# Newport Mansions Christmas 2026: Sparkling Lights, tickets and dates
Holidays at the Newport Mansions 2026 runs November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027. The headline event is Sparkling Lights at The Breakers on select evenings from November 21 to December 27, with timed entry every half hour from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and the house and grounds closing at 8:00 pm. Sparkling Lights tickets are $45 adult non-member, $18 youth ages 6-12, $30 adult member, and free for children under 6. Daytime admission to The Breakers alone is $32 adult and $14 youth ages 6-12.
The detail that catches people out: regular daytime Breakers tickets are not accepted after 3:00 pm on Sparkling Lights dates. If you want the evening lights experience, you need the Sparkling Lights ticket specifically.
Sparkling Lights at The Breakers 2026
This is the event most people mean when they search "Newport Mansions Christmas." You walk a half-mile path through The Breakers'' grounds lit with hundreds of thousands of holiday lights, with music and illuminated displays along the route, then tour the mansion''s interior decorated for the season. Holiday treats and adult beverages are sold at the back terrace and the Welcome Center. Presented by BankNewport.
Dates: Select evenings, November 21 – December 27, 2026. Not every night — check the official Sparkling Lights calendar.
Timed entry: 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30 and 6:00 pm. House and grounds close at 8:00 pm. Once on the property you can stay until closing regardless of your entry slot.
| Sparkling Lights ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult non-member | $45 |
| Youth non-member (ages 6-12) | $18 |
| Adult member | $30 |
| Youth member (ages 6-17) | $18 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
Rules worth knowing before you book:
- Tickets are non-refundable and the date and time cannot be changed. Only exception is cancellation for hazardous weather.
- Enter through the main gates on Ochre Point Avenue at your scheduled time or up to 30 minutes past it. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
- Tickets are scanned and canceled on entry — no re-entry.
- Advance purchase strongly recommended. Same-day onsite sales only if the evening has not sold out.
- Tickets are delivered electronically.
Daytime holiday admission
| Daytime ticket | Adult | Youth (6-12) |
|---|---|---|
| The Breakers | $32 | $14 |
| The Breakers + 1 other property | $45 | $16 |
| The Breakers + 2 other properties | $57 | $18 |
| One property (excluding The Breakers) | $25 | $10 |
Children under 6 are free and do not need a ticket. The Breakers portion of any multi-property ticket requires a specific date and time; other properties do not, and can be used within a year of purchase.
Important 2026 change: The Elms closed to the public on August 10, 2026 while a new tour experience is prepared, and it is excluded from the multi-property tickets (after August 9, 2026) and from the One Property ticket (after August 3, 2026). The Carriage House café at The Elms stays open daily 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, last seating 4:00 pm, for members and house tour ticket holders.
During the holiday season The Breakers and Marble House are the main decorated draws. Check the Operating Schedule before buying a multi-property ticket — a bundle is only a bargain if the other houses are open.
Free and reduced admission most visitors never find
City of Newport residents: free general admission whenever properties are open. No reservation needed, but you must check in on arrival — even if only walking the grounds — and show proof of Newport residency. Also covers service members living on Naval Station Newport, plus Naval War College and Salve Regina University students with current orders or student ID.
Partner — Viator
Book tours, activities & experiences across Rhode Island.
Portsmouth, RI residents: free general admission to Green Animals Topiary Garden.
Museums for All: families with a valid EBT or WIC card from any state get $4 per person general admission for up to four people. In-person purchase only, at The Breakers Welcome Center, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff or Green Animals. Bring the card and photo ID.
NARM members: free unlimited general admission to general-admission properties.
Newport County Days, November 14-15, 2026, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Newport County residents visit as guests of the Preservation Society.
The catch: every one of these — Newport resident free admission, Museums for All, NARM — excludes special events and specialty tours, and that explicitly includes Sparkling Lights.
When membership pays for itself
Sparkling Lights is $45 non-member versus $30 member. Membership also includes unlimited general admission for a year and specialty tour discounts.
| Membership | Price |
|---|---|
| Individual (1 adult + 1 guest) | $115 |
| Pineapple (2 named RI residents + 2 guests) | $140 |
| Dual (2 adults + 1 guest) | $160 |
| Family (2 adults + children/grandchildren 6-17 + 1 guest) | $199 |
The Access Pass is $75 for one adult and covers unlimited general admission for a year with no timed reservation at The Breakers — but it does not include events or specialty tours, so it does nothing for Sparkling Lights.
