Christmas lights 2026: Switch-on dates across the Black Country and Staffordshire
Towns and cities across the region will fill up with people ready to celebrate the start of the festive season.
There is set to be a celebratory feeling in the air across the region as thousands will gather to see the start of the festive season as the Christmas lights are switched on.
Towns and cities will be putting up stages and providing entertainment as communities will come together and mark the beginning of the Christmas season through festive lights and displays.
We’ve taken a look at some of the major events taking place in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Wyre Forest and have produced this guide of what is happening and where it is happening.
There is set to be four big events taking place in and around Wolverhampton, with fun for all the family.
It all gets started in the city centre on November 21 on Victoria Square, with a full afternoon of entertainment starting at 3pm, including a funfair, free face painting, food and drink and much more.
Popular children’s characters from Toy Story and Elf on the Shelf will be on hand throughout the day to keep everyone entertained before live stage performances from Big Arena Performing Arts School, The Ronnies, Masti Music, The People’s Show Choir and Callum Doignie from The Voice, who will perform festive hits old and new.
They will then be joined by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Paul Singh, and Father Christmas, to switch on the lights at 6pm.
The city centre fun is not the only festive celebration in Wolverhampton, as Christmas lights will also be switched on at Wednesfield, Tettenhall and Bilston, with lots of family activities and entertainment including free face painting, live music entertainment, and children’s character appearances.
Father Christmas and the Mayor of Wolverhampton will switch on the lights in each area along with entertainment from Wolverhampton’s very own Dicky Dodd.
The full list of lights switch-on events is as follows:
- Saturday, November 21: Wolverhampton city centre, Bell Square, Victoria Street: event 3pm to 6.30pm, lights switch on 6pm
- Thursday, November 26: Wednesfield, High Street: event 4.30pm to 7pm, lights switch on 6.30pm
- Friday, November 27: Bilston, Church Street: event 4.30pm to 7pm, lights switch on 6.30pm
- Saturday, November 28: Tettenhall, Upper Green: event 5.30pm to 8pm, lights switch on 7pm
Christmas lights switch-on events will be taking place in town centres across the borough.
Dudley, Sedgley, Stourbridge, Halesowen, and Brierley Hill will each be featuring live stage performances, street entertainers, market stalls and festive attractions.
The first event will take place in Dudley at the market place on Saturday, November 14, running from 10am to 5pm, with the lights being switched on at 5pm.
Sedgley will follow on Saturday, November 15, with festivities on Vicar Street from 4pm to 6.30pm and the lights being turned on at 6.30pm.
Both Stourbridge and Halesowen will host their celebrations on Saturday, November 21, from 10am to 5.30pm, with the lights set to be switched on at 5pm.
Brierley Hill’s event will take place on Saturday, November 28 at the Moor Centre, running from noon to 4.30pm, with the lights being switched on at 4pm.
Sandwell’s annual Christmas Lights Switch-On events are set to return this November, bringing festive entertainment, sparkling lights and seasonal celebrations to town centres across the borough.
There will be live music and entertainment, a chance to browse Christmas market stalls, meet special Christmas characters and soak up the seasonal atmosphere as the countdown to the big switch-on begins.
The Christmas Lights Switch-On event schedule is as follows:
- Oldbury, between Sandwell Council House and Sainsbury’s on Friday, November 13 from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, with the switch-on at 6pm
- Blackheath High Street on Saturday, November 14 from 4.30pm to 7pm, with the switch-on at 6.30pm
- Tipton on Unity Walk on Friday, November 27 from 4pm to 6.30pm, with the switch-on at 6.15pm
- Wednesbury, near the clock tower, on Saturday, November 28 from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, with the switch-on at 6pm
- West Bromwich at Farley Fountain, behind Primark on Saturday, December 5 from 4pm to 6.30pm, with the switch-on at 6.15pm
As part of the borough's festive celebrations, the Council will also be installing festive lights displays in 22 locations and Christmas trees in 12 areas across Sandwell.
Walsall town centre will welcome the festive season with Winter MakerFest on Saturday, November 21, offering an afternoon of entertainment, seasonal activities and family fun.
The free winter event will bring together local performers, artists, makers and community groups for an afternoon of festive entertainment and hands-on activities.
