Chichester’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm on Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Market Cross. Live entertainment starts at 3pm, and families can book a separate lantern-making trail earlier in the afternoon.
What time are Chichester’s Christmas lights switched on?
Dawn Gracie opens the Market Cross programme at 3pm. Dance and Beyond’s Mini Movers follow at 3.15pm, with steel pan at 3.30pm and Arabesque School of Performing Arts at 4pm. Rock Choir performs at 4.15pm and Prebendal School Choir at 4.30pm.
Gracie returns at 4.45pm for the countdown. Chichester’s Christmas Local Heroes will join her for the switch-on at 5pm. Afterwards, participating venues around the city centre are putting on live music and other entertainment. See the switch-on programme and after-party listings.
How the Starlight Trail works
The separately ticketed Starlight Trail runs from 1pm to 4.30pm, with places priced at £12 per child. Pick a starting point when you book from The Novium Museum, Chichester Library, Chichester Cathedral or Pallant House Gallery. Children receive a trail passport and can make a lantern at The Novium, with festive crafts at the other three stops. Allow 45 minutes for the activity at each venue.
Book the Starlight Trail. For other seasonal outings, see our Sussex Christmas markets guide and Christmas light trails guide.
Archive image: Simon Burchell / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, same licence. Original photograph · Licence
