ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ lights up Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on operating nights with last entry at 8 p.m. The event is closed on six nights during the run: Thanksgiving (November 26), three Tuesdays in December (1, 8 and 15), Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas Day (December 25), so it is worth checking the calendar before you plan a visit. New Year’s ReZoolutions, a New Year’s wellness session with yoga, sound meditation and nonalcoholic drink samples for guests 21 and older, joins the lineup alongside the more than 3 million lights and the Main Mall light tunnel that return every season.
The free-admission zoo makes ZooLights a good fit for families with young kids and anyone who wants a shorter, lower-key outing than Chicago’s bigger drive-through light shows; plan on one to two hours to see the displays and warm up with cocoa, longer if you add the Ferris wheel, carousel or train. Tickets are tied to a specific calendar date rather than a timed entry hour, and the zoo asks everyone, including infants, to reserve one in advance since nights do sell out.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Lincoln Park Zoo
- City: Chicago
- State: Illinois
- Dates: November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027 (closed Nov 26, Dec 1, 8, 15, 24 and 25)
- Hours: 4:30-9 p.m. on operating nights, last entry 8 p.m.; check the calendar for closed dates
- Tickets: Advance Fixed Date $7-$12; same-day Fixed Date or Flexible Admission $20; members get 2-8 free tickets plus 20% off extra admission tickets; rides are separate
- Timed entry: Tied to a specific date, not a specific hour
- New for 2026: New Year’s ReZoolutions wellness night with yoga and sound meditation
What’s new for 2026
The headline addition for 2026 is New Year’s ReZoolutions, a wellness-themed session built around yoga and sound meditation plus samples of nonalcoholic drinks for guests 21 and up. Beyond that, the zoo has not announced new light displays for this season; the returning lineup below is what the official page confirms for November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with the calendar also noting six closed nights, so always check the official schedule before booking.
The lights and displays
ZooLights strings more than 3 million lights and hundreds of nostalgic LED displays across the zoo grounds, anchored by a light tunnel that runs the length of the Main Mall. The South Lawn hosts a narrated light show, and many indoor and outdoor animal habitats stay open in the evening so guests can see the zoo’s residents after dark. The Ferris wheel, Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure kiddie train also run on operating nights, along with a holiday-themed VR experience, but all of these require separate attraction tickets on top of ZooLights admission; ice carvers demonstrate live on select evenings as well.
Tickets, prices and member nights
Advance Fixed Date tickets for ZooLights admission run $7 to $12 depending on the night, while same-day Fixed Date tickets and Flexible Admission (good for any operating night in the run) are both $20. Lincoln Park Zoo members get two to eight free Fixed Date admission tickets depending on membership level, plus a 20% discount on any additional admission tickets they buy; the official page does not state a separate member discount on attraction tickets. Rides and attractions, including the Ferris wheel, carousel, train and VR experience, are not included in admission and must be purchased separately through tickets.lpzoo.org or at on-site booths. Admission is free on select Mondays (November 23, 30, December 7 and 14, excluding December 21 and 28), but a free reservation is still required and these nights are released weekly, so they fill up. ZooLights does not run every night of its November 20 to January 3 span; it is closed on Thanksgiving (November 26), the Tuesdays of December 1, 8 and 15, and both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so confirm your date is an open night before buying.
Food, drinks and extras
Food stands offer hot cocoa and snack stations, mozzarella sticks, pizza bagels, waffles, conchas and sweet nachos. A holiday pop-up bar serves festive cocktails and mulled wine alongside fire pits for roasting s’mores, and the Light Lounge at Foreman Pavilion has family-friendly interactive light toys and activities. The Ferris wheel, Endangered Species Carousel, Lionel Train Adventure and a holiday VR experience are extra-cost add-ons bought separately from admission; check tickets.lpzoo.org for current attraction pricing before you go.
Tips for your visit
Check the official calendar before you book, since ZooLights is closed six nights during its run (Thanksgiving, the three Tuesdays of December 1, 8 and 15, and Christmas Eve and Day) and a few other dates carry special ticketed programming instead of regular admission. Weeknights are calmer than Fridays and Saturdays, when crowds build; arriving close to the 4:30 p.m. opening gives you the best shot at shorter lines for the paid rides. Chicago winters are cold and the route is mostly outdoors, so dress in layers and warm boots, especially if you’re pushing a stroller over possible ice or snow. A sensory-friendly night runs on Tuesday, November 24, with blinking or moving lights set static or turned off and music lowered for guests who need a lower-stimulation visit. Parking is available in the zoo’s lots and nearby garages for a fee; rideshare or the CTA are solid alternatives given the Lincoln Park neighborhood’s limited street parking.
Explore more: every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
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Soak, snap and drape. A cooling towel takes the edge off a 45-minute midday queue in July.
ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ FAQs
When is ZooLights 2026?
ZooLights runs at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. with last entry at 8 p.m. It is closed six nights during that span: Thanksgiving (November 26), the Tuesdays of December 1, 8 and 15, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24 and 25).
How much are ZooLights tickets in 2026?
Advance Fixed Date admission tickets cost $7 to $12 depending on the date, same-day Fixed Date and Flexible Admission tickets are $20, and Lincoln Park Zoo members get 2 to 8 free admission tickets plus 20% off additional ones. The Ferris wheel, carousel, train and VR experience are not included and cost extra; check tickets.lpzoo.org for current attraction pricing.
Do you need to buy ZooLights tickets in advance?
Yes. Every guest, including infants, needs a free or paid admission ticket reserved through tickets.lpzoo.org, and buying an advance Fixed Date ticket is cheaper than paying the same-day or Flexible Admission price. Double-check your date is an operating night, since the event is closed on Thanksgiving, three December Tuesdays, and Christmas Eve and Day. Ride tickets for the Ferris wheel, carousel and train are bought separately and are not required to attend ZooLights.
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Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.