Zoo Lights, Powered by CPS Energy, turns the San Antonio Zoo into a nighttime walk-through of illuminated tunnels, lantern-style animal displays and a synchronized light show reflected over Big Lake each winter. The zoo has confirmed that the 2026 season will run from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027, though nightly hours and ticket prices for 2026 have not been released yet.
This guide covers everything confirmed so far for 2026, plus how hours, pricing, parking and the lineup of zones have worked in past seasons so you can plan ahead while the newest details are still pending. We’ll update it the moment the zoo posts 2026 hours and prices.
Quick Answer
Zoo Lights 2026 runs November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027 at the San Antonio Zoo. It is not a separate ticketed event — it’s included with regular zoo admission, which is free for members and purchasable online or at the gate for everyone else. Nightly hours, 2026 ticket prices and any new zones have not been announced yet; based on past seasons, expect lights from sundown until roughly 8-9 p.m. and pricing similar to or slightly above last year’s rates.
2026 Dates: What’s Confirmed So Far
The San Antonio Zoo has officially confirmed that Zoo Lights, Powered by CPS Energy, will run from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027. That’s one of the only 2026-specific details locked in right now; as of this writing, the zoo’s event page still displays information from the prior season rather than 2026 hours or pricing.
For context, the 2025-26 run went from November 15, 2025 through January 4, 2026, so the confirmed 2026 window follows the same basic mid-November-to-early-January pattern the event has used in recent years.
Hours: What to Expect
Nightly hours for 2026 have not been posted yet. In the 2025 season, the zoo was open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and December 21-24 from noon to 9 p.m., with the Lakeside Lightshow running every 20 minutes starting at 6 p.m. once it got dark.
If that pattern holds for 2026, expect similar noon-to-8-or-9-p.m. hours with extended closing times on weekends and the days immediately before Christmas. Check the official San Antonio Zoo website for the confirmed 2026 hours as opening night approaches.
Tickets and Pricing: How It Works
Zoo Lights has never been sold as its own separate ticket — it’s bundled into standard zoo admission, meaning anyone visiting during the event window automatically sees the lights at no extra charge beyond general admission. Zoo members enter free year-round, including during Zoo Lights.
The zoo prices general admission dynamically, so the exact dollar amount shifts by date and demand rather than staying fixed all season. In 2025, online admission started around $26.87 and climbed on peak nights like weekends and the week of Christmas. 2026 pricing has not been posted, but expect the same dynamic structure: a lower starting price on quieter weeknights and higher prices on in-demand evenings, confirmed on sazoo.org closer to opening.
Parking at the Zoo
The zoo sits inside Brackenridge Park at 3903 N St. Mary’s Street. Parking has historically included a garage between the zoo and the Will Smith Zoo School plus additional lots scattered through Brackenridge Park, some free and some paid depending on location and demand.
Members get free parking during regular hours. On the busiest Zoo Lights nights — Fridays, Saturdays, and the stretch from December 21 through 24 — nearby lots fill quickly, so arriving early or checking for shuttle options is worth doing once the 2026 schedule is confirmed.
What’s New for 2026
The zoo has not announced what’s new for the 2026 edition yet. Recent seasons have each added at least one new zone or feature — 2025 introduced the Enchanted Tree, Lights on the Lawn and Cathedral Tunnel — so a similar refresh for 2026 is likely but unconfirmed. We’ll update this section as soon as the zoo reveals 2026 additions.
The Lights and Displays
In the 2025 season the event spread across named zones including the Enchanted Tree, Lights on the Lawn, Cathedral Tunnel, Candy Lane, Water Wonderland, Starry Safari, Fa-la-la-Flamingo and Polar Point, plus a Holiday Performance Pavilion. The Lakeside Lightshow, a choreographed display synced to music and reflected across Big Lake, ran every 20 minutes starting at 6 p.m.
Whether these exact zones return for 2026 or get reshuffled hasn’t been announced. The zoo has rotated and renamed zones nearly every year, so returning visitors can expect at least some changes even without a formal announcement.
Food, Drinks and Santa Photos
Past seasons kept s’mores pits and a Pick-a-Present activity open from noon until close, alongside the Beastro Restaurant for burgers, pizza and other full meals, plus seasonal extras like hot cocoa and churros. Santa photo sessions, booked in advance through Cherry Hill Programs, have run inside the Beastro in 15-minute family slots.
Specific 2026 food, drink and Santa scheduling hasn’t been confirmed, but a similar lineup returning is the safe expectation based on recent years.
Tips for Your Visit
Weeknights have historically run calmer than Fridays, Saturdays and the December 21-24 stretch, when the zoo extends evening hours for bigger crowds. Arrive close to opening if you want to see both the daytime zoo and the lights as they switch on at sundown.
Dress warmly — San Antonio evenings in December can turn cold even on mild days — and buy general admission online once 2026 tickets go live, since peak nights have sold out in past seasons. A full walk-through typically takes one to two hours, making it a manageable outing for families with young kids or anyone short on time.
Photos
Planning more than one? See every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
Over 3,700 pieces, a real vertical loop and a working chain lift. Display it on a shelf in the coaster room.
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.
Zoo Lights 2026 at San Antonio Zoo FAQs
When is Zoo Lights 2026 at the San Antonio Zoo?
The San Antonio Zoo has confirmed Zoo Lights runs November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Nightly hours have not been announced yet; the 2025 season ran November 15, 2025 through January 4, 2026.
How much are Zoo Lights tickets in 2026?
2026 pricing hasn’t been posted. Zoo Lights is included with standard zoo admission rather than sold separately, and in 2025 online admission started around $26.87 and rose on peak dates under the zoo’s dynamic pricing model. Members get in free.
Do you need a separate ticket for Zoo Lights?
No. Zoo Lights is not a separately timed ticket — it’s included with regular zoo admission. Buying general admission online ahead of your visit is still recommended for weekends and the week of Christmas, since evening capacity has sold out in past seasons.
What time do the lights turn on?
Lights come on as the sun sets. In 2025 the zoo was open noon to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and December 21-24, with the Lakeside Lightshow starting at 6 p.m. 2026 hours haven’t been confirmed yet.
Is Zoo Lights good for toddlers and strollers?
Yes — the walk-through paths are stroller-friendly and a full visit typically takes one to two hours, making it manageable for families with young kids. Weeknights tend to be less crowded than weekends if you’re navigating with a stroller.
Where do you park for Zoo Lights?
The zoo is in Brackenridge Park at 3903 N St. Mary’s Street, with a parking garage near the Will Smith Zoo School and additional lots throughout the park. Members park free during regular hours; nearby lots fill up fastest on Fridays, Saturdays and the days before Christmas.
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