ZooLights is the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s annual winter lights event in Washington, DC. For 2026 it runs select nights from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with the Zoo open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays, with last entry 30 minutes before close. New for 2026 are themed roaming carolers performing each Saturday in December in outfits spanning the 1950s through 2000s, along with weekly decade-themed holiday trivia.
ZooLights suits families, couples and anyone who likes walking a lit-up zoo path in the cold rather than standing in line for one big show. Most visits run one to two hours depending on how many food stops and attraction lines you hit. The Zoo strongly recommends buying tickets in advance online since nightly capacity is limited, though the event is not described as a strictly timed entry.
Stats at a Glance
- Venue: Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
- City: Washington
- State: District of Columbia
- Dates: Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, select nights; check the event calendar
- Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mon-Sat; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sun; last entry 30 minutes before close
- Tickets: $10 per person (ages 3+, kids 2 and under free); Adults-Only Night Dec 16 is $19; advance parking $30, day-of $40
- Timed entry: not stated
- New for 2026: Themed roaming carolers each Saturday in December (decade costumes, 1950s-2000s) and weekly holiday trivia
What’s new for 2026
The headline addition for 2026 is a run of themed roaming carolers performing each Saturday in December, with costumes and song sets drawn from a different decade each week, from the 1950s through the 2000s. The Zoo is also adding weekly decade-themed holiday trivia. Returning favorites include the animal lantern displays, live weekend entertainment and a one-night Adults-Only event on December 16.
The lights and displays
ZooLights strings environmentally friendly LED lights across the Zoo’s paths and buildings, paired with animal lanterns representing ocean, desert, grassland, rainforest and polar habitats. Live musical entertainment and the new decade-themed carolers perform on select nights, and the Zoo notes that indoor animal houses stay closed during ZooLights so the animals can rest overnight.
Tickets, prices and member nights
General admission is $10 per person. A ticket is required for every visitor age 3 and older; children 2 and under get in free. Parking costs $30 per vehicle if purchased in advance or $40 if bought the day of, and bus parking is $120. Zoo members can reserve up to six free tickets for Member Nights, December 8-9, 2026, and members get a 15 percent discount on food and retail throughout the event (note that regular member perks on parking, carousel and train do not apply during ZooLights). The Adults-Only Night on December 16 costs $19 per person. Tickets go fast given limited nightly capacity, so the Zoo recommends buying online in advance.
Food, drinks and extras
Seasonal stands sell hot cocoa, hot apple cider, mulled wine and cold brew with cinnamon foam, plus pulled meat sandwiches, fries and s’mores kits. Adults can get a hot cocoa cocktail, an apple cider Dark and Stormy or an espresso martini. The Conservation Carousel and the National Zoo Choo Choo mini-train each cost $6 per ride, a winter maze is a $6 add-on, and festive light-up glasses cost $3 (or $1 with an attraction purchase).
Tips for your visit
Weeknights tend to be quieter than weekends, and arriving close to the 5 p.m. opening helps beat both crowds and the coldest hours of the evening. Dress warmly in layers since the event is almost entirely outdoors on the Zoo’s hilly paths. Strollers are fine on the paved main paths, and the Zoo’s accessibility information covers wheelchair routes. Parking is limited and costs more on the day of, so buying a parking pass in advance or using the Woodley Park or Cleveland Park Metro stations is a good backup plan.
Explore more: every zoo and garden holiday light show for 2026, by state.
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.
Rapids, log flumes and splash zones without the rice-bag aftermath. The touchscreen still works through the window, so you can still take photos.
Cheaper than the $15 poncho at the gift shop and you get a whole bag. Toss one in every backpack for water rides and pop-up storms.
ZooLights 2026 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo FAQs
When is ZooLights 2026?
ZooLights runs select nights from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. Check the official event calendar for exact open nights.
How much are ZooLights tickets in 2026?
General admission is $10 per person for ages 3 and up; children 2 and under are free. The Adults-Only Night on December 16 costs $19 per person, and parking is $30 in advance or $40 the day of. Zoo members can get up to six free tickets for Member Nights, December 8-9.
Do you need to buy ZooLights tickets in advance?
Buying in advance isn’t stated as mandatory, but the Zoo strongly recommends it because nightly capacity is limited and tickets sell out.
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Photo: National Photo Company Collection / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.