LA Zoo Lights 2026: Dates, Tickets and Where to Stay Nearby

LA Zoo Lights is the holiday night out that Los Angeles families plan around. After the daytime crowds leave, the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park fills with larger-than-life light sculptures, a glowing walking route, hot cocoa and s’mores, and Santa on select nights. In 2026 the theme turns to plants, pollinators and the wonders of nature past and present, with Ice Age giants among the new displays.

At Stay Awhile, we manage luxury homes in the Hollywood Hills, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Malibu, and several of them sit about 20 to 25 minutes from the Zoo. Below you will find the 2026 dates, closed nights and ticket prices from the Zoo’s own website, two easy Griffith Park add-ons, and four homes that showed open dates for Christmas week when we checked. For the full season, browse our Christmas rentals in Los Angeles.

LA Zoo Lights 2026 at a Glance

We checked every detail below on lazoo.org on October 29, 2026. The Zoo notes that event hours and schedules can change, so look again before you go.

• Dates: select evenings, November 20, 2026, to January 10, 2027
• Closed nights: November 26 (Thanksgiving) and 30; December 1, 7, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 31; January 4–7
• Entry: timed tickets, with two entry times offered each evening
• Box office: 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. on event nights (cash accepted there)
• Parking: free
• Where: Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027, inside Griffith Park
• Time to allow: 60 to 90 minutes for most guests, according to the Zoo
• Special nights: Sensory-Inclusive Zoo Lights on December 8 and Pride Night on December 17
• See the Los Angeles Zoo on Google Maps

Two things surprise first-timers. The event uses only about half of the Zoo, and there are no live animals on view at night: they are in their night quarters, and the light displays sit away from the animal exhibits. Also note that the Zoo closes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, so plan around those dates.

The 2026 Theme: Pollinators and Ice Age Giants

The Zoo describes the 2026 edition as a journey through “a vibrant world of plants, pollinators, and breathtaking displays celebrating the wonders of nature past and present.” Expect oversized birds, butterflies, insects, flowers and marine creatures, plus Ice Age giants, all built from sculptural lights. The event has long carried the name “Animals Aglow,” and the Zoo still uses it on some pages.

Fan favorites return alongside the new displays:

• Artificial ice skating rink: separate ticket, open 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in 30-minute sessions, skates included; it closes in rain
• Santa Claus: on select nights only (November 20–22 and 27–29; December 4–6, 8, 11–13 and 17–23), with photos for an extra fee
• Warm treats: make-your-own s’mores, churros and hot cocoa
• For adults: beer, wine and spiked hot cocoa every night (21 and over, ID required), plus cash bars Friday through Sunday
• Carousel rides, a giant snow globe photo-op and carolers on select nights

LA Zoo Lights Tickets and Prices for 2026

Ticket prices depend on the night. These are the general public prices listed by the Zoo since October 16, with the service fee included. Children under two are free and do not need a ticket.

• Value weekdays (November 23–25; December 2, 3 and 8–10): adults (13+) $29, children (2–12) $19
• Value weekends (November 20–22; December 4–6; January 2, 3 and 8–10): adults $32, children $22
• Holiday peak (November 27–29; December 11–13, 17–23 and 26–30; January 1): adults $35, children $25
• Zoo members: $5 less per ticket on every night; members must sign in to buy
• Military: $3 off adult and $2 off child tickets, at the box office only

All sales are final and the event runs rain or shine. If plans change, the Zoo exchanges tickets for a $5 per ticket fee plus any price difference, subject to availability. Daytime Zoo admission does not include Zoo Lights. Buy on the official L.A. Zoo Lights page and check the Zoo Lights FAQs for the fine print.

When Is the Best Night to Go to LA Zoo Lights?

A value weeknight in late November or early December (November 23–25, December 2, 3 or 8–10) is the best balance: tickets are $29 for adults instead of $35, and Santa is there on December 8. For a Christmas-week trip, pick December 22, 23 or 26–30, since the Zoo closes December 24, 25 and 31.

