Jingle Jets 2026: Dates, Tickets & What to Expect on the USS Midway

Jingle Jets returns to the USS Midway on select nights from November 27 through December 30, 2026. More than a million lights go up on a decommissioned aircraft carrier, Santa shows up in a red flight suit, and this year there’s a talking Christmas tree with a Navy call sign. Nothing else in San Diego looks like this.

Why go

Most holiday light walks happen on flat ground. This one happens on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in the middle of San Diego Bay, with lit-up fighter jets around you and the downtown skyline bouncing off the water. It’s a different kind of Christmas photo, and it looks great.

It’s a separate evening event, not an add-on to a day visit, so you’re sharing the ship with fellow Santa-hat wearers instead of the regular museum crowd. It works best for kids who love planes, grandparents who served, and out-of-town guests who’ve already done the beach.

What’s new for 2026

Admiral Evergreen. A talking Christmas tree, call sign “Tinsel,” with big eyes and an aviation attitude. Your kids will want to talk to it. You’ll want to know who’s doing the voice.

Two Bring Your Dog Nights. Last year’s dog night was a hit, so this year there are two, with a dog bowl giveaway and Santa photos with your pup. Dates are still to come. For more ideas, see Christmas for dogs in San Diego.

What’s on board

The lights. The main event: over a million of them on the ship, the planes and the decks. Last season added a synchronized light show on the flight deck, and it’s the best few minutes of the night.

The Magical Penguin Search. Kids get a magic wand and a set of clues and hunt the ship for hidden penguins. Wave the wand and each one lights up. It’s the thing that gets kids up and down the ship without any complaining.

Santa, the carolers and the trains. Santa meet-and-greets, the Santa’s Sweethearts carolers, and a model train village set up beneath the wings of a vintage Corsair.

Letters to the troops. Kids can write to Santa or to service members deployed over the holidays. Last year’s guests wrote more than 3,000 letters. It’s the quiet highlight, and a good reminder of where you’re standing.

The rest. Reindeer Games, a Christmas virtual-reality sled ride, holiday treats, and a cash bar on the Hangar Bay for the adults doing the bundling-up.

Tips

Pick your night early. It’s select nights only. There’s nothing Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and nothing on most early-week nights before mid-December. Weekend dates will go first.

Buy online, before you go. Tickets aren’t sold at the ship, and it’s rain or shine with no refunds, so check the forecast before you commit.

Midway members save. Members get 20% off Jingle Jets tickets. If you’re a family that ends up on the Midway a couple of times a year, the membership math is worth a look.

Dress for the deck. The flight deck is out over open water, and December wind finds every gap in a light jacket. Bring layers, hats for the kids, and real shoes. You’ll be on steel decks and ship stairs.

Make a night of it. Grab dinner in Little Italy first, or walk the Embarcadero to Seaport Village after.

FAQ

When is Jingle Jets 2026?
Select nights from November 27 through December 30, 2026: Nov. 27–29, Dec. 4–6, 11–13, 17–23 and 26–30.

Does a daytime Midway ticket get you in?
No. Jingle Jets is a separate ticketed evening event.

Can I buy tickets at the door?
No. Tickets are sold online only.

Can I bring my dog?
Only on the two Bring Your Dog Nights. Those dates haven’t been announced yet.

Bottom line

If you want a Christmas light show that could only happen in San Diego, this is it. The carrier, the jets, the skyline and a talking tree with a call sign add up to a night nobody else can offer. Skip it if December wind on a steel deck sounds worse to you than magical. That’s a fair take too.

The bay looks just as good from the water: the Bay Parade of Lights runs the same season. More displays: San Diego’s best light shows.