Photo: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo · CC BY 2.0Zoo · Denver Zoo, City Park · Ticketed
Denver Zoo Lights 2026
More than three million lights across 80 acres of the Denver Zoo, with some animals like the elephants and mountain goats still out in the evening.
2026 dates not announced yet — last season below, marked by year
Google 4.6 ★ · 32,195 reviews
At a glance
- 2026 dates
- Not announced yet. 2025: select nights Nov 24 – Jan 4
- Hours (2025)
- Sun–Thu 4:30–9 pm, Fri–Sat 4:30–10 pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
- Tickets (2025)
- Regular nights: adults $30, youth $23. Value nights: $26 / $19. Under 2 free; members 10% off
- Size
- More than 3 million lights across 80 acres
- Special nights
- 21+ Adult Nights (with a drink ticket), a Sensory-Friendly Night and Scout Nights
Is it worth it?
The easy family pick in Denver.
What visitors say
A visitor called Zoo Lights eye-catching all round the zoo, with cranes, elephants and mountain goats still out. The zoo is loved generally for being flat and easy to walk.
- 3 million+ lights across the zoo
- Some animals out in the evening
- Sensory-friendly night
Getting there and getting in
- Denver Zoo in City Park. Free parking in the zoo lots; they fill on weekends.
Worth knowing
- Sensory-friendly nights offer reduced crowds, low-volume music and quiet rooms.
Open in Google Maps
Questions people ask
- When do the Denver Zoo lights start?
- 2026 dates aren't out yet. In 2025 Zoo Lights ran on select nights from November 24 to January 4, opening at 4:30 pm.
- How much are Denver Zoo Lights tickets?
- In 2025: adults $30 and youth $23 on regular nights, $26 and $19 on value nights, under 2 free. A bundle added a hot-cocoa cup and two ride vouchers.
- Are the Denver Zoo lights worth it?
- Yes for families: over three million lights across a flat, easy-to-walk zoo, with some animals still out in the evening. Pick a value night to save money.
- Is there a sensory-friendly night?
- Yes. In 2025 the zoo ran a Sensory-Friendly Night with accommodations for visitors with sensory processing needs, plus 21+ Adult Nights.
- What time do the Denver Zoo lights start?
- At 4:30 pm in 2025, until 9 pm Sunday to Thursday and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.
Checked 2026-09-29. Sources: Denver Zoo — Zoo Lights (official). Last season's numbers are labelled with their year until the organiser publishes 2026.