• Price: value weekdays save $6 per adult and $6 per child over holiday peak nights.
• Santa: he appears only on select nights, so match your date to his schedule if photos matter.
• Closed dates: the event is dark December 14–16 and on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
• Rain: the event runs rain or shine, but the ice rink closes in wet weather.
• Little ones: strollers are allowed, and singles ($15) and doubles ($20) can be rented at the entrance.
• Sensory needs: December 8 is Sensory-Inclusive Night, the only night with re-entry.
• Your drive home: from our homes on this page, it was about 20 to 25 minutes when we checked.

Make a Night of It in Griffith Park

Zoo Lights fills about 90 minutes, which leaves room for one more stop in the same park. Both of these are a short drive from the Zoo parking lot.

Holiday Lights Train Ride at Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

This miniature railroad has run in Griffith Park for decades, and every holiday season it decorates its one-mile track with thousands of lights. The ride takes about 10 minutes and works for every age, and it is about a 6-minute drive from the Zoo. The 2026 details were not posted yet when we checked. In 2025 it ran from November 28 to January 11, Monday to Thursday 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday to Sunday 5 to 9 p.m., closed December 24, 25 and 31, with tickets at $8 general and $14 priority entry.

• Address: 4400 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
• Good to know: the ride traditionally starts the day after Thanksgiving; check the operator’s site for 2026 dates
• See the Holiday Lights Train Ride page
• See Griffith Park & Southern Railroad on Google Maps

Griffith Observatory After Dark

For grown-ups and older kids, end the night on the hill. Griffith Observatory is about 17 minutes from the Zoo by car and is open until 10 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday (noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends), closed Mondays. Admission is free; parking closest to the building is paid. The terraces look out over the city lights and downtown.

• Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
• Good to know: holiday hours can differ, so check the Observatory’s site before a Thanksgiving or Christmas visit
• See Griffith Observatory’s visitor information
• See Griffith Observatory on Google Maps

Planning more of the season? Our guide to things to do in Los Angeles for Christmas covers The Grove, Descanso Gardens, Rodeo Drive and the city’s skating rinks.

Where to Stay Near LA Zoo Lights

There are no homes inside Griffith Park, so the question is how short the drive back is. These Stay Awhile homes are about 20 to 25 minutes from the Zoo on Google Maps without heavy traffic, and all four showed open dates for December 19–23 and December 23–28, 2026, when we checked our booking calendar on October 29. Holiday stays have minimum nights and availability changes daily, so check the live calendar on each home’s page.

Grandparents in the Guest House

A multigenerational holiday trip works best when everyone shares the evenings but not the mornings. Grandparents want their own door, parents want the kids asleep near them, and everyone wants somewhere warm to land after a cold walk through the lights.

Solaris

Solaris is a gated estate in the Hollywood Hills, about 20 minutes (8 miles) from the Zoo when we checked. The main house has light-filled open living areas with floor-to-ceiling glass, a contemporary kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, and a primary suite with its own fireplace and direct access to the pool terrace. Two more en-suite guest rooms sit on the main level.

The answer to the grandparent question is the separate guest house above the garage, with its own entrance. After Zoo Lights, the outdoor spa and the fire-pit lounge look out over the canyon and the city lights, and the saltwater pool and covered bar are there for sunny afternoons. The listing also includes a crib, high chair and board games.

• Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, sleeps 8
• Holiday highlights: separate guest house, spa, fire-pit lounge, fireplace in the primary suite
• Location: Hollywood Hills, minutes from Runyon Canyon and the Sunset Strip
• Good to know: no pets except service animals

See Solaris

Cocoa Round Two at the Kitchen Island

Some families come home from the lights still wide awake. What they need is a big kitchen where everyone can gather for a late snack, a hot tub for the adults and a quiet street so the evening can wind down slowly.

Courtney Manor

Courtney Manor sits on a quiet residential street in West Hollywood, about 22 minutes (8 miles) from the Zoo when we checked. The chef’s kitchen is the heart of the house, with premium appliances and an oversized island where guests naturally gather, opening to a formal living room, a family room and a dining room under soaring ceilings.

Out back are a private pool, a hot tub, a covered cabana with a built-in BBQ and several lounge and dining areas. Upstairs, the primary suite has a fireplace, a private balcony and a deep soaking tub. Every bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom, so four couples or two families share the house without sharing a bathroom.

• Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, sleeps 8
• Holiday highlights: oversized chef’s kitchen, complimentary hot tub, fireplace in the primary suite
• Location: West Hollywood, minutes from the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills
• Good to know: pool heating is $125 per day plus a processing fee; no pets except service animals

See Courtney Manor

The Dog Comes Too, Hollywood Style

Holiday travel with a dog narrows the list fast. The Zoo admits service animals only, so the dog stays home for the evening, and that home should feel like a treat for everyone.

The Elvis Villa

The Elvis Villa is a single-story mid-century home by architect Hal Levitt in Mount Olympus, in the Hollywood Hills, about 23 minutes (9 miles) from the Zoo when we checked. According to its listing, it appeared in the 1968 Elvis Presley film “Live a Little, Love a Little.” The open living room has a green onyx fireplace with travertine trim, Murano light fixtures and floor-to-ceiling windows with city views.

The primary bedroom has its own fireplace and direct pool access, and three of the four bedrooms have king beds. A sunken bar opens to a large patio with the pool, a BBQ and two fire features. Pets are welcome for a one-time $200 fee per reservation, and the single level makes it easy for grandparents and small children too.

• Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, sleeps 8
• Holiday highlights: green onyx fireplace, fire pit, city skyline views, single level
• Location: Mount Olympus, Hollywood Hills, moments from the Sunset Strip
• Good to know: pet fee $200 per reservation; no parties or visitors

See The Elvis Villa

Two Families, Five Suites, One Fire Pit

When two families travel together for the holidays, the plan only works if nobody draws the short straw on bedrooms. Every room needs its own bath, and the adults need a place to recover after a long night on their feet.

Amara

Amara is a gated villa in the Beverly Hills Post Office area, about 23 minutes (12 miles) from the Zoo when we checked and five minutes from The Beverly Hills Hotel. Its five bedrooms each have a spa-like en-suite bathroom and a smart TV, and the primary suite adds a fireplace, a balcony over the pool and a private office. The chef’s kitchen opens to airy shared living spaces.

The wellness side is what sets it apart for a long holiday stay: a private gym with a sauna and cold plunge, a heated glass-walled pool, a sculptural hot tub and several outdoor lounges with a fire pit. It is family-ready with a crib, toys and a high chair, and there is a two-car garage with an EV charger.

• Bedrooms: 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, sleeps 12
• Holiday highlights: sauna and cold plunge, hot tub, fire pit, fireplace in the primary suite
• Location: Beverly Hills Post Office, minutes from Rodeo Drive and Sunset Boulevard
• Good to know: no pets except service animals

See Amara

Book Your Zoo Lights Stay With Stay Awhile

LA Zoo Lights is a 90-minute walk, but the best part of the night is what comes after: a fire in the fireplace, a soak in the hot tub and everyone under one roof. Browse our Christmas rentals in Los Angeles, our Hollywood Hills vacation rentals closest to Griffith Park, or our Beverly Hills vacation rentals. Bringing the dog? Start with our pet-friendly rentals.

Our concierge team can arrange private chefs, fridge stocking and transportation, so the drive to Griffith Park is one less thing to plan. Questions about minimum nights or the right home for your group? Contact our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the LA Zoo Lights 2026 dates?

L.A. Zoo Lights runs select evenings from November 20, 2026, to January 10, 2027. It is closed November 26 and 30; December 1, 7, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 31; and January 4–7.

How much are LA Zoo Lights tickets?

General public tickets are $29 to $35 for adults (13+) and $19 to $25 for children (2–12), depending on the night, with the service fee included. Zoo members pay $5 less, and children under two are free.

Are the animals out during LA Zoo Lights?

No. Zoo Lights is an evening event, and the animals are in their night quarters, so there are no live animals on view. The route covers about half of the Zoo.

How long does it take to walk through LA Zoo Lights?

The Zoo says most guests take 60 to 90 minutes. Add time if you book a session on the ice rink, wait for Santa photos or stop for s’mores.

Is parking free at LA Zoo Lights?

Yes. Parking at the Zoo is free on Zoo Lights nights. Tickets are timed to help manage the parking lot, so arrive close to your entry time.

Where should you stay for LA Zoo Lights?

Stay in the Hollywood Hills, West Hollywood or Beverly Hills. Stay Awhile homes such as Solaris, Courtney Manor, The Elvis Villa and Amara were about 20 to 25 minutes from the Zoo when we checked. See all our Christmas rentals in Los Angeles.