Photo: nomis_7 · CC BY-SA 2.0Park · Zilker Park · Ticketed
Austin Trail of Lights 2026
Austin's big Christmas walk through Zilker Park: a trail of millions of lights and themed displays, food trucks and drinks, a Ferris wheel and photo spots everywhere, next to the famous Zilker tree.
2026 dates not announced yet — last season below, marked by year
At a glance
- 2026 dates
- December 2026 — exact nights and tickets are announced in the fall
- Last year
- 14 nights in December 2025; 7 of them were free (Dec 10–12 and 15–18)
- Cost (2025)
- Free nights: $0. Other nights from $8; kids under 12 free. ZIP Pass $32.88, Platinum $116
- Parking (2025)
- $25 per car at the Zilker Tree lot or Polo Field, $35 at Austin High — buy in advance
- Shuttle (2025)
- $10 from Toney Burger Center, admission included, on selected nights
- Where
- Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin
Is it worth it?
Austin's must-do Christmas night — buy tickets early and come by bike or rideshare.
What visitors say
Visitors call it beautiful and packed with things to see, eat and drink, with helpful info stations throughout. It's a lot of walking in a big crowd, so dress warm and wear comfortable shoes.
- Millions of lights along a park trail
- Food trucks and drinks
- Ferris wheel
- VIP option
Getting there and getting in
- Close-in parking at Zilker needs a pre-paid pass, sold online only; lots open at 5:30 pm.
- Or take the shuttle from Toney Burger Center in South Austin — the shuttle pass includes general admission.
Worth knowing
- No pets; trained service animals only.
- Dedicated ADA entrance and earlier entry from 6 pm on Dec 10–23 for guests who need it.
- Plan on walking 2.5 miles with all the side activities.
Questions people ask
- When is the Austin Trail of Lights 2026?
- The organisers say it returns in December 2026, with dates and tickets announced in the fall. In 2025 it ran for 14 nights in December.
- Is the Trail of Lights in Austin free?
- Half of it is. In 2025, seven of the fourteen nights were free, including opening night (Dec 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18). The other nights needed a ticket, from $8, with kids under 12 free.
- How much does the Trail of Lights cost?
- In 2025: $0 on free nights, from $8 on ticketed nights, $32.88 for a ZIP Pass (faster entry) and $116 for Platinum. Parking was extra — $25 or $35 per car.
- Where do you park for the Trail of Lights?
- In 2025 the Zilker Tree lot and the Polo Field were $25 per car and Austin High School $35, all better bought online in advance. The $10 shuttle from Toney Burger Center, which includes admission, avoids the parking entirely.
- What time is it open?
- Evenings only; the Zilker Tree lot opened at 5:30 pm in 2025. Check the official site once 2026 times are out.
- Is it worth it?
- It's Austin's signature Christmas night: millions of lights, food trucks, a Ferris wheel and the Zilker tree next door. It's also a long walk in a big crowd — go on a weeknight, wear comfortable shoes and come by shuttle, bike or rideshare.
Checked 2026-09-29. Sources: Austin Trail of Lights (official) · KXAN — 2025 Trail of Lights plan. Last season's numbers are labelled with their year until the organiser publishes 2026.
