Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic 2026: Dates, Hours & Tickets
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago returns for its 45th year on November 21, 2026, and runs on select nights through January 3, 2027. Expect more than 3.5 million lights, light tunnels and a bigger glowing maze, open 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on event nights. Here's every date, what tickets cost and how to plan a photo-friendly visit.
Quick facts
- Event: Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago (45th year)
- Nov 21-25 and 27-29, 2026; Dec 3-6, 10-13, 17-23 and 26-31, 2026; Jan 1-3, 2027
- Hours: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. on event nights
- Tickets: starting at $29.95; free for zoo members, plus free Main Entrance parking with no reservation needed
- Main Entrance (North Gate): 31st St. and Golfview Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513
- About 14 miles west of downtown Chicago, near I-290 and I-294
Which nights Holiday Magic is open
Holiday Magic doesn't run every night, so check the calendar before you pick a date. It opens the weekend before Thanksgiving (November 21-25), skips Thanksgiving Day itself, and comes back November 27-29. In December it runs in four blocks: the 3rd-6th, 10th-13th, 17th-23rd and 26th-31st, then wraps up January 1-3, 2027.
Every event night is 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. That early start is handy: you can arrive in daylight, walk the zoo, and stay as the lights come on.
- Not open on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26) or Christmas Day (Dec 25)
- Weeknights in early December are usually the calmest picks for photos
What's new this year: the bigger glowing maze
The light-up maze has doubled in size to about 90 by 60 feet. Add more than 1,000 illuminated trees, light tunnels and themed areas like Candy Cane Lane and the FlaminGLOW Forest, and there's a lot of ground to cover.
Other highlights include the Holiday Magic Dolphin Discovery and the carousel. The Pachyderm building also reopens as Santa's Workshop this season.
- Light tunnels are the easiest spot for a glowing background
- Holiday Igloo rentals and Penguin Encounters cost extra
Special nights to know about
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is hosting a sensory-friendly evening on December 3, with dimmed lights, softer music and fewer visual effects, presented with KultureCity. On December 5 there's a Holly Jolly Gingerbread Party.
If you're going with a friend who prefers a quieter night, the sensory-friendly evening is a thoughtful pick.
Photo tips for Holiday Magic
Holiday lights look best right after sunset, when the sky still has a little blue in it. With a 3 p.m. start, aim to be inside before dusk so you're ready when everything switches on.
Wear something light-colored near your face, like a cream scarf or a white beanie. It bounces the light back onto your face so you don't turn into a silhouette in front of bright displays.
- Stand a few steps in front of the lights, not right against them
- Bring gloves you can still tap your phone with
- Members can skip parking stress with free Main Entrance parking
Turn the night into a photo strip
After the zoo, warm up at a cafe and make a 4-cut photo strip of the night with Hanaduul. In [Shoot solo], pick a background, set the timer, and prop your phone up so you both have free hands for poses.
Got a friend who couldn't make it? At home, open [Shoot together] and send them the 6-digit room code. You'll hear each other while you pose, and you'll end up side by side on the same background in one photo strip, saved to both of your [Album] under [Together]. Next time, open [My BGs] and tap the plus sign to describe a scene, like 'glowing holiday light tunnel at night, blue and gold, cozy,' and the app will create a background for you. Hanaduul is iPhone only for now.
FAQ
When does Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic 2026 start?
It opens November 21, 2026 and runs on select nights through January 3, 2027, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
How much are Holiday Magic tickets?
Tickets start at $29.95. Brookfield Zoo Chicago members get in free and also get free parking at the Main Entrance.
Is Holiday Magic open on Thanksgiving or Christmas?
No. The schedule skips November 26 and December 25.