River of Lights runs 33 nights this season, and they aren't priced the same. An adult ticket costs $15 on a Value Night and $21 on a General Admission night. For the New Mexico BioPark Society's 29th annual show, the lower price falls almost entirely in the first two weeks of the run. The show opens Saturday, November 28, at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, 2601 Central Ave. SW. It runs 5 to 10 p.m. through January 3 and is closed December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1.
Tickets went on sale November 6, KRQE reported. The Value Nights before mid-December are still on the calendar.
How the calendar is priced
All River of Lights tickets are timed-entry and sold by date on TicketSignup. Here are the standard fares from the official River of Lights site:
| Ticket | Adult, 13+ | Youth, 3–12 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Night | $15 | $10 |
| General Admission | $21 | $12 |
| Value Night Flex, up to two exchanges | $25 | $20 |
| General Admission Flex, up to two exchanges | $31 | $22 |
Children 2 and under get in free at every tier. These are the same price ranges the Albuquerque Journal listed for the 2025 show, so regular admission hasn't gone up. For two adults and two kids, a Value Night costs $50 at the gate. The same group pays $66 on a General Admission night.
The opening week on the TicketSignup calendar goes like this.
- Saturday, Nov. 28: General Admission, opening night
- Sunday, Nov. 29: Value Night
- Monday, Nov. 30: Low Sensory Night
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 4: Value Nights
- Saturday, Dec. 5: General Admission
That first week includes a Friday at the Value Night price.
Santa's Magical Experience, the Tingley Beach add-on that includes River of Lights admission, is sold separately for Value Nights and General Admission nights. Its Value Night dates are December 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14 and 15. Its General Admission dates are December 5, 12 and 16 through 23. That add-on schedule lines up with the main calendar. Value pricing runs through mid-December, and from December 16 to Christmas the add-on sells only General Admission dates.
Late December sells out
The official site says nights will sell out as December 25 gets closer and afterward. It also recommends going early in December and on Value Nights if you want to avoid crowds. The BioPark's ticket listings have described Value Nights as evenings when smaller crowds are expected. So the lowest fares land on the nights the show expects to be lightest.
After Christmas, the show reopens December 26 and runs through December 30, then closes for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It comes back for January 2 and 3. Santa's Beach Bash takes over Tingley Beach every night from December 26 to 30. Santa trades the sleigh for a Hawaiian shirt and a lei, and the add-on includes a ride to River of Lights. It's a good fit for visiting family, if you book ahead.
The quietest night is November 30
Monday, November 30, is the season's only Low Sensory Night, sponsored by Inteli-Care Personal Home Care. The show lists smaller crowds, fewer strobe, flashing and blinking effects, low music, a quiet room, certified support staff and limited concessions. Last season there were two of these nights, December 1 and January 2.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that in 2025, low sensory nights allowed 800 tickets per time slot, compared with 1,600 on General Admission and Value nights. In the same story, events manager Chelsea Martinez said the night appealed to more than the families it was built for. "We even had some couples that just wanted a quieter walk through the garden," she told the Journal. This year there's one date, and it falls in the first week.
What's new along the path
According to KRQE, the 2026 show adds 50 new sculptures, some honoring the Route 66 Centennial. It also has a new presenting sponsor, Blake's Lotaburger, for the first time. The BioPark Society is also running its first-ever drawing for one of 10 handmade Route 66 sculptures built for the centennial, with entries starting at $20.
The new pieces join more than 800 hand-welded displays, from a 1-foot flower to a 30-foot Brachiosaurus. Three full-time craftsmen employed by the New Mexico BioPark Society build them year-round. Each piece starts as a small toy or concept, gets welded into a flat or 3D frame, and is wrapped in rope lights. The show started in 1997 with 30 rented displays and 32,000 visitors. It now draws more than 130,000 people and raises over $1 million a year, making it the society's biggest fundraiser for the Zoo, Aquarium, Botanic Garden and Tingley Beach.
The early weeks also have the most extras:
- Holiday crafts on December 2, 9 and 16, 6 to 8 p.m., in the Heritage Farm Cider Barn classroom. December 2 is a Value Night.
- Under the Sea with Santa at the ABQ BioPark Aquarium on November 30 and December 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9. It's $32 for ages 3 and up and includes River of Lights admission.
- Flip of the Switch on opening night, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It's $50 for adults and $40 for youth, with live music, a drink and treat, a meeting with Santa, and guaranteed parking at the Botanic Garden.
Getting there on a Sunday
Two of the early Value Nights, November 29 and December 6, are Sundays, which matters if you plan to take the bus. ART is free to River of Lights on the 766 Red Line and 777 Green Line, with buses every 10 to 15 minutes. The last bus leaves the BioPark station around 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday but around 7:20 p.m. on Sundays. On a Sunday, plan to drive or use the Park & Ride.
The show's own logistics advice helps any night:
- Use the free Park & Ride at the ABQ BioPark Zoo, 903 Tenth St. SW. It runs nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. The show suggests taking I-40 to 12th Street or I-25 to Lead Avenue, then heading to 10th and Stover.
- Leave extra time. Traffic comes in from four major roads around the BioPark and Old Town, and other holiday events nearby add to it.
- Arrive about 20 minutes after your timeslot starts. Most guests show up at the top of the hour, and the lines shorten after that.
- Skip parking on neighborhood streets. The show asks guests to use the Botanic Garden lot or the Park & Ride.
- Wear shoes for unpaved ground. Parts of the path aren't paved, and the walkways are ADA-accessible, though some spots may need assistance depending on the surface and weather.
If a fixed timeslot doesn't work with your evening, the $12 Extra Cheer add-on lets you arrive any time before 9:15 p.m. It includes express-lane entry, a collector pin and holiday optics glasses. Leave pets at home.
This season, pick your River of Lights night before you fill in the rest of December. If you're also planning a bigger change in 2027, like a new home closer to the places your family goes all year, Carrie Telles would be glad to talk it through over coffee. Schedule a free consultation, and bring your River of Lights dates.
