(Washington, D.C.) — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announces its holiday season programming with a festive and family-friendly Christmas spectacular, Noel: Jesus is Born! with Charles Billingsley and special guest Matthew West. The show will appear for one night only, Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in the Opera House. The Center will also feature the inaugural Kennedy Center Christmas Tree with a ceremonial Christmas Tree Lighting on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, in the Hall of States. Through a festive lineup of family-friendly holiday activities and campus-wide decorations, the Center will transform into a premiere destination for celebrating the wonder and joy of the season.

“The Kennedy Center is proud to honor faith, family, and the Christian tradition of the celebration of the Birth of Christ this holiday season,” said Kennedy Center President Ambassador Richard Grenell. “From our first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting to the sacred message of Noel: Jesus is Born! to holiday activities for the whole family,we are celebrating our cherished traditions and culture that resonate with every generation.”

The Kennedy Center’s first-ever Christmas Tree will be revealed at a Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m., showcasing a fresh-cut 18-foot red spruce donated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The tree, harvested from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in southern Virginia, serves as a keystone species in the effort to restore historical red spruce stands in the Southern Appalachians. Families and visitors are invited to attend the ceremony, with a festive lineup of Christmas entertainment to usher in the holiday season. Featuring remarks from Kennedy Center leadership and special guests, the ceremony will mark a historic moment for America’s cultural center as it establishes a new holiday tradition in the nation's capital.

“It is a tremendous honor for USDA’s Forest Service to present a beautiful, fragrant Christmas tree from the American People's national forests to the Kennedy Center for the first time,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “This tree reflects the strength, resilience, and timeless beauty of our public lands.  We are grateful for our partnership with the Kennedy Center as we come together to usher in the Christmas season and share a piece of America’s natural heritage with all who visit. It’s a reminder that our forests don’t just sustain rural communities across the country, they also bring joy, tradition, and inspiration to our nation’s most treasured cultural spaces.”

Following the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, December 17, the Kennedy Center will present Noel: Jesus is Born!, a spectacular holiday concert with Charles Billingsley and his Yuletide Orchestra, along with special guest, Grammy-nominated Christian musician Matthew West. Through vibrant music, readings from Scripture, and beautiful pageantry with a live nativity scene, the performance will celebrate the meaning and wonder of the true Christmas story. Offering joyful moments that celebrate the reason for the season, the event honors the vital role that faith and tradition play in the lives of Americans.

“I am thrilled to be a part of Noel: Jesus is Born! at the world-famous Kennedy Center,” said concert artist Charles Billingsley. “We look forward to celebrating the birth of the Savior with classic Christmas songs, crazy big band fun, a fabulous choir, amazing musicians and singers, and a beautiful live nativity scene. You don’t want to miss this powerful and unforgettable night!”

“It’s an incredible honor to join The Kennedy Center in celebrating the heart of Christmas through Noel: Jesus Is Born!” said artist-songwriter Matthew West. “My hope is that every person who attends feels the joy, wonder, and hope that this season brings.”

Schedule of 2025 Holiday Performances:

November 25 – 30:

Shamrock Tenors: Christmas in Belfast

November 26 – 30:

Cincinnati Ballet: The Nutcracker

December 9:

National Symphony Orchestra: Home Alone in Concert

December 11:

Notes of Honor: NSO Salutes the Military | A Holiday Pops! with Melinda Doolittle (free for Veterans)

December 12 and 13:

National Symphony Orchestra presents A Holiday Pops! with Melinda Doolittle

December 17:

Inaugural Tree Lighting Ceremony of the Kennedy Center Christmas Tree

December 17:

The Kennedy Center Presents Noel: Jesus is Born! with Charles Billingsley and his Yuletide Orchestra

December 18 – 21:

National Symphony Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah

December 14 – 22:

The Washington Chorus Presents A Candlelight Christmas

December 15 and 24:

Choral Arts Society of Washington presents O Night Divine! 

December 20 and 24:

Choral Arts Society presents A Family Christmas

In addition to live holiday performances, the Kennedy Center will host Hanukkah celebrations, including menorah lightings with local rabbis from December 14-22.

Throughout the holiday season, the Center will also offer various activities for the whole family from Christmas film screenings and sing-a-longs to a variety of holiday craft stations. The Roof Terrace Restaurant Bar will serve up a limited winter cocktail menu during Christmas-themed speakeasy nights.

To learn more about seasonal programming and entertainment, please visit our website at www.kennedy-center.org.

About the Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is America’s living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, attracting millions of visitors each year to more than 2,000 performances, events, and exhibits. With its artistic affiliates, the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera, the Center is one of the nation’s busiest performing arts centers, dedicated to providing world-class art, powerful education, and outstanding memorial experiences to the broadest possible constituency.

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