“UK’s best” lantern experience returns to Twycross Zoo for 2026

Twycross Zoo’s ‘Lanterns of the Wild’ set to be bigger, better and brighter for 2026, with more than 2,000 handcrafted lanterns across a brand-new mile-long route

Previously hailed as the “UK’s best” lantern experience, Lanterns of the Wild returns bigger, better and brighter for 2026, with more than 2,000 handcrafted lanterns illuminating a brand-new route around the zoo that is over a mile long. 

This year, alongside new creatures from the animal kingdom, Julia Donaldson’s and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved Stick Man will be brought to life in lantern form for the first time anywhere in the world this winter, as the critically acclaimed Lanterns of the Wild returns to Twycross Zoo for its second year. 

Running from 6 November 2026 to 21 February 2027, the mesmerising event will also welcome back the world’s first The Gruffalo lantern experience, which made its debut at Twycross Zoo last winter. 

Handcrafted by specialist Chinese artisans from Zigong, a Chinese town known globally as “The Lantern Capital of the World”, the epic-scale displays celebrate the wonder and beauty 

of the natural world. Visitors will make their way through 10 different zones, with returning favourites joined by plenty of new discoveries. 

Last year’s inaugural event took visitors through landscapes inspired by some of the world’s most extraordinary habitats, from tropical rainforests and icy tundras to deep oceans. Along the way, larger-than-life lanterns brought elephants, apes, jellyfish, birds, butterflies and more to life after dark. 

The themes of this year’s 10 zones are being kept under wraps for now, but visitors can expect new immersive experiences and photo opportunities along the redesigned route, as well as some of the event’s most ambitious epic-scale lantern creations to date. 

Visitors can also take in the trail from above on a 35-metre Big Wheel, while an extensive Food Village will serve a range of food and drink inspired by the different parts of the experience. 

A new VIP ticket option will also launch for 2026, offering anytime entry and fast track access, an exclusive VIP area, premium parking, VIP lanyards, light wands for children and marshmallows to enjoy along the way. 

Jamie Turner, Marketing Director at Twycross Zoo, said: 

“We were blown away by the response to the first Lanterns of the Wild, so we’re really excited to bring it back this winter with even more for visitors to discover. 

“Last year we brought The Gruffalo to life in lantern form for the first time anywhere in the world, and this year we’re delighted to be doing the same with Stick Man. 

“We want Lanterns of the Wild to give people a completely different way to experience the zoo and celebrate the extraordinary natural world. There’s a lot we haven’t revealed yet, and we’re looking forward to sharing more in the run-up to opening night.” 

Lanterns of the Wild runs at Twycross Zoo from 6 November 2026 to 21 February 2027 on selected dates. Tickets are available from Twycross Zoo