5 new exhibits, animals, and projects worth a road trip to Ohio Zoos in 2026
If you haven’t been to one of these 5 Ohio zoos in a while, 2026 is the year to go.
This year, five major Ohio zoos are opening new exhibits, welcoming new animals, or finishing projects years in the making. Some of these changes are small. Some are massive. All of them are good reasons to plan a trip.
Here is your guide to what’s new at Ohio’s top zoos in 2026.
Columbus Zoo: A New Aquarium Is Coming
The Columbus Zoo just made one of the biggest announcements in its history. The zoo is building the John F. Wolfe Aquarium, named for a Columbus family with deep ties to the zoo’s past.
The numbers are wild. The aquarium will cover more than 100,000 square feet and hold over 1 million gallons of water. It will feature more than 10,000 animals across 27 exhibits.
A $50 million gift from the Wolfe family is funding the project. It will be a separate ticket, not included with regular zoo admission. No opening date yet, but this is one to watch.
In the meantime, the zoo’s North America Trek is still fresh. It reopened last year with updated homes for black bears, bald eagles, river otters, and Mexican wolves. The exhibit also highlights conservation work with endangered hellbender salamanders.
Cincinnati Zoo: Bear Cubs and a Brand New Forest Habitat
The Cincinnati Zoo has had a string of new openings. The most recent is Bear Ridge, home to two orphaned black bear cubs named Hazel and Juniper.
The habitat has multiple viewing spots, a cave window, and a redwood tunnel that plays woodpecker sounds as you walk through. Since black bears handle cold weather well, you can often spot the cubs outside even in winter.
Right next door, the zoo opened Siamang Point in 2025. It introduced Asian small-clawed otters, siamang gibbons, and rhinoceros hornbills, all sharing one lively, landscaped habitat.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: The Rainforest Is Becoming Something Bigger
This might be the most ambitious zoo project in the state right now. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s old Rainforest exhibit is being completely reimagined as the Primate Forest.
The project covers 140,000 square feet and is on track to open this summer. It includes more than 63,000 square feet of renovated space, plus 33,500 square feet of brand new construction.
Guests will get a closer look than ever before. A new Learning Gallery will offer hands-on areas like a Connections Studio and a Forest Theater. A Care and Conservation Center will show visitors how the zoo helps protect species like the Puerto Rican crested toad.
This is only phase one. A future Gorilla Forest is planned next, with the full project wrapping up around 2032, in time for the zoo’s 150th birthday.
Toledo Zoo: A 90-Year-Old Building Gets New Life
The Toledo Zoo just reopened one of its most iconic buildings. The Reptile House, built by hand in the 1930s, reopened to the public on May 22 after a major renovation.
The biggest change is a new crocodile exhibit with deeper water and underwater viewing glass, giving Baru, the zoo’s 18-foot saltwater crocodile, much more room to swim.
New species joined the building too, including crocodile monitors and perenti monitors. There’s also a new event space called the Lanterman Family Atrium, which can host up to 100 guests with underwater views of the croc habitat.
The team kept what made the building special. Original masonry, rockwork, and chandeliers were preserved during the renovation.
Akron Zoo: New Monkeys Now, Giraffes Soon
Akron Zoo has been busy on two fronts. First, the zoo finished renovations in its Legends of the Wild area and welcomed a wave of new animals this spring.
New residents include white-faced sakis, sun conures, axolotls, cotton-top tamarins, and golden lion tamarins. Several of these species are endangered, so seeing them in person is a rare treat.
But the bigger story is what’s coming next. The Akron Zoo broke ground in June on the Lehner Family Foundation Giraffe Journey, a new exhibit that will let guests stand eye to eye with giraffes.
The expansion will also bring in ostriches and a 30-foot tower ride. The project is expected to cost around $21 million and will be one of the largest in the zoo’s history.
So, Where Should You Go This Summer?
Ohio’s zoos are not just places to see animals. They are some of the best family-friendly attractions in the Midwest, and right now, they are all leveling up at the same time.
Whether you’re chasing new exhibits, planning a summer road trip, or just looking for a fun weekend close to home, Ohio zoos 2026 is shaping up to be the best year yet to visit. Pick a zoo. Pack the car. Go see what’s new.
Quick Questions About Ohio Zoos in 2026
- What is the newest exhibit at an Ohio zoo in 2026? The Toledo Zoo’s renovated Reptile House is the most recent to reopen, on May 22, 2026. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Primate Forest is the next major opening, expected this summer.
- When does the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Primate Forest open? The zoo says the first phase is on track to open in summer 2026, with the full multi-phase project continuing through 2032.
- Is the Columbus Zoo building a new aquarium? Yes. The John F. Wolfe Aquarium will be a 100,000-square-foot, separately ticketed aquarium with more than 10,000 animals. No opening date has been announced yet.
- What new animals can you see at the Akron Zoo? Recent additions to the Legends of the Wild exhibit include white-faced sakis, sun conures, axolotls, cotton-top tamarins, and golden lion tamarins.
- Is the Akron Zoo getting a giraffe exhibit? Yes. Construction began in June 2026 on the Lehner Family Foundation Giraffe Journey, a roughly $21 million exhibit with giraffes, ostriches, and a 30-foot tower ride.
