KANSAS CITY, MO. (November 4, 2026) – The Plaza Lighting Ceremony returns Thursday, November 26, 2026, to Country Club Plaza, marking 97 years of this beloved Kansas City holiday tradition. Kansas City Royals player Carter Jensen will “flip the switch” to illuminate the Plaza with thousands of twinkling lights. Ceremony partner KMBC will broadcast the event live beginning at 5:30 p.m. with KMBC 9 News Anchor Lara Moritz as host. The preshow event starts at 5 p.m., with the schedule adjusted to accommodate the Kansas City Chiefs game that evening.
“The Plaza Lights are a Midwest staple that all Kansas Citians know and love, and to be able to do this in my hometown with my Kansas City family is an incredible honor,” said Carter Jensen, Royals catcher. “I can’t wait to help celebrate the holidays, and this city, with everybody in a place we all cherish. My family and I are extremely grateful for this opportunity to help light up the city that raised me!”
In addition to the longstanding tradition of flipping the switch, the event will feature performances by Vocalocity, Miller Marley Dance Company, QUIXOTIC, DJ Kirby Hamm, and more.
“The Plaza Lighting Ceremony is one of Kansas City’s most cherished traditions, and we are proud to bring our community together once again to celebrate the start of the holiday season,” said Jack Yejekwe, General Manager of Country Club Plaza. “We are especially excited to welcome Kansas City Royals player Carter Jensen to flip the switch this year. As a rising star in Kansas City sports, Carter represents the pride and excitement of our city, and we look forward to having him help us kick off another memorable holiday season at the Plaza.”
Hendrick Lexus Kansas City and Hendrick Lexus Kansas City North return as partners this year. A Lexus vehicle will be on display near the main stage—complete with Santa’s sleigh in tow—offering the perfect photo opportunity for families.
Plaza Lighting Ceremony Schedule*
5:00-5:30 p.m. Event begins with pre-lighting performances and giveaways from the main stage hosted by DJ Kirby
5:30-6:20 p.m. 97th Annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony, broadcast LIVE on KMBC featuring news anchor Lara Moritz
6:25 p.m. Flip of the switch by Carter Jensen, followed by fireworks
6:30–7:20 p.m. Post-ceremony show with DJ Kirby
*Schedule is approximate and subject to change.
Entertainment
The event will feature performances by award-winning vocalist Ben Gulley as well as QUIXOTIC, Sound Proof from KC A Cappella, Vocalocity, Miller Marley Dance Company, and DJ Kirby Hamm.
Special Guest
Carter Jensen, Kansas City Royals
Carter’s story is a storybook: he grew up with three brothers in Kansas City, a diehard Royals fan who eventually joined his favorite team and childhood idol Salvador Perez. Carter debuted last September at Kauffman Stadium, playing in front of many friends and family in the same seats he grew up cheering on the Royals. Jensen earned a breakout 2026 season, setting the Royals franchise rookie record with 27 home runs. His 64 extra-base hits were the most by a rookie catcher since 1947, besting the previous mark set by Mike Piazza in 1993.
Best Views and Parking
The stage will be located at the intersection of Nichols Road and Pennsylvania, with the best views along Nichols Road between Pennsylvania and Broadway. Free parking will also be offered at several nearby garages, including:
- Valencia Garage (by H&M) on the north side of 47th Street and Pennsylvania
- Balcony Garage on Wornall near 46th Street
- Seville Garage, entrance on 47th Street between Jefferson and Summit
- Central Garage, entrance on Central Street
Holiday Information
Stay up to date on all things Plaza Lighting Ceremony, store hours, sales, and our Second Annual Holiday Market and Shopping Stroll by following Country Club Plaza on Facebook and Instagram or visiting the Country Club Plaza website.
The Plaza Lighting Ceremony is open to the public and free to attend. The Plaza Lights will stay on through January 10, 2027.
About Country Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza originally opened in 1923 as the first planned suburban shopping center to accommodate shoppers arriving by car. It was designed by prominent architect Edward Delk in Baroque Revival and Moorish Revival styles, to mimic the architecture of Seville, Spain, one of Kansas City’s sister cities. The historic, 15-block, 1.3 million-square-foot mixed-use retail property is located in the heart of Kansas City and features unique-to-market retailers and restaurants. The Plaza features a dynamic mix of retailers including ALO Yoga, Anthropologie, Apple, Coach, Free People, J. Crew, LoveShackFancy, Lululemon, Sephora, TIVOL, Tumi, Veronica Beard, and West Elm. In addition, there are more than 25 dining options including Cooper’s Hawk Winery, Gram & Dun, Jack Stack Barbecue, Rye, The Capital Grille, and True Food Kitchen.
About KMBC
KMBC is honored to have served Heartland viewers since its first broadcast in 1953. An ABC affiliate, KMBC also airs top syndicated shows like Ellen, ET, Tamron Hall and more. KMBC 9 News produces more than 50 hours of news and informational programming each week on KMBC and its sister station, KCWE. KMBC 9 News has been recognized as the best TV news operation in Kansas and Missouri for six consecutive years by the Radio Television Digital News Association. Both KMBC and KCWE are owned by Hearst Television. Hearst Television owns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 21 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels, including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, This TV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry’s premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.
About Lexus
Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With eight models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.