Columbus Zoo and Aquarium opens spring season with new animals, events, and expanded North America Trek

A seasonal reset for visitors—and a sign of broader changes underway

As spring arrivals begin across central Ohio, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is entering the 2026 season with a mix of operational changes, public programs and a continuing shift in how guests move through its grounds. The zoo’s spring schedule lists daily openings in March from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with earlier 9 a.m. openings starting in April and continuing through May 22.

Alongside the seasonal calendar, the zoo is highlighting a set of “new faces” and recently added experiences designed to bring more of the collection into view during the cooler, typically more active months for many species. The spring push also coincides with continued attention on North America Trek, a redeveloped area that has become a focal point for both animal habitats and on-site conservation messaging.

New and returning programming anchors the early spring calendar

The zoo’s first major spring event is scheduled for April 3 and 4: Eggs, Paws, and Claws, a two-day program included with regular admission. The event lineup includes timed photo sessions, character meet-and-greets, an egg-themed seek-and-find activity, and a rotating schedule of animal programming across multiple regions of the zoo.

• Event dates: April 3–4, 2026
• Program elements: themed activities, photo opportunities, and region-based animal presentations
• Admission: included with standard zoo entry

Beyond the early-April programming, the zoo’s spring calendar also lists an Earth Day Celebration on April 25 and 26, positioning conservation messaging as a central theme during peak family-visit weeks.

“New faces” can mean new births—and new species in view

In recent years, the zoo has used spring as a period to introduce visitors to new animal additions—often births or young animals that have reached key developmental milestones. A prior spring “new faces” rollout highlighted multiple births across mammal and aquatic species, underscoring a recurring pattern of seasonal introductions tied to animal care cycles and exhibit readiness.

Spring programming at the zoo frequently aligns public viewing opportunities with animal care timelines, balancing visitor access with acclimation and monitoring needs.

North America Trek’s expanded footprint ties exhibits to local conservation work

North America Trek has been promoted as an immersive region modeled on U.S. national parks and native wildlife habitats, featuring species such as Mexican wolves, bald eagles, river otters and black bears. The region also includes the Ohio Center for Wildlife Conservation, presented as a hub for highlighting conservation efforts involving native species and freshwater ecosystems.

The North America changes are part of a multi-phase redevelopment effort that has been publicly framed as a major capital project intended to modernize exhibits and strengthen educational and conservation-focused interpretation. For spring visitors, that translates into an expanded route with newer habitats, seasonal animal activity, and a growing share of the zoo’s programming concentrated in this redesigned area.

What to expect for planning and crowd patterns

The zoo’s spring visitor guidance emphasizes earlier arrivals during spring break weekends and notes that habitat availability can shift with weather conditions. The combination of seasonal events, expanded exhibit areas, and spring break traffic patterns typically concentrates demand in the morning hours, especially on weekends.

For the 2026 season, the zoo’s spring messaging signals a familiar formula—seasonal events plus animal activity—paired with a more durable change: a visitor experience increasingly shaped around newly built, region-based environments and conservation storytelling.