December is the densest events month of the Phoenix year: two Cardinals home games, the Fiesta Bowl returning to Glendale on December 30, ZooLights and Glendale Glitters running nightly, and a Christmas-to-New Year rush at Sky Harbor. stress-free airport pickups at Sky Harbor Here is the whole month laid out - and how to cover every ride with one plan instead of a dozen panics. airport pickup guide for first-time visitors
December 2026 at a Glance
| Date | What is happening |
|---|---|
| Sunday, December 6, 2026 | Arizona Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium, Glendale. |
| Nightly, late November through the holidays | ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo, Glendale Glitters downtown, and Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden. |
| Sunday, December 20, 2026 | Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets at State Farm Stadium. |
| Thursday, December 24 - Saturday, December 26, 2026 | Peak holiday airport departures and arrivals at PHX Sky Harbor. how early to arrive at Sky Harbor |
| Wednesday, December 30, 2026 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl - a College Football Playoff quarterfinal - at State Farm Stadium, kickoff 5:30 p.m. MST. |
| Thursday, December 31, 2026 | New Year's Eve across the Valley, with the January 3 Cardinals-Raiders home game landing the weekend after. |
Cardinals Home Games: December 6 and December 20
The Cardinals close out the home portion of their 2026 schedule with two December dates at State Farm Stadium in Glendale: the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, December 6, and the New York Jets on Sunday, December 20. The stadium sits about 21 miles from Sky Harbor via the Loop 101, light rail does not reach Glendale, and single-game parking is among the priciest in the Valley. We drop your party at the gate, stage near the Westgate Entertainment District for the pickup, and track the clock so the ride home is waiting after the final whistle. Our State Farm Stadium shuttle page covers the full logistics, and the Cardinals game day shuttle guide breaks down game-day costs and timing from real completed trips.
The Fiesta Bowl: Wednesday, December 30
College football's Vrbo Fiesta Bowl returns to State Farm Stadium on Wednesday, December 30, 2026, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. MST as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal. It lands between Christmas and New Year's Eve, so out-of-town fans stack on top of peak holiday travelers: airport queues are long, stadium-area hotels fill early, and rideshare pricing spikes after the final whistle. A reserved private ride fixes all three - your driver tracks the game, waits at a staged spot near Westgate, and runs you straight to a hotel or the airport afterward. If you are flying in for the game, book the airport pickup and the stadium run together so a delayed flight never threatens kickoff.
Holiday Lights, Every Single Night
ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo runs from late November into January; Glendale Glitters lights up downtown Glendale nightly through January 1; and Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden runs on select evenings through the season. Weekend-night parking at all three is famously tight, and a designated driver wastes an evening idling in a line of cars. A flat-rate round trip drops everyone at the entrance and picks up when the lights are done - no surge pricing, no circling for a spot.
Christmas Week and the Airport Rush
The days around December 25 bring the second-busiest airport stretch of the year after Thanksgiving: family arrivals first, then the mass departures between Christmas and New Year's Eve. The playbook is the same one we use every peak week - book both directions at once, enter flight numbers so pickups adjust automatically to delays, and size the vehicle to the whole group. Our Thanksgiving airport shuttle page explains how flight tracking works in practice.
Trading the desert for a white Christmas up north? We also run the Phoenix to Prescott shuttle door to door - see the Prescott holidays guide for timing and what to expect on the climb to 5,000 feet.
One Plan for the Whole Month
Order the December 6 game, the lights evenings, the Fiesta Bowl, and the airport runs as separate flat-rate rides - or as round trips that save 10% each way. One portal, one receipt trail, no asking a guest to be the designated driver all month.
FAQ: Phoenix December Events and Shuttles
When do the Cardinals play at home in December 2026?
Twice: the Cardinals host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, December 6, 2026, and the New York Jets on Sunday, December 20, 2026 - both at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The Raiders visit January 3, 2027.
When and where is the Fiesta Bowl in 2026?
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Wednesday, December 30, 2026, with kickoff at 5:30 p.m. MST.
How early should I book December airport transportation in Phoenix?
As soon as your flights are set. The stretch from Christmas through New Year's Eve concentrates a month of demand into about a week, and the Fiesta Bowl stacks thousands more visitors into Glendale on December 30 - reserve early to lock your pickup slots.
When do the Phoenix-area holiday lights run?
Glendale Glitters runs nightly through January 1; ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo runs from late November into January; and Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden runs on select evenings through the season.
What Events Are Happening in Phoenix During December 2026?
Answer first: 198 events are confirmed from December 1 through December 31, 2026, across 34 venues, per the phoenix-az.events calendar (last updated September 18, 2026) — and that counts ticketed shows only. Add the Cardinals, the Fiesta Bowl, and the nightly light festivals, and central Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale all stay busy throughout the month. Confirmed highlights include:
- NBA: Suns vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, December 1, and Suns vs. the Sacramento Kings, December 2 — both 7:00 p.m. tips at Mortgage Matchup Center, 201 E. Jefferson St.
