Browse by state · checked October 2, 2026
Lantern Festivals in Texas 2026
Four announced lantern events remain in Texas for late 2026: San Antonio on October 10, water lantern launches in Spring and Grand Prairie in November, and Radiant Nature in Houston from November 20 on selected nights. Ticket certainty varies; Dallas also has conflicting date information.
Texas Lantern Festivals at a Glance
| Event | Actual city | Dates | Event type | Ticket status | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiant Nature | Houston | Nov 20, 2026–Feb 21, 2027 · selected nights | Walk-through lantern displays | Official purchase calendars available; published admission prices verified | Upcoming |
| Houston Water Lantern Festival | Spring | Nov 20–22, 2026 | Water lantern launch | Sales advertised; checkout availability and prices unverified | Upcoming · announced |
| Dallas Water Lantern Festival | Grand Prairie | Nov 21, 2026 · organizer date; venue calendar conflicts | Water lantern launch | 2026 checkout unverified; earlier ticket result showed 2025 | Upcoming · source conflict |
| San Antonio Water Lantern Festival | San Antonio | Oct 10, 2026 | Water lantern launch | Sales advertised; current checkout and prices unverified | Upcoming · announced |
Radiant Nature — Houston
Walk through illuminated displays at Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Lane. The season runs November 20, 2026–February 21, 2027 on selected nights, 6–10 p.m.; last entry is 9 p.m.
Published admission is $26.50 for adults and $24.50 for children ages 3–15; ages 2 and under are free. Late entry after 8:30 p.m. is $24.50. Advance parking is $12, with limited space; the offsite shuttle location has not yet been announced.
Accessible paths accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. The event runs rain or shine, with hazardous-weather cancellations possible. Read the Radiant Nature guide for selected dates, parking and visitor details.
Houston Botanic Garden: event details and official purchase calendars ↗
Houston Water Lantern Festival — Spring
The organizer announces November 20–22, 2026 at City Place Plaza in Spring, rather than downtown Houston. Hours are 2:30–6:30 p.m., with the water lantern launch from 5:30–6:30 p.m. City Place independently confirms November 22. Read the Houston Water Lantern Festival guide for dates and ticket caveats.
Ticket sales are advertised, but current checkout availability and prices were not independently verified. Children under 8 enter free; ages 8 and older need a ticket. Event-specific parking and accessibility arrangements were not verified.
Organizer: announced dates and visitor rules ↗City Place: November 22 venue listing ↗
Dallas Water Lantern Festival — Grand Prairie
The organizer lists a one-day event on November 21, 2026 at EpicCentral in Grand Prairie, 2:30–6:30 p.m., with a 5:30–6:30 p.m. launch.
Date and ticket uncertainty: EpicCentral’s calendar has a conflicting November 21–December 21 date field. An earlier linked ticket result showed 2025 information. The 2026 checkout has not been independently verified; confirm the date and ticket year before purchasing or traveling.
Children under 8 enter free; ages 8 and older need a ticket. Current prices, event-specific parking and accessibility arrangements were not verified.
Organizer: November 21 announcement ↗EpicCentral: venue listing with conflicting calendar field ↗
San Antonio Water Lantern Festival
The announced date is October 10, 2026 at Elmendorf Lake Park, 4:30–8:30 p.m. The water lantern launch runs 7:30–8:30 p.m.
The organizer advertises ticket sales; current checkout and prices were not independently verified. Children under 8 enter free; ages 8 and older need a ticket. Event-specific parking and accessibility details were not verified.
Is There an Austin Lantern Festival in 2026?
For Austin Water Lantern Festival, 2026 date and venue have not yet been officially announced. Austin is excluded from the four-event comparison.
How to Choose a Texas Lantern Festival
Choose Radiant Nature for a walk-through display; choose a water lantern event to decorate a lantern and take part in a scheduled launch. Plan for the actual municipality: Spring for the Houston Water Lantern Festival and Grand Prairie for the Dallas event.
The three water lantern organizers state rain or shine, with severe weather potentially delaying or rescheduling the event. Check official updates before travel. An announced date and advertised sales do not establish current checkout availability or the final price.
For events outside Texas, browse the United States event directory. See how this guide verifies event information.
Last checked . Dates, availability and policies may change; follow the linked official sources.