Wild Lights

Wild Lights opens at 5pm and closes at 9pm. 

Last entry is at 7:30pm, so please make sure you arrive in time for your booked entry. 

Once inside, you can enjoy Wild Lights at your own pace until the event closes. 

The theme for Wild Lights 2026/27 is Passport to Wonder. 

Ireland’s largest festival of lights returns with an entirely new experience featuring nine immersive zones – nine worlds of wonder – where captivating celebrations, traditions and stories from around the globe come alive through spectacular handcrafted lanterns and a dazzling fusion of light, music, colour and movement. 

Follow the golden glow of Diwali and discover the joyful colour of Holi. Feel the Carnival spirit of Brazil, enter a world inspired by Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, step behind the exquisite masks of Venetian Carnival, and discover the magnificent masquerade, textiles, music and movement of West Africa. 

Wander beneath luminous Japanese cherry blossoms, feel the electric pulse of K-Pop, and step into an enchanting celebration of Ireland’s folklore, music and stories, where ancient legends, mischievous fairies and magical characters come to life. 

Finally, unwrap the enchantment of a Nordic Christmas, complete with playful elves, huskies and festive surprises. 

Nine zones. Countless moments of wonder. One unforgettable night. 

Passport to Wonder takes visitors on a journey through nine immersive destinations: 

• Enchantment – Lapland: Inspired by Nordic Christmas traditions and the magic of Santa’s winter world. 

• Spirit – Mexico: A joyful world inspired by Día de los Muertos, filled with marigolds, artistry, music and colour. 

• Radiance – India: Follow the glow of Diwali and experience the joyful colour of Holi. 

• Pulse – Seoul, South Korea: Feel the beat of K-Pop and the electric energy of Seoul. 

• Folklore – Ireland: Discover Celtic legends, music, mischievous fairies and magical stories. 

• Rhythm – Brazil: Experience the music, colour and Carnival spirit of Rio and Bahia. 

• Fortune – Japan: Wander beneath beautiful cherry blossoms and look out for a larger-than-life maneki-neko, a symbol of good fortune. 

• Vibrance – West Africa: Discover bold textiles, magnificent masquerade, music and movement. 

• Intrigue – Venice: Step behind the masks into a spectacular world of Carnival, dazzling costumes and mystery. 

Yes. Wild Lights is designed as a magical winter experience for families, couples, friends and visitors to Dublin. 

Passport to Wonder combines spectacular handcrafted lanterns, light, music, colour and movement to create a multi-generational experience that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. 

Absolutely! Passport to Wonder makes for a memorable winter date night. 

Take an evening stroll together through nine immersive worlds filled with spectacular handcrafted lanterns, shimmering lights, music, colour and movement – from the mystery of Venetian Carnival and the beauty of Japanese cherry blossom to the enchantment of Celtic Ireland and a magical Nordic Christmas. 

It’s unlikely that you will see many of Dublin Zoo’s animals during Wild Lights. Most animals will be inside their warm indoor habitats during the evening hours. 

Wild Lights does, however, help support the animals and wildlife beyond the event itself. Every visit supports Dublin Zoo’s work to protect wildlife and wild places in Ireland and around the world. 

Children and visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times and teenagers may be required to show ID.

Yes. Dublin Zoo is a conservation charity that cares for more than 400 animals and supports over 30 conservation partners at home and abroad. Every visit to Wild Lights helps support Dublin Zoo in continuing to deliver upon this mission. 

Santa’s Grotto opens on Saturday 21st November 2026 and runs until Wednesday 23rd December 2026. 

Santa is available as part of our Winter at Dublin Zoo bundles and cannot be booked as a standalone experience. 

You can choose from: 

• Glow Ho-Ho! – Santa’s Grotto plus Wild Lights in the evening. 

• Zoo-liday Cheer – Dublin Zoo daytime admission plus Santa’s Grotto. 

Sensory-friendly Santa experiences are also available on selected dates and times. 

Please view the Winter at Dublin Zoo booking page for available dates and time slots. 

No. Santa’s Grotto is not available as a standalone ticket. 

All Santa visits are part of a Winter at Dublin Zoo bundle, allowing you to combine your Santa experience with either Wild Lights or daytime Dublin Zoo admission. 

No. Wild Lights and Santa’s Grotto are not included as standard Dublin Zoo Annual Pass benefits. 

Special Annual Pass Holder ticket prices are available across eligible Wild Lights and Winter at Dublin Zoo products. 

Eligible Annual Pass Holders booking during the Early Bird period can also qualify for the separate 20% Annual Pass renewal offer, subject to the applicable terms and conditions. 

No, unfortunately we do not offer a discount for Fota Wildlife Park’s annual pass holders.

No, Tesco tokens, SSE discount codes, and day entry voucher codes cannot be used in conjunction with Wild Lights or Santa’s Grotto.

Wild Lights and Santa’s Grotto are date and time specific events. However, this year, we have introduced Flexible Wild Lights Tickets give you greater freedom when deciding when to visit Passport to Wonder. 

