Derby Christmas Lights Switch-On: Saturday 28 November

Derby's Christmas lights are switching on again on Saturday 28 November 2026, with the main moment at 5.30pm in Derby Market Place (DE1 3AH). The evening is free and aimed at families, and it marks the start of Festive Derby. This year it's back on a Saturday night, so if you're planning a weekend in town, it's worth putting it in the diary.

The lantern parade is the part most people will want to see. It's organised by Surtal Arts in collaboration with Derby LIVE and forms part of Derby Season of Light, the festival of lights that this year has the theme 'Heroes'. Anyone can join in, and the organisers encourage people to turn up in their (super)hero costumes, especially children, carrying their lanterns. Hundreds of lanterns made by the community are expected to take part, alongside dance and music performances. The lanterns are made from biodegradable materials such as willow, bamboo and tissue paper, and each one is lit with a battery-powered LED light, so there's no need for a flame.

If you don't have a lantern yet, there's still time to make one. Surtal Arts runs artist-led lantern workshops in Derby and across Derbyshire from 27 October to 21 November. Each costs £5 per person per lantern and they're suitable for individuals or families, although children under seven need to be accompanied by an adult. Booking is recommended. In Derby, one of the sessions takes place at Derby Market Hall on Saturday 14 November, from 1pm to 3pm, and the workshops are decorated around the same 'Heroes' theme as the parade.

Once the parade has passed, the switch-on turns on the Festive Derby Light Trail. The route starts at St Peter's Cross and runs to Osnabrück Square, with gonks, reindeer and a polar bear along the way. From there it goes through Derby Market Hall under the golden star, out to Market Place, where a giant teddy bear keeps an eye on the Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink, and finally up to Derby Cathedral. The trail is produced by the Cathedral Quarter and St Peter's Quarter Business Improvement Districts with Derby City Council, and it stays lit until New Year's Eve.

The switch-on also brings live entertainment on the stage in Market Place, including community performances presented by Smooth Radio, which sponsors the event. Market Place is the natural meeting point for most of the evening, so it's a good idea to arrive a little early to find a spot before the lights come on. Whether you're going for the lanterns, the entertainment or simply the first glimpse of the lights for the season, the evening is free and open to everyone.