Edmonton's biggest holiday light festival is back, and this year it has a storyline. Glow's 2026 edition, The Magic Toy Shop, runs at the Edmonton EXPO Centre and invites visitors to find their way into the Toymaker's secret workshop, all under more than one million twinkling lights.
The festival opens with an adults-only Glow After Dark night on Saturday, November 28, before regular days begin Friday, December 3 and run through Thursday, December 31 — closed only on Christmas Day. There's also Glow Without Limits on Saturday, December 12, a sensory-friendly session designed for visitors who prefer a calmer environment.
A batch of new attractions lands this year. Glow Putt A-Round is a nine-hole mini golf course open to all ages, Santa's Secret Workshop is a shopping experience aimed squarely at kids, the Merry Moose Pub pours holiday drinks, and the Jolly Kids Zone has tripled in size, now with interactive activities and something called a Bouncy Moose pit.
Returning favourites fill out the rest of the programme: the Santa's Sleigh VR Ride, the Glow Train, a Merry Makers Market for gift shopping, live entertainment, and local food trucks. Between the light displays, the market and the food options, it's an easy few hours for families — or a festive evening out if you time it for the After Dark event.
Tickets start at $17.99 plus fees and taxes for adults, children and seniors, with kids three and under free. Prices vary by date, so going on a quieter weekday can save money. A limited number of flex passes let you show up on any regular operating day, which is handy if your Edmonton plans are weather-dependent. Buy online in advance — this is an indoor EXPO Centre event, but popular dates do sell through.
Why it matters: if you're in Alberta in December, Glow is one of the region's most reliable family outings — indoors, affordable by festival standards, and scaled up enough that it feels like a proper event rather than a neighbourhood light display. Pair it with a trip to West Edmonton Mall and you've got a solid winter weekend in the city.
