Christmas Time in Pairi Daiza: 37 days of magic, light and tradition

With the festive season approaching, the Park once again shines like the largest luminous garden in Belgium. From 29 November to 4 January 2026, Pairi Daiza will organise a magnificent celebration for humans and animals under the name Christmas Time, with an open view of the world and European Christmas traditions.

28 November 2025

From 29 November, Christmas decorations will be visible throughout the various worlds.

From 13 December, additional animation begins, including a unique illuminated Christmas Train and video projections on the water from The Land Of The Cold, on the Abbey Tower and on the Abbey Dovecot.

During the nocturnes from 20 December to 4 January, the Park will remain open until 8pm, with various Christmas concerts and a Christmas market. On 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, entertainment will be limited and the Park will close at 6pm.

Gifts for the animals, Christmas trees up to 12 metres high, sustainable snow from 13 December and a Christmas market with local products from 20 December complete the heartwarming end-of-year atmosphere.

Traditional figures and Santa's "Post Office"

With some luck, visitors may just run into St Nicholas or Father Christmas and his merry helpers in the Park. These traditional figures have been visiting Pairi Daiza for several years now and have also expressed their wish to drop by this year in the atmospheric abbey domain that has become Belgium's biggest tourist attraction and Europe's Best Zoo and Best Holiday Park.

Pairi Daiza has a desire and mission to inspire people and animals to live together harmoniously. Beauty and emotion drive this and it makes a place where people come together with positive energy.

Inspired by that idea, the Dôme event hall will be transformed this year into a lively, atmospheric post office, where visitors can warm up with delicious bites and drinks, right in the midst of the bustling activity of Santa’s hardworking helpers.

From 20 December to 4 January, from 2pm to 7pm, on the hour, for half an hour, gospel choir "Camelione et ses fééeries de Noël" will perform a Christmas repertoire that makes wishes for world peace, beauty and love vibrate in the cosmos. On 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, choir will be replaced by intimate piano concerts.

'Mökki', designed as an upturned ship's hull, inspired by Norwegian stavkirks, medieval wooden churches, as one of the iconic buildings in The Land of the Cold.

The Land of the Cold: a White Christmas guaranteed from 13 December.

In a world inspired by the polar regions, the Vikings and the Inuits, a white Christmas is guaranteed from 13 December with artificial, sustainable snow. In this icy landscape, the habitat of polar bears, Siberian tigers, walruses and penguins, visitors will not only enjoy animals, snow and fairy light decorations.

The experience becomes complete in the gourmet restaurant 'Mökki', designed like an upturned ship's hull and a feat of craftsmanship inspired by Norwegian stavkirks - medieval wooden churches full of character. A refined three-course lunch awaits there, where local and seasonal produce is creatively prepared and stylishly presented.

From 20 December, the Christmas market with select seasonal products also adds extra warmth and cosiness to this enchanting winter décor.

A unique, illuminated Christmas train and more than a million lights

With new lighting, the monumental, historic Staircase from the old abbey times and The Islands of the Rising Sun with luminous dragonflies become new photo spots for selfies, group or family photos.

The unique collection of light sculptures of life-size or enlarged animals is expanded to more than 100 animals with 36 new animals. These creations are always based on the park's inhabitants. These interventions invite young and old for a photo opportunity or to compare the anatomy of the animals, in the sculpture or nearby in real life.

From 13 December, a creation will also run through the Park, a unique Christmas Train will stop at various locations.

Party animals

Pairi Daiza is rolling out a festive programme that will last for over a month, during which the 7,500 animals will also be extra pampered.

For true winter lovers, the Park will organise interactive outdoor activities: Red pandas and Giant panda Xing Hui, Siberian tigers, keas and Polar bears will receive outdoor enrichments perfectly suited to the cold season.

Other species, like gorillas or hippos, in turn get festive extra attention in their heated enclosures: hidden treats, objects to manipulate, new textures, intriguing smells... enough to turn an ordinary day into an adventure.

So many little Christmas scenes, carefully devised by the animal keepers, are a reminder that the magic of Pairi Daiza is also there: in the daily well-being of the animals, and in the simple joy of seeing them - each in their own way - marvel.

Christmas enrichment for the Swamp antelopes

**6 mechanical orchestras with 30 animated animals in transparent snow globes**: There is a fascinating tradition of mechanical and animated orchestras in Belgium, which has been entertaining people since the 19th century. These orchestras, also known as *automata*, are extraordinary musical machines that can play music and move puppets and figures through complex mechanical systems. They are the result of precise craftsmanship and technology. They play an important role in Belgian popular culture, especially in pubs, fairs, and at folk festivals.

Stay overnight and enjoy longer

There are still some rooms available to stay at Pairi Daiza during the holiday period on Tuesday 23 and 30 December, on 1 and 3 January 2026! Some accommodations with views of farm animals and the Steller sea lions are still available.

To end 2025 or start 2026 in the most original way, fireworks-free, in comfortable rooms close to the animals, you can check availability and book online: https://www.pairidaiza.eu/en/pairi-daiza-resort/

Visitors and residents can enjoy traditional Glühwein, traditional onion soup and hot chocolate at various places in the Park. The Penguin Bar and Mökki serve seasonal cocktails and mocktails. The gourmet restaurant Mökki also has the cocktails "Cranberries Smach" and "Christmas Spritz" on the menu.

Extra festive dishes are also offered in the Oasis during this festive season. In the Orangerie, the choice of a burger with extra Raclette cheese will be added.

Decorated coach house with the historic dovecote on which a video mapping is also projected.

Some facts and figures

37 days with extra mood lighting, 11 nocturnes until 8pm.
Miles of garlands of lights around the large trees and buildings in the park. More than 1 million LEDs (470,000 LED for the garlands, 480,000 LED for the 106 illuminated animal sculptures, 320,000 for the other decorations, including the new scenography in the Dôme).
6 mechanical orchestras with 30 animated animals in transparent baubles.
19 days of artificial, sustainable snow in The Land of the Cold. 106 animals.
6 mechanical orchestras featuring 35 animatronic animals
1 gourmet Christmas market.