Edinburgh Zoo to unveil spectacular 40ft planet as Giant Lanterns trail prepares for lift-off
Posted 2 Sep 2026 in Edinburgh Zoo
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The countdown is on for the return of Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns trail with just a few months to go until the popular after-dark experience returns for the winter with an out- of-this-world space safari.
Following its hugely successful return in 2025 after a six year hiatus, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) welcomed more than 96,000 visitors to experience the Giant Lanterns trail with guests describing it as “the most beautiful event they have ever seen”.
Running throughout the whole of winter across 60 nights from Friday 13 November until Sunday 21 February 2027, the display will transform the zoo into a glowing universe filled with spectacular illuminated displays, towering cosmic creatures and dazzling interstellar scenes.
Visitors can wander through glowing galaxies and immerse themselves in a luminous adventure brought to life by more than 1000 handcrafted lanterns and 15,000 LED lights.
Each lantern is carefully crafted and painted by hand, with some of the trail’s more spectacular creations taking 220 hours to complete resulting in a dazzling collection of illuminated wildlife, cosmic creatures and larger than life displays, offering countless photo opportunities and interactive moments along the route.
New for this year, visitors will also be able to glide through the galaxy with walk-through planets spanning 12 metres and stand amongst animal giants such as an owl with a 7 metre wingspan, all of which are set to be one of the standout sights of the winter experience.
Lindsay Ross, events and experiences manager at RZSS, said: "We were blown away by the response to Giant Lanterns returning. This year we are taking the experience to a whole new universe.
“This is our biggest lantern trail yet with glowing planets and sparkling constellations to incredible galactic beasts, every turn offers something unexpected. Whether you are visiting with family, friends or simply looking for a magical winter evening out there is something to inspire visitors of every age.
“From the species represented in the lanterns to the conservation work they support, we hope the trail will not only create a magical winter experience but also inspire visitors to learn more about the wildlife around us and the work being done to protect it. Every ticket sold helps support RZSS's vital wildlife conservation work in Scotland and around the world making every visit even more meaningful.”
Ticket prices vary for off-peak and standard nights. Entry is open from 4:45pm with the last entry at 8pm.
