Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights 2026

Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights turns the country's largest metropolitan zoo into an after-dark walking trail of illuminated animal lanterns, light tunnels and glowing sculptures. The 2026–27 season runs on select nights from November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027, and it is a ticketed event separate from daytime zoo admission. The format works because the scale is real: you walk the zoo's own paths in the dark, past oversized lantern animals, through arches of light, with seasonal food, warm drinks and rides along the way. It is the strongest holiday-lights option in the city for families who find the Midtown crowds unbearable in December, and it is a good, slightly unexpected date night if you go on a weeknight in early December before school holidays begin. Buy timed tickets in advance on the zoo's site — popular December dates sell out — and dress for standing outside in the cold rather than for a short walk. Check bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights for the exact operating nights, as the event does not run every evening across the season.