Wild Lights, Ireland's largest festival of lights, returns to Dublin Zoo on Thursday 12 November 2026 with a brand-new theme: Passport to Wonder.
After dark the zoo becomes a trip around the world, through nine immersive zones of handcrafted lanterns, light, music, colour and movement, each inspired by celebrations, traditions and stories from a different corner of the globe. Walk beneath glowing Japanese cherry blossoms, catch the neon energy and K-Pop beat of Seoul, follow the lights of Diwali and the colours of Holi, join the rhythm of Brazilian Carnival, and come home to Celtic Ireland's legends, fairies, music and folklore, with the magic of Christmas along the way.
Every visit also supports Dublin Zoo's conservation work for endangered species and habitats in Ireland and around the world.
Dates: every evening from Thursday 12 November 2026 to Tuesday 5 January 2027, except 18 November and 24–26 December.
Times: timed entry every half hour from 5pm to 7pm. You choose your date and entry time when you book.
Sensory-friendly evening: Tuesday 1 December is a special sensory-friendly Wild Lights night, with its own tickets.
Tickets: adult €26.50, child (3–15) €22, senior (65+) or student €23.50, under 3s free, and one carer free per booking (carer ID required). Annual Pass holders: adult €24.50, child €20, senior or student €22.50. Tickets are non-refundable.
Flexible weekday tickets: new this year, good for one visit on any open weekday (Monday to Friday) of the run, with no date to pick in advance: adult €30.50, child €26, senior or student €27.50.
Early Bird: qualifying bookings made by 12 October 2026 include a free daytime family visit to Dublin Zoo; Annual Pass holders have their own offer, a 20% voucher towards renewing their pass. Terms apply.