Delivered by Walsall Council and produced by Bostin’ Creative, the event will feature a programme of connected activities and festive moments across the town centre, giving residents and visitors plenty of opportunities to explore, get creative and enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.
The event will open with a special appearance by the Mayor of Walsall alongside the cast of this year’s Walsall Arena pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, outside the Town Hall at 3.30pm.
Christmas lights will illuminate the town centre from the afternoon, adding extra sparkle to the celebrations. This year’s event will take a slightly different format, with activities and entertainment taking place throughout the afternoon rather than a formal lights switch-on ceremony.
There will be plenty of live entertainment inside and out, with performances from Walsall born Singer Songwriter Joe Summers, local Folk Band - Ember Wren, Renee Tiana, Voices Entwined and Impact Steel Band.
In Willenhall, the Christmas lights switch-on will take place on Thursday, November 26, with a funfair, stalls, choir and plenty of festive entertainment.
The skies above Stafford will be illuminated on Saturday, November 21 and the day will include live music and street entertainment before the lights are turned on at 5pm.
It will be followed by a firework display then more live music to keep the crowd singing and dancing in the town’s Market Square.
Stars of this year’s Stafford Gatehouse panto, Aladdin, will join the Mayor of Stafford, Councillor Mark Winnington, and Father Christmas on stage to launch what is the town’s traditional countdown to Christmas Day.
They will include children’s favourite Mark Rhodes and popular dame David Phipps-Davis along with Samantha Spragg who plays the Genie.
The day will begin at 12pm with a community ‘Walking Parade’ starting at Tipping Street and travelling through the town with around 100 people representing ten local groups taking part.
A giant 40ft decorated Christmas Tree will take centre stage in the ‘Square’ while a huge video screen will make sure everyone has a good view of the event, although organisers are urging people to arrive early, as the main area in Market Square will be temporarily closed from 4.45pm for safety reasons.
Stone Town Council will stage the annual switch-on of the town's Christmas lights on Thursday, November 19.
The event opens at 5pm, with Samantha Lloyd as compere for the evening and entertainment leading up to the switch-on.
The K-Pop Demon Hunters tribute act will start things off, followed by the combined schools’ choir, led by Mr Harrison and Mr Cannon from Christchurch Academy.
The turning on of the lights will take place at 7pm and the lights will be switched on by the Town Mayor, Councillor Andrew Best and Father Christmas.
They will be joined by the winners of the Mayor's school Christmas Card competition.
The Lichfield Christmas Light Switch On will take place on November 22, with a day packed full of festive fun including live music, a festive market, children's rides, free face painting and much more at Market Square, starting at 2pm.
The lights will be switched on at 5pm, marking the official start of the festive season in Lichfield.
Cannock will welcome the start of the festive season with its lights switch on on Saturday, November 28.
Organised by Cannock Lions club, there will be free amusements and a visit to Santa, as well as face painting, a snow globe, monster bouncy castle, Christmas pudding shy, hook a duck and music acts on the bandstand all day.
In Kidderminster, the town’s much-loved Christmas Lights Switch On is back on Saturday, November 14.
The town council is inviting people to join them in the town centre for an evening filled with festive cheer as Kidderminster welcomes the Christmas season.
The event, which is being organised by Kidderminster Town Council and Kidderminster BID and supported by Wyre Forest District Council, will run from 3pm to 9pm, with the lights being switched on at 5.30pm.
There will be live entertainment, market stalls and funfair rides.
In Stourport, the Three Kings Parade and Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place on Friday, November 20.
The Parade Assembly will begin between 5.15pm and 5.30pm on the car park behind the Civic Centre, with the lights being switched on at 6pm.
Bewdley’s annual Christmas lights switch-on will take place on Saturday, November 21 with a full day of festivities planned from 12pm to 7pm.
Entertainment will include live music, family attractions and a festive market before the Mayor of Bewdley, Councillor Sharon Harvey, is joined by Father Christmas at 5.30pm to light up the town.
The festive market on Load Street will open from 11am, offering food, crafts, and gift ideas, while the fun fair returns to Load Street car park with rides and attractions for all ages.
Live performances throughout the afternoon will feature Toucan Music, Kyle Finn, Crimson Flame, GKY Dance, and the Got2Sing Choir, with DJ Lee Dyson playing Christmas favourites.
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