- Musical theater: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas – The Musical at ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave. in Tempe, with evening performances December 1–4.
- Classical music: the Holiday Pops Spectacular at Phoenix Symphony Hall, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.
- College hockey: Arizona State vs. Colorado College at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on the ASU campus, December 4.
- Club shows: rock, country, and alternative acts throughout December at The Crescent Ballroom (308 N. 2nd Ave.), The Rebel Lounge (2303 E. Indian School Rd.), and Marquee Theatre on Mill Avenue in Tempe.
Which Venues Host Events in Phoenix in December?
December attractions cluster in three zones — central Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale — so geography matters. The comparison at a glance:
| Venue | Where | December 2026 highlights | Getting there from Sky Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage Matchup Center | 201 E. Jefferson St., downtown Phoenix | Suns vs. Clippers (Dec 1), Suns vs. Kings (Dec 2) | Roughly 10 minutes via the Loop 202 (estimate); garages fill on game nights |
| Phoenix Symphony Hall | 225 E. Adams St., downtown Phoenix | Holiday Pops Spectacular (Dec 4) | About 10–15 minutes (estimate) |
| ASU Gammage | 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe | Grinch musical, evenings Dec 1–4 | About 20 minutes east on the Loop 202 (estimate) |
| Mullett Arena | ASU campus, Tempe | ASU hockey vs. Colorado College (Dec 4) | About 20 minutes (estimate); limited on-site parking |
| Crescent Ballroom, Rebel Lounge, Marquee Theatre | Downtown Phoenix; Indian School Rd.; Mill Ave., Tempe | Small-club live music all month | 15–25 minutes depending on venue (estimates) |
Drive times are estimates in normal traffic; double them on game and show nights.
Are Family-Friendly Events Available?
December is the most family-friendly month on the local calendar: the Grinch musical is built for kids, ZooLights and the Glendale Glitters community tradition run nightly, Las Noches de las Luminarias lights the Desert Botanical Garden trails in Papago Park, and Holiday Pops welcomes all ages. For evening shows, have your ride wait curbside so nobody crosses a dark lot with tired kids in tow.
Things to Do in Phoenix in December, AZ — Beyond Ticketed Shows
- Old Town Scottsdale: Thursday-evening ArtWalk through the Main Street and Marshall Way galleries, plus patio dining a short drive from downtown.
- Roosevelt Row: the mural-lined local arts district just north of downtown, an easy walk from Symphony Hall and Crescent Ballroom shows.
- Papago Park: pair ZooLights or the Desert Botanical Garden with an easy desert hike in daytime weather made for being outside.
How Can I Find Events by Date?
Aggregators like phoenix-az.events let you browse all December events day by day, and each venue posts confirmed dates on its own calendar. Schedules keep shifting as promoters add shows — the reference calendar was last updated September 18, 2026 — so recheck listings about a week out, then lock in rides.
Getting Around: One Ride Plan for Every Venue
From Mortgage Matchup Center to ASU Gammage to an Old Town gallery night, a reserved flat-rate ride means door-to-door drop-off, a staged pickup, and a fixed fare home. See our Phoenix to Tempe shuttle and Phoenix to Scottsdale shuttle routes for the eastside venues.
Explore Phoenix Events by Month
December is the peak, not the whole story. Our Thanksgiving airport shuttle guide covers November's rush, January brings the January 3 Cardinals-Raiders game at State Farm Stadium, and February draws the WM Phoenix Open crowd to TPC Scottsdale. Month-by-month planning lives on the Phoenix shuttle blog.
Final Thoughts: December Rewards Early Planners
With 198 confirmed events across 34 venues, two Cardinals games, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on December 30, and a holiday airport rush, the month belongs to planners. Choose your dates, book both directions at once, and spend December enjoying the performances instead of circling for parking.
December 2026 Phoenix Events: Frequently Asked Questions
What events are happening in Phoenix during December 2026?
Close to 200 ticketed events across 34 venues, including Suns games December 1–2, the Grinch musical at ASU Gammage, Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall, Cardinals games December 6 and 20, and the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl December 30.
How can I find events by date?
Use the browse-by-date calendar on phoenix-az.events or check individual venue schedules for exact showtimes.
Are family-friendly events available?
Yes — the Grinch musical, ZooLights, Glendale Glitters, Las Noches de las Luminarias, and Holiday Pops all welcome families, and the light displays run nightly through the holidays.
How often is the event schedule updated?
Continuously: the phoenix-az.events calendar was last updated September 18, 2026, with new shows added as they are confirmed. Recheck about a week before each event.
Which venues are closest to Sky Harbor?
Downtown venues — Mortgage Matchup Center and Phoenix Symphony Hall — sit roughly 10 minutes from the airport via the Loop 202 (estimate), the shortest drive of any December event zone.
When should I book December transportation?
As soon as your dates are set. Fiesta Bowl week and Christmas week book first, and reserving airport plus event rides together keeps the whole trip on one plan.
