The Nashville Zoo has announced the cancellation of its widely popular Zoolumination festival for the 2026-27 season. This decision comes after visa applications for Chinese artisans, who build the festival’s attractions, were denied.
Cancellation Details
The zoo described Zoolumination as the largest lantern festival in the United States. The annual event will not take place because members of InLight Festival Group, the zoo’s production partner, could not obtain visas to travel to Tennessee. This follows a similar incident in Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this year, where a lantern festival was canceled for the same reasons, highlighting a trend affecting international artists traveling to the U.S.
The zoo and InLight have not revealed the number of artisans affected or the specific visa category involved. The denials happen amidst stricter visa regulations under the Trump administration. Attempts to contact the U.S. State Department and InLight for comments have been made by Newsweek.
Zoolumination’s Impact and Challenges
In a public statement, Nashville Zoo described its disappointment in canceling Zoolumination due to visa issues impacting InLight Festival Group. Efforts to find alternative solutions were unsuccessful according to the zoo. The festival, since its debut in 2019, attracted visitors with over 1,000 handmade silk lanterns and large illuminated displays crafted by Zigong’s artisans.
Zigong, a city in China’s Sichuan province, is renowned for its longstanding lantern-making traditions. These experienced craftspeople travel to the U.S. for the festival’s setup, and their expertise is crucial to the event’s success.
Alternative Plans Introduced
Despite the cancellation of Zoolumination, Nashville Zoo plans to host an alternative event named Glow Wild. This new holiday attraction will include illuminated wildlife displays, festive installations, and an 85-foot synchronized Christmas tree. Glow Wild is scheduled to take place from November 13 to January 3, 2027.
Contact efforts have been made to Newsweek editors Rebecca Flood and Shakeema Edwards regarding this story.
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