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. What is new for the 2026 edition has not been announced either, so expect updates as opening night gets closer.
The event suits families with young kids, couples wanting a casual holiday outing and anyone who already holds zoo membership, since a full walk-through typically takes one to two hours. Zoo Lights is not sold as a separate timed ticket; it is included with standard zoo admission, which members enter free and which everyone else can buy online in advance or at the gate. Buying online ahead of a visit is worth doing on weekends and around the holidays, when evening capacity on popular nights has tended to fill up.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: San Antonio Zoo
- City: San Antonio
- State: Texas
- Dates: November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027 (confirmed; hours TBD)
- Hours: TBD for 2026 (2025: Sun-Thu noon-8pm, Fri-Sat & Dec 21-24 noon-9pm)
- Tickets: TBD for 2026 (2025: online pricing from $26.87, dynamic by date; free for members)
- Timed entry: Not a separate timed ticket; included with general admission
- New for 2026: Not announced
2026 dates and what we know
The San Antonio Zoo has confirmed that Zoo Lights, Powered by CPS Energy, will run from November 14, 2026 through January 3, 2027. That is one of the few 2026 specifics locked in so far; nightly hours, ticket pricing and any new zones for 2026 have not been posted on the zoo’s site as of this writing, and the zoo’s own event page still reflects the prior season’s details. For planning purposes, last season is the closest guide: the 2025 to 2026 run went from November 15, 2025 through January 4, 2026, so the 2026 edition is shaping up to follow roughly the same mid-November-to-early-January window. Check sazoo.org for hours and prices as the season approaches.
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. Santa photo sessions were offered inside the Beastro Restaurant through Cherry Hill Programs, booked in advance in 15-minute family slots. Whether these same zones carry over to 2026 or get refreshed has not been announced.
Tickets, prices and member nights
2026 pricing is not posted yet. In 2025, Zoo Lights was included with standard zoo admission rather than sold as its own ticket, with online pricing starting around $26.87 and rising on peak dates under the zoo’s dynamic pricing model. Zoo members got in free and received free parking during regular hours. The zoo’s own calendar listing for the current season says admission pricing will be posted closer to opening, which is the same pattern to expect for 2026: watch sazoo.org for a specific price range once it goes live.
Food, drinks and extras
Past seasons have kept s’mores pits open from noon until close and run a Pick-a-Present activity on the same schedule, alongside the Beastro Restaurant for burgers, pizza and other full meals. Santa photo sessions, booked in advance through Cherry Hill Programs, run inside the Beastro during the event. Specific 2026 food, drink and add-on offerings have not been confirmed, but a similar lineup is likely to return.
Tips for your visit
Weeknights have historically run calmer than Fridays, Saturdays and the stretch from December 21 to 24, when the zoo has extended evening hours to handle bigger crowds. Arrive close to opening if you want to see both the daytime zoo and the lights as they come on at sundown. Dress warmly, since San Antonio evenings in December can turn cold even when the days are mild. Buy general admission online ahead of your visit once 2026 tickets go on sale, since peak nights have sold out in past years, and check the zoo’s calendar for any weather-related closures before you head out.
Explore more: every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
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Zoo Lights, Powered by CPS Energy FAQs
When is Zoo Lights 2026 at the San Antonio Zoo?
The San Antonio Zoo has confirmed Zoo Lights will run from 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 has not been posted. In 2025, Zoo Lights was included with standard admission, with online pricing starting at $26.87 and increasing on peak dates, and zoo members got in free.
Do you need to buy Zoo Lights tickets in advance?
Zoo Lights is not a separately timed ticket from regular zoo admission, but buying online ahead of your visit is recommended, especially for weekends and the week of Christmas, since evening capacity on popular nights has sold out in past seasons.
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Photo: Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.