Christmas lights switch-on 2026: when and where
A confirmed-only list of when Christmas lights and light festivals start in European cities in November 2026. Most switch-ons are public and many are free, which makes them an easy evening out on your own. We list a city only if its 2026 date is on an official page we could read.
Also in: Español · Last checked 26 Oct 2026.
Confirmed 2026 dates
In date order. Each line links the official page it comes from. Where a page gives no time, we say so rather than guess.
- London, Carnaby Street: Wednesday 4 November 2026 time not stated
Carnaby Street, Soho. The street's own site lists the light switch-on for Wednesday 4 November. No time was given when we checked.
Source: carnaby.co.uk (Carnaby Street / Shaftesbury Capital) - Belfast: Saturday 14 November 2026, 6.30 pm 6.30 to 7.30 pm
Belfast City Hall. Listed as a free event, but the council says it is ticketed: tickets from visitbelfast.com at 10 am on Tuesday 3 November. Get one before you go.
Source: belfastcity.gov.uk (Belfast City Council) - Stockholm: Saturday 14 November 2026, 4 pm 4 pm
Kungsträdgården. The organiser opens this year's Stockholmsjul with music and a singalong; it says more than 50 streets and squares get Christmas lighting.
Source: stockholmsjul.se (organiser of #Stockholmsjul) - Bruges: Friday 20 November 2026 festival start
Winter Glow (Wintergloed) runs from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027, bringing light to the city centre. The page gives no single switch-on time.
Source: visitbruges.be (Visit Bruges, official tourism board) - Amsterdam: Thursday 26 November 2026 festival start
Amsterdam Light Festival, edition 15, runs 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027 (a Sunday). It has cruise, walk and bike options; check its tickets page, as we did not verify which parts are free.
Source: amsterdamlightfestival.com (the festival) - Brussels: Friday 27 November 2026 market start
Winter Wonders (Plaisirs d'Hiver) runs from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. This is the winter market opening, not a switch-on ceremony. The site says the programme comes out in November, so any Grand-Place light show date is still unknown.
Source: plaisirsdhiver.be (Winter Wonders, official site) - Vilnius: Saturday 28 November 2026 time not stated
The Christmas season officially opens with the Christmas Tree Lighting on 28 November; the Christmas Market in Cathedral Square runs 28 November to 27 December 2026. The page names no time.
Source: govilnius.lt (Go Vilnius, official tourism board) - Pamplona: Sunday 29 November 2026 lights period start
The city council's press item says the Christmas lighting and decoration of the centre and neighbourhoods runs from 29 November to 6 January (text in Spanish). It does not give a ceremony time.
Source: pamplona.es (Ayuntamiento de Pamplona)
Dates can change. Re-check the official page on the day.
Not announced yet: check these
We could not find a 2026 date on an official page for these cities, so we give none. Past years were usually mid to late November, but that is not a promise. Some press reports name dates; we do not repeat them without an official source.
- Madrid madrid.es
- Barcelona barcelona.cat/nadal The official Christmas site says it will be updated in November 2026.
- Vigo vigo.org
- Málaga malaga.eu
- Valencia valencia.es
- Lisbon visitlisboa.com
- Paris, Champs-Élysées paris.fr
- London, Regent Street and Oxford Street regentstreetonline.com
- Berlin, Kurfürstendamm berlin.de
- Vienna wien.info
- Milan comune.milano.it
Going alone: short tips
- Arrive early. Switch-ons draw crowds. Being there 45 to 60 minutes before makes it easy to find a spot with a view and an easy exit.
- Pick a spot at the edge. Side of a square or a bridge-end beats the middle of the crowd, and lets you leave when you want.
- Check if it is ticketed. Belfast's switch-on needs a ticket even though it is listed as free. Read the source line for each city.
- Plan your way home. Streets near big switch-ons are often closed to traffic. Look up the last tram, metro or bus before you go and keep a charged phone.
- Dress for standing. You will stand outdoors for an hour or more in November. Gloves and a warm hat matter more than a good camera.
- Fix a meeting point if you want company. Choose a named landmark, not "near the lights". Meet-ups for people on their own are listed on Come Alone (comealone.app).
Also in December
Lyon's Festival of Lights runs 5 to 8 December 2026: see our Lyon page. For Krampus runs and St Nicholas see Krampus 2026, and for markets Christmas markets tonight.
Questions
Where do the dates come from?
Each dated city links its official page: a city council, an official tourism board or the organiser. We read them with a plain request on 26 October 2026. Pages that blocked us were skipped, and news sites and guides were not used as proof.
Why is Paris, Madrid or Barcelona missing from the dated list?
We could not find a 2026 date on an official page. Dates may appear in the press, but we only list what an official source states. Check the links in the not-announced list.
Are switch-ons free?
Most street switch-ons are free to watch. Belfast needs a free-listed ticket, and festival extras such as boat tours or rinks may be paid. Check each source.