The New York Botanical Garden’s beloved Holiday Train Show celebrates its 35th year with nearly 200 miniature New York landmarks, enchanting train displays, and a new addition to the city’s miniature skyline.

One of New York City’s most cherished holiday traditions is back. The Holiday Train Show® at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) returns November 14, 2026, through January 10, 2027, marking its 35th anniversary with another season of miniature wonders, beautifully crafted landscapes, and the timeless charm of model trains.

For more than three decades, the exhibition has brought together the magic of rail travel and the artistry of botanical design. Inside the spectacular Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, model steam engines, streetcars, and passenger and freight trains travel through an imaginative miniature New York, passing over bridges, through tunnels, and alongside nearly 200 replicas of familiar city landmarks.

What makes the exhibition particularly remarkable is the craftsmanship behind each creation. Rather than conventional building materials, the miniature structures are made from natural elements including bark, leaves, twigs, seeds, acorns, pinecones, and palm fronds. The results are intricate botanical interpretations of New York architecture, transforming familiar city sights into extraordinary works of art.

A New Addition to the Miniature Skyline

Adding a contemporary touch to this year’s exhibition is a botanical replica of One Vanderbilt, one of Manhattan’s newest architectural landmarks and home to the immersive observatory experience SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

The miniature captures the skyscraper’s distinctive tapered silhouette and signature design elements, translating its glass-and-steel architecture into an intricate composition of natural materials. It joins an impressive collection that includes such iconic New York destinations as Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Macy’s flagship store.

The exhibition also pays tribute to New York’s architectural history, with replicas of landmarks that no longer exist, including the original Penn Station and the first Yankee Stadium.

More to Discover Outdoors

The holiday experience continues beyond the Conservatory. On the Conservatory Lawn, visitors can explore an illuminated mountain landscape featuring additional trains, forest animals, winter-interest plants, and fungi. The outdoor display offers a different perspective on the exhibition, with picturesque settings that invite visitors to pause, explore, and capture the season’s atmosphere.

A 35-Year Holiday Tradition

Since its beginnings in 1992 as a modest seasonal display, the Holiday Train Show has grown into an essential part of New York’s holiday calendar, welcoming generations of families and visitors. Its appeal extends well beyond children, offering adults an opportunity to appreciate the imagination, precision, and botanical artistry that bring this miniature world to life.

Visitors also have access to the New York Botanical Garden’s historic landscape and gardens, making the exhibition an appealing destination for a festive family outing or a leisurely seasonal visit.

Extended Evening Hours

For those who prefer to experience the displays after dark, NYBG has scheduled extended hours on select dates. The Garden will remain open until 8 p.m., with last entry at 7 p.m., on the following dates:

• November 27–29
• December 5
• December 11–12
• December 18–20
• December 26–30
• January 2

The Holiday Train Show offers a delightful way to celebrate the season, combining New York nostalgia, botanical creativity, and the enduring fascination of trains in one memorable experience.

The New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10458

For tickets, admission information, and additional details, visit www.nybg.org.