LISLE, Ill. (Nov. 2, 2026)— Illumination, The Morton Arboretum’s nationally acclaimed outdoor holiday lights exhibition, has been nominated for USA TODAY 10Best’s ‘Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights’ Readers’ Choice Award. Public voting is open now through 10:59 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 30.
Supporters can vote once daily throughout the voting period to help Illumination earn a place among the country’s top 10 botanical garden holiday lights displays. The top 10 winners, as determined by public votes, will be announced Thursday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. CST. To vote for Illumination, visit USA TODAY 10Best’s website. Supporters are encouraged to vote daily and share the link with friends, family and fellow Illumination fans to help the exhibition secure a spot on this year’s top 10 list.
“We’re honored that Illumination has been recognized again by USA TODAY 10Best and grateful for the enthusiasm our guests bring to this annual tradition,” said Amy Scott, the Arboretum’s head of exhibitions. “This year is our boldest Illumination yet, with 22 dazzling displays and four new large-scale installations, including Northern Lights, our most ambitious installation ever. Guests can also discover Pine Whistle Railroad, a new, separately ticketed attraction featuring model trains winding through a fantastical woodland. We hope our guests and supporters will join us in celebrating this one-of-a-kind way to see trees and nature in winter by voting and sharing the word.”
USA TODAY 10Best editors and a panel of subject matter experts selected the nominees for ‘Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights.’ Readers determine the final rankings through four weeks of public voting. Participation is free, and nominations cannot be purchased. Illumination has earned repeated recognition for USA TODAY 10Best’s ‘Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights’ Readers’ Choice Award, placing runner-up in 2025, No. 10 in 2024, No. 6 in 2023, and runner-up in both 2022 and 2021.
Illumination returns for its 14th season Saturday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, with 22 displays across 50 acres along a one-mile, ADA-accessible walking trail. This season introduces four new large-scale installations, including Northern Lights, an immersive display inspired by the aurora borealis and the Arboretum’s most ambitious Illumination installation to date, on view this season only. Spanning more than 400 feet overhead, Northern Lights features shifting colors and illuminated curtains that evoke the northern sky. Other new displays include Lightwave, an immersive tunnel of moving and fixed chrome spheres; Cosmic Garden, a glowing hillside inspired by meditative sand gardens; and Fairy Forest, featuring glowing orbs and illuminated mushrooms.
New this year, Pine Whistle Railroad transforms the Arboretum’s Firefly Pavilion into a fantastical woodland, with nearly 1,000 feet of model train track winding through miniature fairy and gnome houses, oversized mushrooms and other imaginative details. The attraction is available with a separate add-on ticket during both daytime visits and evening Illumination. Returning favorites and refreshed interactive displays round out the trail, along with four large illuminated sculptures from the Arboretum’s Vivid Creatures exhibition by artists Heather and Fez BeGaetz.
Special events and seasonal offerings add to the fun throughout the season. IllumiBrew, a 21+ preview and beer-tasting event featuring seasonal beers, ciders and meads from popular Chicago-area breweries along the trail, kicks off the festivities Nov. 13, followed by Sensory Night on Nov. 17, with modified lighting and lower-volume music for a more sensory-friendly visit. Dog Admission Nights return on four evenings, and guests can also reserve cozy IllumiDomes for private gatherings, dining or special celebrations. Along the trail, seasonal concessions include hot chocolate, s’mores and other treats to enjoy around warming fires.
Illumination has delighted more than 2 million visitors since debuting in 2013. Custom-designed for the Arboretum in partnership with international media and exhibit designers Lightswitch, the exhibition features energy-efficient LED lighting to transform the Arboretum’s trees and landscapes after dark.
More details and ticket information for Illumination are available at mortonarb.org/illumination.
Illumination is generously sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Office of Tourism and ComEd.