Holiday Lights returns to the Bronx Zoo in the Bronx, New York, running on select nights from November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027. The lanterns switch on at 4:30 p.m. and final entry is at 8 p.m. New for 2026, the zoo is opening the Children’s Zoo Farmyard, World of Darkness and World of Reptiles for evening access, so a single ticket can cover a daytime zoo visit starting at 1 p.m. plus the nighttime lantern walk.
The event works well for families with young kids and for couples wanting a lower-key light walk than some of the bigger holiday spectacles nearby. Plan for about two to three hours to cover the lantern trails, the Freeze Zone and the Wildlife Theater. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance for a chosen date or as a flexible any-night pass, so this is not a walk-up event.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Bronx Zoo
- City: Bronx
- State: New York
- Dates: November 21, 2026 – January 3, 2027 (select nights)
- Hours: Lights on 4:30-8 p.m., final entry 8 p.m.; ticket holders may enter the park at 1 p.m.
- Tickets: $14.95-$29.95 on date-specific days; $27.95-$42.95 for any-night passes, by age; members save 25%
- Timed entry: Yes, tickets are tied to a chosen date or any-night pass with 8 p.m. final entry
- New for 2026: Nighttime access to the Children’s Zoo Farmyard, plus World of Darkness and World of Reptiles
What’s new for 2026
The headline change for 2026 is nighttime access to animal exhibits that are normally daytime-only. The Children’s Zoo Farmyard opens for the event so guests can see and feed goats, sheep, alpacas and donkeys after dark, and the World of Darkness and World of Reptiles buildings also stay open during Holiday Lights hours. Paired with the included daytime zoo access from 1 p.m., this turns the evening into a combined day-and-night visit rather than just a lantern walk. A new music wall has also been added to the Freeze Zone alongside returning favorites like the snow tube slide and an illuminated ice-themed throne.
The lights and displays
The festival’s centerpiece is more than 400 handcrafted wildlife lanterns arranged across six geographically themed trails. A towering holiday tree anchors the park with its own light-and-music performances, and the Wildlife Theater runs live shows throughout the evening. Ice carving demonstrations and the kid-favorite Holiday Train, which loops through part of the zoo, round out the main attractions.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Date-specific “deal day” tickets run $14.95 for children ages 3-12, $24.95 for seniors 65 and over, and $29.95 for ages 13 and up; kids 2 and under are free. Flexible any-night passes, which work on any public event date, cost more: $27.95 for children, $37.95 for seniors and $42.95 for adults. WCS Zoo and Land & Sea members, along with IDNYC and aquarium members, get 25% off on every event day, and Conservation-level members receive free tickets based on availability. Members also got free preview-night access on November 19 and 20, 2026, though the November 20 preview already sold out. Buy directly through bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights/tickets, since tickets are required in advance and are not sold at the gate.
Food, drinks and extras
Seasonal food stands sell hot chocolate, apple cider, eggnog, cookies, peppermint bark and pumpkin pie, plus s’mores at fire pits and warm pretzels. Some stands offer adult add-ins like Irish cream, Kahlua, whiskey or rum for the cocoa and cider. The Holiday Train ride costs an extra $4 ($3 for members, free for Conservation-level members), and separate Wild Encounters animal experiences are available for an additional fee.
Tips for your visit
Weeknights tend to be quieter than weekends, and dates between December 26 and 31 sell out fastest, so book those early if that is your window. Arrive close to 4:30 p.m. if you want to catch the tree lighting and early lantern views before crowds build. Dress for outdoor winter weather since most of the route is uncovered, and check the event page for weather-related closure notices before heading out. Strollers are fine on the paved paths, and onsite parking is available in the zoo’s regular lots; confirm the current rate on bronxzoo.com before you go.
Explore more: every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
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A fan and a mist in one, rechargeable. Very popular in queue lines once the afternoon sun hits.
Build a working coaster on the kitchen table and learn why the first drop has to be the tallest. A good gift for young coaster fans.
Holiday Lights 2026 at the Bronx Zoo FAQs
When is Holiday Lights 2026 at the Bronx Zoo?
It runs on select nights from November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with lanterns lit from 4:30 p.m. and final entry at 8 p.m.
How much are Holiday Lights tickets in 2026?
Date-specific tickets run $14.95 to $29.95 depending on age, while flexible any-night passes run $27.95 to $42.95. Kids 2 and under are free, and WCS, IDNYC and aquarium members save 25%.
Do you need to buy Holiday Lights tickets in advance?
Yes. Tickets must be reserved online ahead of time for a specific date or as an any-night pass; the event does not sell tickets at the gate.
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Photo: Postdlf / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.