Derby Diwali 2026

Derby Diwali 2026 takes over Derby Market Hall on Thursday 5 November, from 6pm to 9pm. It's run by Artcore, who bill it as the city's biggest Diwali celebration, and they've set it up so you can mark the festival of light alongside your Hindu, Sikh and Jain neighbours. The night starts outdoors in the Square with a lantern-lighting ceremony from 6.15pm, before everyone moves inside the Market Hall for the rest of the evening.

Once you're inside, the hall fills with music, dance, art, a bazaar and food from a variety of vendors. There are also rangoli designs on display. The live performances and dance come from Shakti Academy, Layasakhi, Ankita, Aishwariya, Mehek Giddhe De and the Garba of the Maher Girls Raas Group. DJ Amrita and AVH will be on the decks, with Ketaki on flute and Sanskriti Pariwar Nottingham Dhol Pataks bringing the dhol drums. Between the stage and the stalls, there's plenty to wander through.

Artcore frame the night as a chance for families and friends to gather across the city's diverse communities. Diwali is the biggest night of the Indian year, and this follows a pattern seen in most large cities: the festival is observed over the surrounding weekends, with one big public event to anchor it. If you're not from a Hindu, Sikh or Jain background, it's a good way to see how the city marks it.

Entry is free, though Artcore ask everyone to register on Eventbrite beforehand. The whole thing runs from 6pm to 9pm at Derby Market Hall, Tennant Street, Market Place, DE1 2DB, with the lantern-lighting starting in the Square from 6.15pm.