Wild Lights 2026: Passport to Wonder

Wild Lights 2026: Passport to Wonder

About the event

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.

Topics

Cultural Festivals

Upcoming dates

This event runs on several dates — pick the one that suits you.

November 2026

  • Thu 12
  • Fri 13
  • Sat 14
  • Sun 15
  • Mon 16
  • Tue 17
  • Thu 19
  • Fri 20
  • Sat 21
  • Sun 22
  • Mon 23
  • Tue 24
  • Wed 25
  • Thu 26
  • Fri 27
  • Sat 28
  • Sun 29
  • Mon 30
Show 33 more dates

December 2026

  • Tue 1
  • Wed 2
  • Thu 3
  • Fri 4
  • Sat 5
  • Sun 6
  • Mon 7
  • Tue 8
  • Wed 9
  • Thu 10
  • Fri 11
  • Sat 12
  • Sun 13
  • Mon 14
  • Tue 15
  • Wed 16
  • Thu 17
  • Fri 18
  • Sat 19
  • Sun 20
  • Mon 21
  • Tue 22
  • Wed 23
  • Sun 27
  • Mon 28
  • Tue 29
  • Wed 30
  • Thu 31

January 2027

  • Fri 1
  • Sat 2
  • Sun 3
  • Mon 4
  • Tue 5

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