For a one-time holiday visit, membership does not pay off. For a family visiting more than once a year, the Family membership at $199 covers the kids and the Sparkling Lights discount. Two adults doing Sparkling Lights plus two daytime visits is roughly break-even.
If you buy tickets and then decide to join, the ticket price goes toward membership — but you must do it within seven days of first using the ticket, in person at a ticket desk.
Other holiday events in the 2026 season
- Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop — December 5, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Breakers Greenhouse
- Behind the Scenes: Holiday Decorations — Thursdays December 10 and 17, 10:00 - 11:00 am
- Member Night at Sparkling Lights — December 13, 4:00 - 8:00 pm
- A Musical Retelling of "A Christmas Carol" — December 17, 7:00 pm at The Breakers. Skylark''s musical version narrated by Christine Baranski. Member tickets October 20, 2026; public tickets October 22, 2026.
- Holiday Dinner Dance — December 19, 7:00 pm to midnight at The Breakers. Public ticket sales open October 13, 2026.
Common mistakes to avoid
Showing up with a daytime ticket for the lights. Regular Breakers admission stops being valid at 3:00 pm on Sparkling Lights nights. The most common and most expensive mistake.
Booking a multi-property ticket without checking the schedule. Winter hours are reduced and The Elms is closed this season.
Assuming you can change your Sparkling Lights date. You cannot. No refunds, no date changes, weather cancellations only.
Arriving outside your entry window. The 30-minute grace period is real and so is the limit.
Expecting to re-enter. Tickets cancel on scan.
Planning to buy at the gate in late December. Weekends before Christmas sell out.
Parking anxiety. Parking is free onsite at all properties except Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House. The Breakers has its own lot.
Practical details
The Breakers: 44 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI 02840. Preservation Society: 401-847-1000.
Audio tours are free through the Newport Mansions app (iOS and Android) — download before arriving, and bring your own earbuds, which are required and otherwise must be purchased onsite.
The Breakers is described by the Preservation Society as partially accessible; see their guest information page for property-by-property details.
Strollers are not allowed inside the museums. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No food, gum or drinks inside other than water.
Making a weekend of it
Newport in late November and December is quieter and cheaper than the summer peak, and the mansions are the reason to come. If you are travelling from Boston, Providence or further, guided day trips bundling coach transport with mansion admission are a straightforward option — browse Newport and Rhode Island tours, or check Rhode Island experiences on GetYourGuide.
Staying over? See our guide to where to stay in Rhode Island — Newport off-season rates are a fraction of July.
FAQ
Is Sparkling Lights the same as Christmas at the Newport Mansions?
Not quite. "Holidays at the Newport Mansions" is the whole season of decorated houses, November 21 to January 3, visitable with regular daytime admission. Sparkling Lights is the separately ticketed evening event at The Breakers only, through December 27, with the outdoor light installation.
Does the Sparkling Lights ticket include going inside?
Yes, a tour of the decorated interior during the same visit. No second ticket needed.
Can I use a regular Breakers ticket in the evening?
No. Regular tickets are not accepted after 3:00 pm on Sparkling Lights dates.
What if it rains or snows?
Non-refundable except when Sparkling Lights is canceled for hazardous weather. Dress for walking outdoors in a New England December — the path is half a mile.
Are Newport residents free for Sparkling Lights?
No. Newport resident free admission covers general admission only and excludes special events including Sparkling Lights.
How far ahead should I book?
For December weekends, as early as you can. Late November weeknights have more room.
Is it worth it with young children?
The outdoor light path suits kids and under-6s are free. The 4:00 pm slot gets you a shorter evening if bedtime matters.
Prices, dates and policies verified against newportmansions.org in October 2026. The Preservation Society updates ticketing and schedules through the season — always confirm current details on the official site before purchasing. AskRhodeIsland is not affiliated with the Preservation Society of Newport County.