When the air turns cold and festive cheer descends upon the war-torn streets of Tarkov, seasoned PMCs know exactly what that means. The annual Christmas event has returned for 2026, bringing back the mad scramble to track down six beautifully decorated trees scattered across the region. The Mechanic once again hands out his seasonal quest, \"To the Tree!\" , and anyone hoping to snag those limited-time rewards and fill their hideout with a little yuletide spirit will need to visit every single one of them.
It sounds straightforward, but as any Escape From Tarkov player knows, nothing ever is. There are no glowing waypoints or friendly HUD markers pointing the way. Instead, the biggest hint a player gets is the constant rattle of gunfire near the trees. Scavs tend to camp around these glowing landmarks, and their aggression draws in both curious rookies and bloodthirsty veterans. For a beginner still learning the labyrinthine layouts of Reserve or the sprawling woods, simply surviving a raid is tough enough without hunting down a needle in a haystack.
A clever operator listens for those gunshots without engaging first. If a player avoids firing at the Scavs, they can often slip past unnoticed, grab whatever goodies are waiting, and vanish before the real chaos erupts. Timing also plays a huge role. Raids set to daytime are infinitely easier for this quest. The soft winter light makes the trees stand out more clearly against the environment, while nighttime raids just invite someone with thermal goggles to ruin your holiday plans.
Where to Find All Six Christmas Trees
Veterans memorize these spots after a single season, but for anyone needing a refresher or jumping in fresh in 2026, here is the complete breakdown. Only six maps host a tree, and each one is tucked into a very specific corner of its respective warzone.
| Map | Location Description |
|---|---|
| Reserve | In the southwestern sector, sitting along the dirt road that runs between the E2 Bunker and the White Knight building. The tree is impossible to miss once you know to look for the glow near the barbed wire fences. |
| Woods | Floating peacefully on a wooden platform just off the docks of the Logging Camp. This one feels almost serene, until someone opens up with an SVD from the treeline. |
| Interchange | Outside the ULTRA Mall, on the highway in a Scav Camp directly across from the main entrance. The camp itself is a regular hotspot for firefights, so expect company. |
| Shoreline | Right in front of the Resort Admin building, proudly displayed as if the staff put it there for a holiday party that never happened. The open ground here makes it a sniper’s dream. |
| Customs | Tucked into the courtyard at the very center of the two dorm buildings in the northern region. Tight corridors and multiple angles make this one of the riskier pickups. |
| Lighthouse | Down south along the western shore, not far from the Hideout building. The rocky coastline provides decent cover, but rogue USEC squads love patrolling this stretch. |
It is worth noting that loot at these Christmas trees is shared across the entire server. If a player shows up late, they might find nothing but a sad pile of discarded wrapping paper. The quest only requires visiting the tree itself, so even if the presents are gone, the objective still gets ticked off. On a good day, however, a lucky scavenger can walk away with high-tier ammo, rare keys, or even military-grade electronics. It is a gamble that keeps everyone coming back.
Rewards and Hideout Crafting
Once a player has made the pilgrimage to all six locations and reported back to the Mechanic, the pay-off arrives. The quest completion grants a solid chunk of Roubles, a healthy dose of experience, and a tiny but precious +0.01 Mechanic reputation. More importantly, they receive red, white, and violet Christmas Tree Ornaments. These baubles are not just for show.
Back in the hideout, a new crafting option opens up. For five violet ornaments, ten red ornaments, ten white ornaments, and a fee of 10,000 Roubles, anyone can assemble their very own festive tree. The crafting process takes a few hours, and the finished product sits in the hideout as a permanent decoration—at least until the event wraps up and Tarkov’s grim reality reasserts itself.
Additional ornaments can be scavenged from the base of the trees during raids or found randomly sitting in duffle bags and supply crates across every map. So even after completing the quest, those glittering decorations remain a valuable loot item worth pocketing. A smart operator keeps an eye out for purple ornaments in particular; they tend to be the hardest to find, and some players will pay a premium on the flea market for them.
For anyone new to Escape From Tarkov in 2026, this event doubles as a crash course in map knowledge and situational awareness. There is no better way to learn the shortcuts of Customs or the sniper lanes of Shoreline than by chasing down a glowing tree while hoping nobody is lining up a headshot. Just remember: daylight, patience, and a good pair of headphones are your best friends. Good luck out there, and happy hunting.
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