Holiday lights in Miami 2026: Zoo Lights opens Nov. 27 with a tree lighting and Santa, Luminosa lanterns at Jungle Island from mid-November, Hanukkah Dec. 4.
Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Zoo Miami, Jungle Island, Luminosa and Hebcal for the Hanukkah dates.
Miami’s biggest holiday light show is Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami, which opens Friday, Nov. 27, with a tree lighting and runs on select nights to Dec. 30. On Watson Island, Luminosa fills Jungle Island with lantern sculptures from mid-November. Hanukkah begins the evening of Friday, Dec. 4.
The Bayfront Park and Coconut Grove tree lightings and the Three Kings Parade are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
Who to call
- Zoo Miami: 305-251-0400, 12400 SW 152nd St.
- Jungle Island (Luminosa): 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail; press and group questions to marketing@jungleisland.com
- Bayfront Park Management Trust: 305-358-7550
Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami
Zoo Lights, 12400 SW 152nd St., 6:30 to 10 p.m. on these nights:
| Month | Nights |
|---|---|
| November | Friday, Nov. 27 (opening night), and Saturday, Nov. 28 |
| December | Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12; Dec. 18-23; Dec. 26-30 |
- Opening night, Friday, Nov. 27: tree lighting at 7 p.m.
- More than a million lights and a 26-foot LED holiday tree.
- Santa appears until Dec. 23. Carolers, an animal presentation at the Sami Family Amphitheater, character meet-and-greets, photo spots and letters to Santa.
- A new train ride and the gift shop cost extra.
Tickets: Zoo Lights is a separate ticket. Daytime admission and memberships do not cover it, the zoo says, and tickets were “coming soon” when we checked. On Zoo Lights nights the zoo closes at 4 p.m. and reopens at 6:30 p.m. Most animals are asleep; the flamingos, the ambassador animals and the Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit are the likeliest to be seen. Date changes are possible by emailing the zoo within 48 hours of your night.
Luminosa at Jungle Island
Luminosa, Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail on Watson Island. The lantern festival returns in mid-November: Jungle Island says Nov. 14, and the Luminosa ticket page lists Nov. 13. The closing date had not been posted when we checked.
- Lantern scenes of Miami neighborhoods, from Little Havana to South Beach, built by the Zigong Lantern Group with more than 43,600 LEDs along Jungle Island’s covered trails.
- Outdoors. A visit takes 60 to 90 minutes, all ages are welcome and the venue is wheelchair accessible.
- Parking is next to the venue at $20 a car, the event’s FAQ says. No pets except service animals.
Tickets are sold through Fever; a waitlist was open when we checked.
Santa visits
Santa is at Zoo Lights on event nights through Dec. 23. We had not found other Santa visits in the City of Miami for 2026 when we checked; we add them as organizers post dates.
Hanukkah and menorah lightings
Hanukkah 2026 runs from the evening of Friday, Dec. 4 (first candle) to the evening of Friday, Dec. 11 (eighth candle), according to Hebcal. No public menorah lighting in the City of Miami had been posted when we checked. If your congregation or Chabad center is holding a public lighting, send the date, time and place through our contact page.
Tree lightings and markets
- Tree lightings at Bayfront Park and in Coconut Grove: our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
- Christmas Wonderland, the holiday theme park at Tropical Park from Nov. 12: our Christmas Wonderland page.
- Miami City Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Arsht Center, Dec. 11-27: our Nutcracker page.
- Holiday markets and shopping hours: our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide.
What this means for you
- Zoo Lights runs on select nights only, not every night; check the table above. It is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Buy Zoo Lights tickets separately, even if you are a member.
- Schools are out from Friday, Dec. 18 (a teacher planning day) through Jan. 1, according to the M-DCPS calendar.
More: New Year’s Eve in Miami and kids’ activities in Miami.
Frequently asked questions
When is Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami in 2026?
6:30 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 28; Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12; Dec. 18-23; and Dec. 26-30. Opening night, Friday, Nov. 27, has a tree lighting at 7 p.m.
Is Zoo Lights included with Zoo Miami admission?
No. Zoo Miami says daytime admission and memberships do not include Zoo Lights, which is a separate ticket. Tickets had not gone on sale when we checked.
When does Luminosa open at Jungle Island?
Mid-November 2026. Jungle Island’s site says Luminosa returns Nov. 14; the Luminosa ticket page lists Nov. 13.
Where can kids see Santa in Miami?
Santa appears at Zoo Lights at Zoo Miami on event nights until Dec. 23. We list other Santa visits as organizers post them.
When is Hanukkah 2026?
The first candle is lit on the evening of Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, and the eighth on Friday, Dec. 11.
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