Zoo Lights transforms the Denver Zoo into a winter wonderland on select nights from November 23, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with more than three million lights spread across the zoo’s 80 acres. The event runs 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and the zoo is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The venue has not announced a specific new display or zone for 2026, so this season leans on the returning scale of the lights themselves along with the Conservation Carousel and Denver Zoo Railroad.
Zoo Lights suits families and couples looking for a classic, walkable holiday outing rather than a big-ticket production, and most visits run one to two hours depending on how long you linger at each display. Every guest, including infants, needs a timed ticket with a selected entry time booked in advance online, and the zoo says you may enter any time after that selected time. Buying ahead is strongly recommended since weekend nights and the last two weeks of December tend to sell out.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Denver Zoo
- City: Denver
- State: Colorado
- Dates: Select nights, November 23, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Hours: 4:30-9:00 p.m. Sun-Thu, 4:30-10:00 p.m. Fri-Sat; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Tickets: Value nights $25.95 adults/seniors, $18.95 youth; Regular nights $29.95 adults/seniors, $22.95 youth; under 2 free; members save 10%
- Timed entry: Yes, every guest needs a timed ticket with a selected entry time
- New for 2026: not announced
What’s new for 2026
The Denver Zoo has not published a specific new display, zone or experience for the 2026 Zoo Lights season. Ticket prices continue to use a two-tier structure of Value Nights and Regular Nights rather than a single flat rate, and every guest must book a timed entry ticket in advance. The core draw stays the same: a zoo-wide lights experience spread over 80 acres.
The lights and displays
Zoo Lights covers the Denver Zoo grounds with more than three million lights, turning the walking paths between animal habitats into an illuminated route rather than a single centralized show. The zoo has not published a list of individual themed tunnels or sculpture displays for 2026, so expect the grounds-wide lighting to be the main draw, supplemented by the Conservation Carousel and Denver Zoo Railroad as paid rides along the way. Because it is an evening event, most animals are settled in for the night and viewing is limited compared to a daytime zoo visit.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Tickets go on sale to the general public on November 5, 2026, with Denver Zoo members getting priority access starting November 2. Pricing depends on the calendar night: Value Nights (including Nov 29-Dec 2, Dec 6, 8-9, 13-16, and Jan 2-3) run $25.95 for adults and seniors and $18.95 for youth, while Regular Nights (including most Fridays and Saturdays plus Dec 17-24 and 26-30) run $29.95 for adults and seniors and $22.95 for youth; children under 2 get in free but still need a ticket booked online. Every ticket is a timed entry ticket tied to both a specific date and a selected entry time, and the zoo says guests may enter any time after that selected time rather than only within a narrow window. Members save 10% off any night’s ticket price. The zoo sells tickets by date rather than a broad season pass, and it has sold out many nights in past years, so booking in advance through DenverZoo.org is the safer bet, especially for weekends and the last two weeks of December. Parking is free and offered first-come, first-served in the parking garage and east lot.
Food, drinks and extras
Beyond general admission, the zoo offers a Zoo Lights Bundle that adds a souvenir cup of hot cocoa and two ride vouchers for either the Conservation Carousel or the Denver Zoo Railroad, with the zoo noting that bundle quantities are limited each night. The official event page does not list additional food and drink specifics for 2026 beyond this bundle, so plan on the zoo’s regular concessions being available for anything else.
Tips for your visit
Weeknights and the Value Night dates tend to be less crowded and cheaper than Regular Nights, which cover most Fridays, Saturdays and the stretch from December 17 to 30. Book your timed entry ticket for an early slot close to the 4:30 p.m. opening if you want a calmer walk before crowds build, and remember you can still enter any time after your selected time if you run late. Dress for Denver’s cold winter evenings since the event runs entirely outdoors across a large zoo footprint. Parking is free in the zoo’s garage and east lot, with a second east entrance and the Pink Entrance sometimes opened on busier nights. Buy tickets online ahead of your visit rather than hoping for walk-up availability, particularly for weekend nights and the last two weeks of December when the zoo expects sellouts, and note there are no refunds or exchanges, including for weather.
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Zoo Lights 2026 at the Denver Zoo FAQs
When is Zoo Lights 2026 at the Denver Zoo?
Zoo Lights runs on select nights from November 23, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How much are Zoo Lights tickets in 2026?
Value Night tickets cost $25.95 for adults and seniors and $18.95 for youth. Regular Night tickets cost $29.95 for adults and seniors and $22.95 for youth. Children under 2 are free but still need a ticket, and Denver Zoo members save 10% on any ticket.
Do you need a timed ticket for Zoo Lights 2026?
Yes. Every guest, including infants, must have a ticket booked online in advance for a specific date and a selected entry time. The zoo allows guests to enter any time after their selected entry time. General public tickets go on sale November 5, 2026, with member priority access starting November 2, and the zoo expects many weekend nights and the last two weeks of December to sell out.
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Photo: Donlammers / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.