Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights returns November 21, 2026, and for the first time, tickets include park entry from 1 p.m. and nighttime access to three animal exhibits. The festival runs on 28 select nights through January 3, 2027, with lantern trails lighting up at 4:30 p.m. and final entry at 8 p.m.
Key Takeaways
- The Children’s Zoo Farmyard, World of Darkness, and World of Reptiles stay open during Holiday Lights for the first time.
- Holiday Lights tickets now grant park entry starting at 1 p.m., turning the evening event into a full afternoon and night at the zoo.
- Deal Days tickets start at $29.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 3 to 12, and children 2 and under enter free.
- The event skips Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
- A Sensory Inclusive Night is scheduled for Thursday, December 3, 2026.
Holiday Lights Tickets Now Cover an Afternoon at the Zoo
The change most likely to reshape a family’s plans at Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights this year is the entry time. Tickets now open the park at 1 p.m., several hours before the lanterns switch on at 4:30 p.m. In past seasons, the festival worked as an evening outing. In 2026, a single ticket covers a daytime walk through the park and the after-dark light trails.
The timing gives visitors room to pace the day. Families with young children can see the outdoor exhibits in daylight, warm up indoors, and stay for the light shows without arriving at dusk with the evening crowd. Final park entry remains 8 p.m.
Three Animal Exhibits Stay Open After Dark
The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the Bronx Zoo, is opening three exhibits during Holiday Lights for the first time. Craig Piper, Interim Executive Vice President of Zoos and Aquarium and Director of the Bronx Zoo, described the change as a way to connect guests with the animals at the heart of the zoo.
Children’s Zoo Farmyard
The Children’s Zoo, an exhibit that typically operates seasonally, reopens with holiday decor and lights. Visitors can feed and pet donkeys, sheep, goats, alpacas, and other farmyard animals.
World of Darkness
World of Darkness runs on a reverse light cycle, so its nocturnal residents are active while visitors walk through. The exhibit is home to animals ranging from two-toed sloths to sand cats. Stepping in from the lantern trails, guests move from one kind of night into another.
World of Reptiles
World of Reptiles gives visitors an indoor stop on a cold evening. The building houses reptiles and amphibians including Cuban crocodiles, anacondas, and giant river turtles.
The Lantern Trails and Light Shows Return Across the Park
Outside the exhibits, Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights keeps the features that regular visitors know. More than 400 wildlife lanterns stand along six lantern trails, each themed to a different part of the world. A holiday tree hosts synchronized musical light shows, and a walk-through Light Tunnel connects sections of the route.
Other stops along the self-guided trail include:
- The Holiday Train, a kids’ ride
- A Freeze Zone with a snow tube slide and an ice-themed throne for photos
- Live ice carving of wildlife sculptures
- Illuminated performers and Wildlife Theater puppet shows
- A new music wall with instruments at Somba Village
- S’mores at the fire pit on The Patio, plus hot cocoa and pretzels at refreshment stations
Con Edison returns as the festival’s presenting sponsor.
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights Runs on 28 Select Nights
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights does not run every night, so the calendar matters. Public event dates are November 21 and 22, November 27 to 29, December 3 to 6, December 10 to 13, December 17 to 23, December 26 to 31, and January 2 and 3.
Most of the schedule falls Thursday through Sunday, with two longer stretches around the holidays. The week before Christmas runs seven straight nights, from December 17 to 23, and the week after runs six, from December 26 to 31. There are no events on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day.
WCS members get free preview nights on November 19 and 20. The Sensory Inclusive Night on Thursday, December 3, offers a calmer visit for guests who need one. Families mapping out the season can pair a zoo night with other evening outings, such as Bryant Park Winter Village’s midnight rink hours, which run through January 3.
Ticket Prices Change by Date
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights uses tiered pricing. On Deal Days, tickets cost $29.95 for adults 13 and older, $24.95 for seniors 65 and older, and $14.95 for children ages 3 to 12. Peak dates cost $37.95 for adults, $32.95 for seniors, and $22.95 for children. Children 2 and under enter free on every date.
Any-Night tickets, valid for one visit on any public event date, cost $42.95 for adults, $37.95 for seniors, and $27.95 for children. For a family of two adults and two children, that works out to $89.80 on a Deal Day, $121.80 on a peak date, and $141.80 with Any-Night tickets, before fees.
Tickets are sold online only and must be reserved in advance, with no tickets sold at the gate. Sales are final, with no refunds. Visitors who need to change plans can upgrade a date-specific ticket to an Any-Night ticket for $15 per ticket.
FAQs
When Does Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights Start in 2026?
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights opens to the public on Saturday, November 21, 2026, and runs on select nights through January 3, 2027. WCS members can attend free preview nights on November 19 and 20.
What Time Do the Holiday Lights Turn On at the Bronx Zoo?
The lights and lantern trails turn on at 4:30 p.m., and final park entry is 8 p.m. Holiday Lights tickets allow entry to the park starting at 1 p.m.
Can You See Animals During Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights?
Yes. For the first time, the Children’s Zoo Farmyard, World of Darkness, and World of Reptiles are open during the event, and visitors can feed and pet farm animals at the Children’s Zoo.
How Much Are Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights Tickets?
Adult tickets range from $29.95 on Deal Days to $37.95 on peak dates, and Any-Night tickets cost $42.95. Children ages 3 to 12 pay $14.95 to $27.95 depending on the ticket type, and children 2 and under are free.
Can You Buy Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights Tickets at the Gate?
No. Tickets are sold online only and must be reserved in advance. Sales are final, though date-specific tickets can be upgraded to Any-Night tickets for $15 each.
