Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience (2026)

Experience the return of Boston Lights at Franklin Park Zoo, a wildly popular annual summer and fall tradition. Prepare to be dazzled as you wander through this immersive experience filled with vibrant lantern displays, interactive activities and Instagrammable moments at every turn. Each year, Boston Lights draws inspiration from the beauty of nature, highlighting wildlife and habitats from around the globe through beautifully crafted lanterns rooted in ancient Chinese tradition and artistry. This year, experience lanterns inspired by coastal South Africa, featuring penguins, great white sharks and luminous flowers. See the majestic big cats that reside in habitats around the globe with lanterns featuring jaguars, lions, cheetahs, snow leopards and more. Experience the flora and fauna of the Grand Canyon – from Gila monsters and wolves to desert tortoises and an array of cacti and birds. Enter a world where the ocean depths come alive in a burst of brilliant light. Stroll amongst lanterns of colorful tropical fish, sea horses, and unique plant life found underneath the ocean surface. Then, discover China’s rich heritage as you journey through luminous lantern tunnels inspired by the textures of bamboo and vibrant peacock feathers, each stretching nearly 100 feet long.