Family · Food & drink · Seasonal · Chester Zoo
Afterglow at Chester Zoo 2026
Chester Zoo Afterglow 2026 runs 31 July-16 August, 3pm-8pm, with evening tickets, six themed zones, food, music, dinosaurs, puppets and ranger talks.
Tuesday 4 August to Sunday 9 August
15:00-20:00 · Chester Zoo Listing checked Thu 30 Jul
What it is
Afterglow is Chester Zoo's 2026 summer evening event. It runs 3pm-8pm on selected dates from Friday 31 July to Sunday 16 August, with evening-only tickets and full-day tickets available. The zoo lists six zones: an entrance welcome zone, Dino discovery on Stableyard Lawn, Jungle disco between the penguins and chimpanzees, Sounds of summer on the education lawn, Laughter hub near June's Food Court, and Ranger basecamp in Heart of Africa. Expect food and pop-up bars, roaming puppets and stilt walkers, dinosaur activities, silent disco sessions, comedy, ranger talks and later access to many habitats.
Runs 15:00-20:00 from Friday 31 July to Sunday 16 August 2026, excluding Monday 3 August and Monday 10 August. Full-day tickets cover 10:00-20:00; evening-only tickets cover 15:00-20:00.
Upcoming dates
- Tue 4 Aug to Sun 9 Aug 15:00-20:00
- Tue 11 Aug to Sun 16 Aug 15:00-20:00
Best for
Families who want a dated plan rather than a vague fallback.
Watch for
Check entry rules and late changes before you make a firm plan.
Before you go
Tickets
Use the official listing for current ticket options, availability, concessions and fees.
Getting there
Garden Quarter & outskirts. Use the map link for the exact entrance before travelling.
On the day
A standard day ticket includes Afterglow access. Evening-only tickets start from £14 and full-day tickets from £28 when checked. Chester Zoo says members go free, with a £10 friends-and-family afternoon ticket when a member attends. Some rides and activities may cost extra; indoor habitats and some activities close around 19:00 or 19:30.
This weekend
Planning Friday to Sunday?
Use the weekend planner for the tighter view: checked listings, day-by-day options and practical fallbacks.
Listed events can change, including scheduling, times, ticket status and entry rules. More than a month out is up-to-date-ish.