Thursday 19 November in The Broadway, 4.20pm to 7.30pm, lights on just before 6.30pm. Heart's Jonny Meah hosts 12 local acts. Free, with parking advice.

Winchester’s Christmas lights switch-on is on Thursday 19 November 2026 in The Broadway outside the Guildhall, from 4.20pm to 7.30pm, and the countdown starts just before 6.30pm. Winchester BID, which runs the event, published the 2026 programme on 2 October (Winchester BID). It is free.

Updated 3 October: the BID has published the 2026 programme. The event now runs 4.20pm to 7.30pm, not the 4.30pm to 7pm in its earlier diary, with a Heart host, a sponsor, 12 acts and the lights switched on by public-nominated local heroes.

What is confirmed for 2026

  • Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
  • Time: 4.20pm to 7.30pm, lights on just before 6.30pm
  • Where: the stage is in The Broadway outside the Guildhall
  • Host: Jonny Meah from Heart
  • Sponsor: Costa Coffee Winchester, new this year
  • Who switches the lights on: local heroes nominated by the public
  • Admission: free
  • Organiser: Winchester BID

The BID says the countdown “will begin just before 6.30pm, when the local heroes will help press the giant red ‘ON’ button” (nominations page). If you only want to see the lights go on, that is the moment to be in The Broadway.

Who is performing

The BID lists these acts for the stage in The Broadway:

  • Osborne School’s Rubik’s Cube
  • Encore Choir
  • The Pilgrims’ School Chamber Choir
  • Harestock Primary School Choir
  • Integr8 Dance
  • Winchester Rock Choir
  • Winchester Cathedral Choristers
  • The cast of the Theatre Royal pantomime, Sleeping Beauty
  • Winchester A Capella
  • Love Soul Choir
  • Diva Academy
  • Weeke Primary School Recorder Club

No running order has been published, so the BID has not said who is on when.

The snow globe and Santa’s Sleigh

A giant inflatable snow globe stands in Middle Brook Street outside The Brooks from 3pm to 8pm on the day. Winchester Round Table’s Santa’s Sleigh parks next to it from 3pm. Both are free; the BID asks snow globe visitors for a voluntary donation to Spare Change for Lasting Change, its scheme supporting two homelessness charities, Trinity Winchester and The Winchester Beacon.

Nominate a local hero

Nominations for the people who press the button close on Saturday 31 October 2026. The form is linked from the BID’s nominations page.

Kingsgate Village switch-on

Kingsgate Village has its own lights switch-on and late opening on Thursday 26 November, 5.30pm to 8pm, from the BID’s key dates for 2026.

Road closures

As of 3 October, neither Hampshire County Council’s public notices for the Winchester area (133 live notices) nor the city council’s 2026 notices library carries a closure order naming the switch-on. We will add the streets and times here if one appears. Our roadworks and travel page tracks what else is shut.

Parking on the night

The switch-on falls after the city council’s new car park charges take effect on 1 November (our report on the rises).

  • Park and Walk car parks (Chesil Street, Cattle Market, Worthy Lane, the Coach Park) charge until 6pm, first hour free, £1.50 for two hours, £2.20 for three. Chesil Street multi storey is the biggest, with 616 spaces.
  • Central car parks charge £2.20 for an hour until 7pm, £4.00 for two hours, then the overnight rate from 7pm. Middle Brook Street car park is on the same street as the snow globe and will fill first.
  • Park and ride costs £4.50 a day from 1 November, and is free after 4pm at the East Winchester sites. The council says the last weekday buses leave the town centre “around 7.30pm”, which is when the event ends, so leave before the finish or plan to walk.

Every car park, with postcodes, is on our parking in Winchester page.

What follows it

The Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market opens the next day, Friday 20 November, and runs to Tuesday 22 December. The BID runs an

IndieWinch chalet there for the whole run, with a different pair of independent

businesses most days, and gives away a free tote bag.

Frequently asked questions

When are the Christmas lights switched on in Winchester in 2026?

Thursday 19 November 2026. The event runs from 4.20pm to 7.30pm in The Broadway and the countdown to the lights starts just before 6.30pm.

Who is switching on the Winchester Christmas lights?

Local heroes nominated by the public. Nominations close on 31 October 2026. Jonny Meah from Heart hosts the evening.

Where is the Winchester Christmas lights switch-on held?

On a stage in The Broadway outside the Guildhall. The snow globe and Santa’s Sleigh are in Middle Brook Street outside The Brooks from 3pm to 8pm.

Is the Winchester Christmas lights switch-on free?

Yes. It is a free street event run by Winchester BID and sponsored this year by Costa Coffee Winchester.

Is there a second switch-on in Winchester?

Yes. Kingsgate Village switches on its lights on Thursday 26 November 2026, from 5.30pm to 8pm.

Sources