Wildlights is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s annual holiday lights tradition in Powell, Ohio, just outside Columbus. For 2026 the event runs November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, open nightly within regular zoo hours (12 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday), with the zoo and Wildlights both closed on Thanksgiving Day (November 26) and Christmas Day (December 25). New this year is the Starlight Safari, a trail of seven larger-than-life illuminated animal sculptures, plus the Starlight Constellation Quest presented by Disney on Ice and a Bricktopia LEGO display in Asia Quest.
Wildlights suits families, couples and anyone who enjoys a walkable holiday lights display paired with a zoo visit; most guests plan on two to three hours to see the main light routes, shows and a few animal buildings. There is no separate Wildlights ticket: it is included with regular zoo admission or a Columbus Zoo membership. The zoo encourages buying admission online ahead of time to lock in a date and skip the line, but tickets are also sold at the admission window on arrival for guests who haven’t purchased in advance.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- City: Powell
- State: Ohio
- Dates: November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027 (closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov 26, and Christmas Day, Dec 25)
- Hours: 12-9 p.m. Sun-Thu, 12-10 p.m. Fri-Sat (check the calendar for exceptions)
- Tickets: Included with general admission, starting at $24.95 adult/Franklin County resident to $34.95 adult/non-resident online; also sold at the admission window on arrival; free for Columbus Zoo members
- Timed entry: not stated
- New for 2026: Starlight Safari illuminated animal sculpture trail
What’s new for 2026
The headline addition for 2026 is the Starlight Safari, a walk-through trail featuring seven larger-than-life animal sculptures covered in thousands of lights, each representing a different region of the zoo. The zoo has also added the Starlight Constellation Quest, presented by Disney on Ice, and a Bricktopia LEGO-themed light display built by OhioLUG in the Asia Quest area. These join the park’s existing animated musical light shows and illuminated passages that run throughout the grounds each winter.
The lights and displays
Wildlights spreads its displays across multiple regions of the zoo rather than one central tunnel, so expect animated musical shows, an illuminated holiday passage through Adventure Cove, and character experiences mixed in among the animal habitats as you make your way around. Santa’s Holiday Home is part of the event, though the zoo notes Santa is not available after December 23. Several indoor animal areas typically stay open in the evening as a warm-up stop between light displays.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Wildlights does not require a separate ticket: admission to the light display is bundled into the zoo’s general admission price or covered by a Columbus Zoo membership. General admission uses date-based dynamic pricing, with Franklin County resident rates starting around $24.95 for adults ages 10-59, $18.95 for children 3-9 and $23.95 for seniors, and non-resident rates starting around $34.95, $27.95 and $32.95 respectively. Buying online in advance is the easiest way to lock in a date and price and skip the line, but admission can also be purchased at the zoo’s admission window on arrival. Members get unlimited entry and free parking as part of their membership; non-members should budget $12 for parking, which can be paid online or at the parking booths.
Because prices are dynamic and can rise closer to popular nights, buying online ahead of your chosen date is the more reliable way to get the lowest price, even though gate purchase remains an option.
Food, drinks and extras
Seasonal food kiosks around the zoo sell warm pretzels, fried chicken, s’mores, and frosted nuts, and select locations serve seasonal beers and cocktails for guests 21 and older with valid ID. These are the standard concession offerings during the Wildlights run; check specific ride or add-on availability for the 2026 season when you arrive, since not every attraction operates every night.
Tips for your visit
Arrive close to opening if you want to see animals active before dark, or come a bit later for the full lit-up effect once the sun goes down. Weeknights tend to be quieter than Friday and Saturday evenings, which run an hour later. Remember the zoo is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, so plan around those two dates. Dress for outdoor winter weather since most of the route is outside, and check the zoo’s site day-of for any weather-related closures. Strollers are fine on the main paths. Buying admission online ahead of time is faster and helps you plan around dynamic pricing, but you can still buy at the admission window if you decide to go at the last minute.
Explore more: every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Wildlights 2026 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium FAQs
When is Wildlights 2026?
Wildlights runs November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, nightly within the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s regular hours (12 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 12 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday). The zoo and Wildlights are closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, and Christmas Day, December 25.
How much are Wildlights tickets in 2026?
There is no separate Wildlights ticket. It is included with general zoo admission, which uses dynamic pricing starting around $24.95 for Franklin County resident adults and around $34.95 for non-resident adults, or it’s free with a Columbus Zoo membership.
Do you need to buy Wildlights tickets in advance?
You don’t have to, but it helps. The Columbus Zoo sells admission online and at the admission window on arrival, but because pricing is date-based and dynamic, buying your general admission ticket online in advance is the more reliable way to get the lowest price and guarantee entry on a popular night.
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Photo: loganrickert / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.