tickets are non-refundable, though reservations may be rescheduled up to 24 hours in advance, and sessions may be delayed or canceled due to severe weather.
Crowds and the Season Ahead
Weekends and holiday peak periods tend to draw the busiest crowds, according to the rink's guide, and more than 250,000 people typically visit the rink each year, per nbcnewyork.com. That station's report on last season noted the rink reopened for the 2025–26 fall and winter run on a Saturday, with admission prices then said to range from $22 to $124 per person depending on date and time — though it remains unverified whether that same range applies this season. The outlet's report also described daily hours starting at 9 a.m. with a last skate at 11 p.m., along with options for an unlimited season skating pass, private lessons and skate schools, though current 2026–27 scheduling for those offerings has not been confirmed.
Beyond the ice, the holiday setup around the rink is also expanding this year. The popular Holiday Chalets, which can hold up to six guests, are scheduled to return November 6, according to newyorkfamily.com. Six new 90th Anniversary Lodges, described as a larger take on the traditional chalets and able to accommodate up to eight guests each, are set to open November 20, the outlet reports.
PIX11's report on the reopening was written by Ben Mitchell, a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered local and international news since 2021 and joined the station in 2024.