Flexible tickets: 

• Can be used on an eligible Monday–Friday during the 2026/27 Wild Lights run. 

• Do not include Santa’s Grotto. 

• Must be used before the Wild Lights season ends on 5th January 2027. 

• Are subject to event capacity and availability. 

• Are non-refundable if unused. 

Dublin Zoo offers customers who have purchased tickets for ‘Day Entry & Santa’s Grotto (Bundle)’, ‘Day Entry & Sensory-Friendly Santa’s Grotto (Bundle)’, ‘Wild Lights (Single Tickets)’, and ‘Wild Lights & Santa’s Grotto (Bundle)’ the option to change the date of their booking up to 7 days before their original visit date, subject to a change fee if applicable (€5 per ticket if the booking is not part of an account, see order confirmation email for more information).

If you wish to change your booking date there are two options:

1. If you set up an online ticketing account through the Dublin Zoo website when you made your booking (or were signed into a pre-existing account when placing your order) you can change your date free of charge up to 7 days before the date of the original ticket to another available date with sufficient capacity.
2. If you do not have an online ticketing account then you can email the customer service team to change your booking date. This can be done up to 7 days before the original date booked. To use this option there is an admin fee of €5 per ticket, payable immediately. If you wish to avail of this option, please email [email protected] or [email protected] with your booking reference, the date you would like to change to, the name and email address you used to book and a contact phone number to arrange payment of the admin fee.

There is no option to change the date of your booking if it is less than 7 days from the visit date originally booked.

Wild Lights is a date and time specific event unless a flexible Wild Lights ticket is purchased. Tickets are valid for the chosen date and time of booking ONLY. Tickets are strictly non-refundable, as per our terms and conditions.

No. A standard Wild Lights ticket is valid for the evening event only and does not include daytime Zoo admission. 

However, eligible customers who book during the 2026 Early Bird Offer period may qualify for a complimentary daytime Dublin Zoo visit. Separate eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. 

No. Once inside, you can enjoy Passport to Wonder at your own pace until Wild Lights closes at 9pm. 

Just make sure you arrive in time for your booked entry. Last entry is at 7:30pm. 

Children aged 3yrs old up to and including 15yrs old can use a Child ticket. Visitors aged 16yrs and over must use an Adult ticket, or a Student ticket if applicable.

Infants under 3 years of age can visit Wild Lights for free but they must have a valid ticket, this can be booked free of charge on our website. Infant tickets for Santa’s Grotto are not free.

Yes. Book an eligible Wild Lights ticket between 28th September and 12th October 2026 inclusive and qualifying General Early Bird customers will receive one complimentary daytime Dublin Zoo family visit for up to two adults and two children. 

The complimentary visit must be used by 24th December 2026. 

Your qualifying Wild Lights order reference will act as your voucher code and can take up to 72 hours after your order is placed to become active. 

One complimentary visit is available per qualifying order, subject to a maximum of one benefit per household during the offer period. 

Eligibility, availability and full terms and conditions apply. 

Book early. Go wild twice. 

The following products qualify for the General Early Bird Offer: 

• Wild Lights 

• Glow Ho-Ho! 

• Zoo-liday Cheer 

• Glow Ho-Ho! – Sensory-Friendly Santa & Wild Lights Bundle 

• Sensory-Friendly Zoo-liday Cheer with Santa 

• Sensory-Friendly Wild Lights Night 

Group and corporate bookings are excluded from the General Early Bird Offer. A separate Wild Lights Early Bird offer is available for corporate bookings. 

Yes. Eligible Dublin Zoo Annual Pass Holders who make a qualifying booking between 28th September and 12th October 2026 inclusive will receive a voucher for 20% off the renewal of an Individual or Family Dublin Zoo Annual Pass. 

The voucher is valid for 12 months from issue and can be used for one Annual Pass renewal transaction. 

The voucher is for Annual Pass renewals only and cannot be used to purchase a new Annual Pass. 

The General Early Bird Offer and Annual Pass Holder Early Bird Offer cannot be combined on the same Wild Lights booking. 

Eligibility and full terms and conditions apply. 

Santa cannot be booked on his own. A visit to Santa’s Grotto is available as part of our Winter at Dublin Zoo bundles. 

Choose from: 

• Glow Ho-Ho! – Santa’s Grotto plus Wild Lights in the evening. 

• Zoo-liday Cheer – Dublin Zoo daytime admission plus Santa’s Grotto. 

• Glow Ho-Ho! – Sensory-Friendly Santa & Wild Lights Bundle – sensory-friendly Santa plus the Sensory-Friendly Wild Lights Night. 

• Sensory-Friendly Zoo-liday Cheer with Santa – Dublin Zoo daytime admission plus a sensory-friendly Santa experience. 

Santa’s Grotto is not available as a standalone ticket. 

All Santa visits are part of a Winter at Dublin Zoo bundle, allowing you to combine your Santa experience with either Wild Lights or daytime Dublin Zoo admission. 

Please view the relevant booking pages for available dates and times. 

Your Santa’s Grotto ticket has a specific time slot. You must arrive at the grotto at the exact time on your ticket. This helps reduce queues and keep the experience magical for everyone.

