JaackMaate and the Happy Hour hosts switch on Norwich's lights at 7pm on Thursday 19 November at City Hall. Free; road closures from 10am, times, access.
Norwich’s Festive Lights Switch-on is on Thursday 19 November 2026, free, with entertainment from 5.30pm and the lights going on at 7pm. On 16 October Norwich City Council announced that the switch will be thrown by Jack Dean, the YouTuber and podcaster JaackMaate, with his Happy Hour podcast co-hosts Stevie White and Robbie Knox.
Updated 17 October: the council has republished the 19 November date, named who switches the lights on, and published road closures, the accessible viewing area and the first acts. Earlier in October both dated listings had briefly been taken down; the date did not change.
The quick answer
- When: Thursday 19 November 2026, entertainment from 5.30pm, switch-on at 7pm.
- Where: main stage on the steps of City Hall, St Peters Street, with Hay Hill and Norwich Market also part of the evening.
- Who: JaackMaate, Stevie White and Robbie Knox of The Happy Hour podcast, all from Norwich.
- Cost: free, no tickets and no box office.
- Roads: St Peters Street and part of Bethel Street shut 10am to 9pm; the central shopping streets 5pm to 9pm.
Who is switching on the lights
The trio said on their podcast that switching on the city’s lights was one of their ambitions, and the Lord Mayor, Cllr Karen Davies, went to their studio to invite them formally. The council says the episode with that invitation is released on Monday 19 October. Jack Dean said in the council’s announcement that they had gone to the switch-on every year since they were children, “with a hot chocolate in hand from the market”.
What is on the night
From the council’s announcement and its Festive Switch-On 2026 site:
- 5.30pm to 7pm: the show on the main stage, on the City Hall steps. Named so far: Dr DJ’s Dad Dancing Dispensary and Not Your Average Choir, with “many other acts to be announced”, plus music, comedy, dancing and the annual snowball throw.
- 7pm: the lights go on.
- After the switch-on: the first Norwich Winter Sessions, run by Norwich BID, with music and performance on Hay Hill and Gentleman’s Walk.
- Norwich Market is the council’s suggestion for food and hot drinks. There is no food court or refreshment bar at the stage.
- The Love Letters trail, from VisitNorwich with the Sainsbury Centre, launches the same day and runs to 10 January, with prizes.
The council’s own sensory notes warn of loud music, pyrotechnics, snow machines (a non-toxic foam that can dampen clothing) and large beach balls thrown into the crowd. There is no strobe lighting, and earplugs are available on request.
New this year, the lights stay up across the shopping streets until the end of January, rather than coming down after Christmas.
Road closures and getting there
The council’s plan your visit page lists these closures on Thursday 19 November:
| Time | Roads closed |
|---|---|
| 10am to 9pm | St Peters Street; Bethel Street from The Forum car park to St Peters Street |
| 5pm to 9pm | Gaol Hill, Guildhall Hill, Gentleman’s Walk, Brigg Street, White Lion Street, London Street, Exchange Street |
| All evening | Upper Goat Lane one-way reversed, northbound only |
No car parks close, according to the council’s accessibility page. Blue Badge bays stay open on St Benedict’s Street, St Giles Street, Brigg Street, Surrey Street and All Saints Green, but are closed on Bethel Street, Gentleman’s Walk, Exchange Street (outside Halifax) and London Street. The drop-off point is on Bethel Street.
An early-evening Thursday event in the middle of the city is the hardest time to park, so it is worth reading our parking in Norwich page for the multi-storeys and the park-and-ride last buses. Our Norwich roadworks and travel page carries anything else shut that week.
Accessibility
The accessibility page has more detail than most councils publish:
- Accessible viewing area on St Peters Street, in front of the main stage, open 5.15pm to 7.30pm. It is free but must be booked by Friday 13 November through events@norwich.gov.uk or 01603 989333. Booked spaces are held until 6pm, then offered first come, first served. