You might know NBC as home to your favorite shows. But did you also know it’s a pioneer in broadcasting history? Originally a radio broadcast network founded by RCA, NBC aired its first-ever broadcast on November 15, 1926. It went on to lead the way for television in 1939, air the first televised World Series in 1947, and pioneer color broadcasting in 1953. 100 years since that first broadcast, NBC continues to create reasons for Americans to gather around the same screen. Think live sports on NBC Sports like the Olympics and Sunday Night Football, Thursday-night sitcoms like Cheers and The Office, and the evening news.
For 93 years and counting, Rockefeller Center has been proud to be the place NBC calls home. 30 Rockefeller Plaza (aka 30 Rock), NBCUniversal’s headquarters, is where Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and other iconic NBC shows are filmed in front of a live studio audience.
Walk past on a weekday morning, and you’re likely to see the hosts of TODAY broadcasting live from behind the street-level windows of Studio 1A, where the show is gearing up for its 75th anniversary in January 2027.
And during the holidays, NBC broadcasts The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting: a tradition that draws thousands of visitors and millions of viewers each year.
NBCUniversal is marking the milestone all year under the banner NBC100: A Century Together. There are so many reasons to celebrate NBC’s 100th anniversary, and so many ways to celebrate: some at Rockefeller Center, and others just a few blocks away.
See Where Television Magic Gets Made
30 Rockefeller Plaza is home to Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. The Tour at NBC Studios takes you behind the scenes of all three.
During your tour, you’ll explore the halls of 30 Rock, where you might step inside Studio 8H, SNL’s home since 1975, or see where The Tonight Show is taped. (Exactly which studios you’ll visit depends on that day’s production schedule.) Along the way, you’ll get a look at the headquarters behind some of America’s favorite news programs. These include TODAY, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, local stations WNBC and WNJU, and NBC News NOW.
Before you leave, you’ll team up with your fellow guests to produce a show of your own. For television lovers, there’s no better way to celebrate NBC’s 100th anniversary than stepping inside the studios where so much of its history was made.
Take a Spin On The Rink at 90
NBC isn’t the only Rockefeller Center icon celebrating a milestone year. The Rink at Rockefeller Center turns 90 in the 2026–27 season, and it sits right at the foot of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The Rink opened on Christmas Day 1936, just three years after NBC moved into 30 Rock, and the two have been neighbors ever since. General Skate opened October 10, with tickets starting at $22 for a 60-minute session. On November 14, the brand-new Skate House and the expanded VIP Skate experience open, too.
Pair a morning on the TODAY plaza or an afternoon on The Tour at NBC Studios with a spin on the ice to celebrate two Rockefeller Center milestones in one visit.
Immerse Yourself in the World of NBC
Just a block north of Rockefeller Center, The Paley Museum is marking the milestone with NBC100: A Century Together. The interactive exhibit is packed with costumes, props, and photo ops from a century of NBC programming. The exhibit opened September 18 on West 52nd Street and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 6 PM.
Start with the wardrobe. Get an up-close look at costumes worn by NBC stars, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s signature look as Elaine in Seinfeld. You’ll also see the many-layered outfit Matt LeBlanc wore in Friends when Joey put on every piece of Chandler’s clothes. From there, check out props and memorabilia from ER, Friday Night Lights, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Meet the Press, Parenthood, The Howdy Doody Show, and The Sound of Music Live.
For a fun photo op, visitors can pose behind Johnny Carson’s legendary Tonight Show desk or take a seat in one of The Voice’s famous coaches’ chairs. You can also step onto the TODAY set or claim the top spot on an Olympic Games victory podium. The exhibit is family-friendly, too. Kids can make their own version of the NBC peacock and participate in arts and crafts inspired by NBC history.
Watch Iconic Episodes
Between galleries, settle into one of The Paley Museum’s theaters for a special retrospective screening series celebrating NBC’s history. The lineup revisits iconic programming from the past 100 years. It also includes exclusive Paley events featuring the casts of shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and This Is Us.
Look Back at the Dun Dun Diner
Two of NBC’s longest-running and most loved shows, Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU, returned for new seasons in fall 2026. To celebrate, Bill’s Bar & Burger in Rockefeller Center transformed into the Dun Dun Diner on October 9 and 10. Guests chose from entrees and desserts by NYC icons Ess-a-Bagel, Katz’s Deli, Magnolia Bakery, and Serendipity3. They also bought branded merch and enjoyed themed interactive touches and exclusive photo opportunities.
Celebrate From Home
Can’t make it to Midtown? You can still join the celebration. Thursday nights on NBC bring The Traitors and both Law & Order series. On November 26, NBC airs the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And on Thursday, December 10, NBC will air a three-hour live special honoring a century of Must See TV, with music, comedy, and plenty of familiar faces. Tune in on NBC or stream it on Peacock.
What to Know Before You Go
- The Tour at NBC Studios: Enter at 30 Rockefeller Plaza through the Sixth Avenue entrance between 49th and 50th Streets. Tours last about 75 to 90 minutes and aren’t open to children 7 and under.
- NBC100: A Century Together: The Paley Museum is on West 52nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, one block north of Rockefeller Center. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 6 PM.
- Tickets: Book The Tour at NBC Studios in advance on its official website. Timed-entry tickets for The Paley Museum are available on its website, and walk-ups are welcome if space is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is NBC’s 100th anniversary?
NBC aired its first radio broadcast on November 15, 1926, so the network turns 100 on November 15, 2026. Celebrations are happening throughout the year, and a three-hour live special airs on NBC and Peacock on Thursday, December 10.
What is NBC100?
It’s NBCUniversal’s yearlong celebration of the network’s centennial, under the tagline A Century Together. The branding appears across NBC’s biggest broadcasts in 2026, including Sunday Night Football and the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
How long has NBC been at Rockefeller Center?
NBC has called 30 Rockefeller Plaza home since 1933. Today, it’s where Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and TODAY are made.
Can I see where Saturday Night Live is filmed?
Yes. The Tour at NBC Studios takes guests behind the scenes at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Depending on the day’s production schedule, the tour may stop at Studio 8H, SNL’s home since 1975.
Is the NBC100 exhibit good for kids?
Yes. Younger visitors can design their own version of the NBC peacock and do hands-on crafts inspired by 100 years of NBC programming. Kids also tend to enjoy the photo ops, like The Voice coaches’ chair and the Olympic victory podium.