Late arrivals cannot be admitted to Santa’s Grotto, so please allow plenty of time to get to the grotto from the entrance.

You will be permitted entry to Dublin Zoo before your Grotto time slot if you wish to explore before visiting Santa.

Daytime Entry & Santa’s Grotto: You may arrive at Dublin Zoo anytime from 9:30am.

Wild Lights & Santa’s Grotto: You may arrive at Dublin Zoo anytime from 5:00pm.

No. Wild Lights and Santa’s Grotto are not included as standard Dublin Zoo Annual Pass benefits. 

Special Annual Pass Holder ticket prices are available across eligible Wild Lights and Winter at Dublin Zoo products. 

Eligible Annual Pass Holders booking during the Early Bird period can also qualify for the separate 20% Annual Pass renewal offer, subject to the applicable terms and conditions. 

Yes. Sensory-friendly Santa sessions are available on weekend mornings throughout the Santa season. 

Our Sensory-Friendly Zoo-liday Cheer with Santa experience combines daytime Dublin Zoo admission with a gentler, music-free visit to Santa’s Grotto. 

The experience has reduced noise and limited capacity, giving families more space and a quieter atmosphere while still enjoying all the festive magic of a visit to Santa. 

The 10am Santa session on Saturdays and Sundays is reserved for sensory-friendly visits and operates at half the usual capacity, with a maximum of 16 people per slot. 

Additional 10am sensory-friendly sessions are planned for 21st and 22nd December. 

A sensory-friendly evening Santa experience will also be available on 1st December as part of the Glow Ho-Ho! – Sensory-Friendly Santa & Wild Lights Bundle. 

Yes. Our dedicated Sensory-Friendly Wild Lights Night will take place on Tuesday 1st December 2026. 

Gentle lights, fewer crowds, the same festive sparkle. The sensory-friendly evening offers visitors a quieter and calmer way to experience Passport to Wonder, with significantly reduced capacity and adaptations designed for visitors who may prefer a gentler atmosphere. 

Designated quiet spaces will also be available, with seating, bathrooms and games for visitors who would like to take a break during their experience. 

Visitors can choose from: 

• Sensory-Friendly Wild Lights Night – Wild Lights entry only. 

• Glow Ho-Ho! – Sensory-Friendly Santa & Wild Lights Bundle – a sensory-friendly Santa experience together with the dedicated sensory-friendly Wild Lights evening. 

Places are limited, so advance booking is recommended. 

No. One carer per booking can attend free of charge. 

Please check the relevant booking page for any applicable booking requirements or conditions. 

If you have booked a carer ticket, please bring a relevant form of ID and/or documentation, such as a Family Carers Ireland card, AsIAm membership card or similar, proof of being in receipt of carers allowance, Consultant/Doctor Letter, Staff ID/Letter (HSE/Employed Carer etc), DLA/PIP Letter or similar (NI), copy of Diagnosis Letter. You will be asked at checkout to confirm the type of carer ID you will have with you.

Yes! Visitors can look forward to themed food and plenty of festive market vibes throughout Wild Lights. 

Soak up the atmosphere, enjoy seasonal food and refreshments, and make it all part of your journey through Passport to Wonder. 

Yes. The main Dublin Zoo Gift Shop will be open during Wild Lights. 

Yes. Lockers are available at the entrance for €5 per use and are key-operated. 

Yes. All bags are subject to search on entry. 

Only small bags, up to a maximum of approximately A4 size (21cm x 29.7cm), are permitted. 

Exceptions apply for medical requirements and children’s items, but all bags remain subject to search. 

Drugs and alcohol brought into Wild Lights are strictly prohibited. 

Alcoholic drinks may be available to purchase from designated food and beverage locations during Wild Lights. Alcohol purchased outside the event cannot be brought in, and alcoholic beverages purchased on-site must be consumed within the designated areas. 

Dublin Zoo reserves the right to refuse admission or remove anyone interfering with the event or entering restricted areas. 

No. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are not permitted at Wild Lights.

No. Pets are not allowed inside the Zoo or Wild Lights.

Yes, the route has been planned with accessibility in mind.

No. To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit for everyone, scooters, bicycles, rollerblades and skateboards are not permitted inside Dublin Zoo. 

This policy does not apply to mobility scooters used as a mobility aid. 

Yes. Mobility scooters are available to rent for €25 per scooter from the Visitor Operations desk at the main entrance. 

Scooters are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are non-refundable. The rental fee does not include event admission. 

Yes. There is an ATM inside the Gift Shop at the main entrance. 

Wild Lights is an outdoor winter event, so please dress for the weather. 

We recommend warm clothing and sturdy, comfortable footwear so you can make the most of your evening. 

There is no designated parking for Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park and parking will be on a first-come basis, but below are our suggested parking based on your time slot:

You can view the parking in more detail on this map.

• 5-6pm: Park on the Upper North road, Garda Headquarters and Married Quarters
• 6-7pm: Park on Lords Walk car park and Citadel Pond
• 7-8pm: North Road