Edinburgh Zoo’s immersive Giant Lanterns Trail is returning this winter with a new theme based on a space safari.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) will transform the zoo from November 2026 to February 2027 with over 600 lanterns, shining a light on ecology with an interstellar twist, from celestial planets to galactic jungles.

The cosmic illuminated trail will feature hundreds of structural galactic installations based on hand-crafted lanterns made by Chinese artists using traditional techniques.

The trail is open on select evenings from 4:45pm until 9pm, and the route is approximately one mile long, with RZSS recommending at least an hour to take in the experience.

To avoid disturbing the animals, the zoo’s residents won’t feature as part of the experience, but groups can combine the evening tour with a daytime visit.

Exclusive rates are now available for groups of 15+. Contact groups@rzss.org.uk for booking, and for further information visit edinburghzoo.org.uk/lanterns.