A Longwood Christmas is the long-running holiday display at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and in 2026 it runs from November 20, 2026 through January 10, 2027, open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. The 2026 edition takes on a cosmic theme, with indoor displays built around galaxies, stars and imagery from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes alongside the garden’s usual horticultural centerpieces.
If you’re trying to figure out exactly what a ticket costs and when to book, here’s the short version: adult tickets run $45 to $52 and youth tickets run $25 to $32 depending on the date, every visitor needs a timed reservation, and popular nights sell out weeks in advance. The rest of this guide breaks down the pricing tiers, the dates, and what’s actually worth seeing this year.
Quick Answer
A Longwood Christmas 2026 runs November 20, 2026 through January 10, 2027 at Longwood Gardens, daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Timed-entry tickets cost $45–$52 for adults (16–64) and $25–$32 for youth (5–15), with children 4 and under free; price depends on whether you visit on a peak or non-peak date, and tickets must be booked in advance on Longwood Gardens’ official site.
Ticket Pricing for A Longwood Christmas 2026, Explained
Longwood uses dynamic, date-based pricing rather than one flat admission fee, so the price you pay depends on which night you pick. Peak pricing — $52 for adults and $32 for youth — applies on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the entire run, plus every single day from December 18 through January 3, which covers the week of Christmas and New Year’s. Non-peak pricing — $45 for adults and $25 for youth — applies on select weekdays between November 23 and December 17, and again from January 4 through 10. Children 4 and under get in free on any date.
A discounted rate is available for Museums for All / PA ACCESS cardholders, applied at checkout on the official ticketing site rather than built into the standard tiers above; Longwood’s own Christmas pricing table does not offer a military discount during this event. Members get a free timed reservation instead of paying for a ticket, with one exception: Gardens Premium Members and Innovator-level members can walk in without booking ahead at all. Everyone else, member or not, needs a reservation tied to a specific date and arrival window.
Tickets go on sale through Longwood Gardens’ own online box office, linked from the official visit page, and that’s the only place to buy them at face value — third-party resale sites mark them up well above the posted price. Peak weekend and holiday-week dates routinely sell out, so book as soon as your travel dates are set rather than waiting for the week of your visit.
Dates and Hours
A Longwood Christmas 2026 opens November 20, 2026 and runs through January 10, 2027, with the Gardens, Garden Shop, Café and 1906 Restaurant open daily during the event. Garden hours are 10:00 am to 11:00 pm every day of the run, giving visitors a long window to see both the heated conservatories and the outdoor lights without feeling rushed.
What’s New for 2026
The 2026 edition swaps last year’s gemstone theme for a cosmic one. The Visitor Center introduces guests to images from the Hubble and James Webb telescopes before they move into displays featuring a gilded supernova, a moss-and-poinsettia galaxy in the Exhibition Hall, and a 22-foot rotating Fraser fir covered in star ornaments. The Music Room is redone as an astronomer’s observatory with an 18-foot Fraser fir and celestial decor, and the season adds a new coffee and cocoa stand plus a seasonal beer collaboration with Victory Brewing Company.
The Lights and Displays
Outdoors, more than half a million lights cover over 100 decorated trees and installations across the property, including oversized illuminated stars at the Small Lake, lit arches through the Meadow Garden, the Meadow Tunnel, and the Italian Water Garden’s choreographed lights. Inside the conservatories, horticultural displays featuring more than 25 varieties of poinsettias, paperwhites and amaryllis are layered in with the cosmic decor.
The Open Air Theatre’s 750 dancing water jets run throughout the season alongside strolling carolers and musicians, with organ performances and a New Year’s Eve celebration included with admission on select dates.
Food, Drinks and Extras
Longwood’s Taste of Christmas multi-course dining experience returns in the Fountain Room on select dates in late December, priced separately from garden admission, alongside a holiday prix-fixe menu at the 1906 restaurant. A new coffee and cocoa stand and a seasonal beer made with Victory Brewing Company add casual options this year. The Gardens’ Winter Shop carries holiday gifts and limited-edition ornaments, and seasonal workshops on topics like tree decorating and floral design are offered at an added cost.
Planning Your Visit: Parking, Access and Timing
Parking at Longwood Gardens is free for all visitors, including during A Longwood Christmas, though peak weekend evenings can fill the main lots and add a short walk or shuttle ride to the entrance. Most visitors plan on two to four hours to cover both the conservatories and the outdoor walking paths comfortably, and arriving close to opening tends to beat the dinner-hour crowds on busy nights.
The grounds are stroller- and wheelchair-accessible on paved paths, but much of the outdoor route is uncovered, so dress for the weather and expect possible weather-related delays on icy or stormy nights. For current hours, ticket availability and any day-of closures, check the official Longwood Gardens site before you head out, especially on marginal-weather days.
Tips for Avoiding Crowds
Weekday evenings in the non-peak window tend to be noticeably quieter than Friday-through-Sunday peak nights and the December 18–January 3 stretch, and they’re cheaper too. If your dates are flexible, picking a non-peak weekday is the single easiest way to get a calmer visit at a lower price. Either way, buy tickets as soon as you know your date — especially for weekends — since Longwood caps nightly attendance and popular nights sell out before the event even opens.
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Longwood Gardens Christmas 2026 tickets and pricing FAQs
How much are A Longwood Christmas 2026 tickets?
Adult tickets (ages 16–64) cost $45 to $52 and youth tickets (ages 5–15) cost $25 to $32, depending on whether the date falls in the peak or non-peak pricing window. Children 4 and under are free, and members need only a free timed reservation.
What are the peak and non-peak pricing dates?
Peak pricing ($52 adult / $32 youth) applies on all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the run, plus every day from December 18 through January 3. Non-peak pricing ($45 adult / $25 youth) applies on select weekdays from November 23 through December 17 and January 4 through 10.
When is A Longwood Christmas 2026?
A Longwood Christmas 2026 runs from November 20, 2026 through January 10, 2027, open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
Yes. Every visitor, including members, needs a timed entry reservation booked through Longwood Gardens’ official website, except Gardens Premium Members and Innovators, who can enter without a reservation. Peak weekend and holiday-week dates sell out, so booking ahead is strongly recommended.
Is parking free at Longwood Gardens?
Yes, parking is free for all visitors during A Longwood Christmas and year-round. On busy peak nights, lots can fill and you may have a short walk or shuttle ride to the entrance.
Are there discounts on Longwood Christmas tickets?
Longwood offers a discounted rate for Museums for All / PA ACCESS cardholders, applied at checkout on the official ticketing site. Members receive a free timed reservation instead of a paid ticket; there is no active-duty military discount for this event.
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