The 2026 Lewes Bonfire: what to know before you go

The 2026 Lewes Bonfire takes place on Thursday 5 November. Although it is an easy trip to consider from Brighton, the event is held in Lewes and changes the town completely for one evening. More than 30 processions are expected, with marching bands, torches, burning crosses, flags, fireworks and large effigies moving through the streets from around 17:00 until about 01:00. The grand procession is expected at roughly 21:00, when five Lewes societies come together on parts of the central route. The main bonfire is due to be lit at 22:00.

Lewes Bonfire is rooted in two strands of history. It marks the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, as Bonfire Night does elsewhere, but also remembers the 17 Protestant martyrs from Lewes who were burned during the Marian Persecutions between 1555 and 1557. Seventeen burning crosses are carried through the town before a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lewes War Memorial. The evening also includes the traditional barrel run on Cliffe High Street. Flaming tar barrels are raced by women and men, before one is thrown into the River Ouse. The programme is organised by the local societies, whose members return to their headquarters for Bonfire Prayers after the public displays.

There are seven Lewes societies, each with its own area, costumes and traditions: Cliffe, Commercial Square, Lewes Borough, Southover, South Street, Waterloo and Nevill Juvenile. The six adult societies hold separate firework displays on the edge of town, while each creates a large tableau packed with fireworks. Cliffe is known for its smugglers, Viking and French Revolutionary pioneers, and its continuing use of a “No Popery” flag. Other societies bring themes ranging from Native Americans and American Civil War soldiers to Celtic warriors, Tudor figures, Mongols and ancient Greeks and Romans. The displays can also include Guy Fawkes, Pope Paul V and other topical effigies, a part of the tradition that has attracted criticism over the years.

Watching the processions is free, but entry to an individual fire site is ticket-only. Tickets must be bought in advance from the relevant society headquarters or Lewes Tourist Information Centre, and the official programme gives the latest routes, timings and fire-site details. There is no car parking in Lewes on Bonfire Night. Road closures are expected from around 14:00, with the main procession routes closed to parking, so arriving early is essential if you are travelling from Brighton. Rail arrangements are also restricted: in recent years Lewes, Falmer, Glynde and Southease stations have closed during the event, and the 2025 arrangements also excluded Cooksbridge. Check the latest travel information before setting out rather than assuming normal services.

The crowd can be very large: up to 80,000 spectators have attended, while around 40,000 people were recorded in 2024. The organisers describe the event as unsuitable for very young children, frail people, those with reduced mobility and people with respiratory problems. Keep children close, follow stewards’ and police instructions, and do not throw anything onto the bonfires. Waterproof clothing is sensible, toilets are limited and some pubs operate on a ticket-only basis. Charity collection boxes are passed through the crowds, so carrying cash is useful. Full event information is available from Lewes Bonfire Celebrations, including updates on tickets, routes and access.