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.
The event suits anyone who likes a slower, walk-through holiday display more than a drive-through light show, including families and photographers, and most visitors plan on two to four hours to see both the heated conservatories and the outdoor lights. Timed tickets are required for everyone, including members, and should be booked in advance through the Longwood Gardens website since popular nights sell out.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Longwood Gardens
- City: Kennett Square
- State: Pennsylvania
- Dates: November 20, 2026 to January 10, 2027
- Hours: Daily, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Tickets: $45 to $52 adults (16-64), $25 to $32 youth (5-15), free for children 4 and under; members need a free timed reservation (not required for Gardens Premium Members and Innovators)
- Timed entry: Yes, required for all visitors including members
- New for 2026: Cosmic Christmas theme with a gilded supernova, a galaxy-themed Exhibition Hall, and a Music Room reimagined as an astronomer’s observatory
What’s new for 2026
The 2026 edition swaps last year’s gemstone theme for a space-inspired 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. Longwood has also added a new coffee and cocoa stand and 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, the horticultural displays include more than 25 varieties of poinsettias, paperwhites and amaryllis layered in with the cosmic decor. The Open Air Theatre’s 750 dancing water jets and strolling carolers and musicians run throughout the season, and organ performances and a New Year’s Eve celebration are included with admission on select dates.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Tickets use dynamic pricing by night. Peak pricing of $52 for adults and $32 for youth applies on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, and every day from December 18 through January 3. Non-peak pricing of $45 for adults and $25 for youth applies on select weekdays between November 23 and December 17 and again January 4 through 10. Children 4 and under are free. All visitors, including members, need a timed reservation for entry; members’ reservations are free, except Gardens Premium Members and Innovators, who can enter without booking ahead. Tickets go on sale through Longwood Gardens’ online booking system and should be reserved ahead of a visit, since weekend and peak dates sell out.
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.
Tips for your visit
Weekday evenings tend to be quieter than the Friday through Sunday peak nights, and arriving close to opening gives time to see the conservatories before dinner-hour crowds build. Plan for two to four hours to cover both the indoor displays and the outdoor walking paths comfortably. Much of the outdoor route is uncovered, so dress for the weather and expect possible weather-related delays on icy or stormy nights; check the Longwood Gardens site before heading out on marginal days. The grounds are stroller- and wheelchair-accessible on paved paths, and visitors should check the directions and parking page on longwoodgardens.org for current parking details before arriving.
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A Longwood Christmas 2026 at Longwood Gardens FAQs
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.
How much are A Longwood Christmas tickets in 2026?
Adult tickets range from $45 to $52 and youth (ages 5-15) range from $25 to $32, depending on the night, with higher peak pricing on Fridays through Sundays and during the December 18 to January 3 stretch. Children 4 and under are free, and members get a free timed reservation.
Do you need to buy A Longwood Christmas tickets in advance?
Yes. Every visitor, including members, needs a timed entry reservation booked through Longwood Gardens’ website, except Gardens Premium Members and Innovators, who can enter without a reservation. Popular nights sell out, so booking ahead is recommended.
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Photo: Apollo900 / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.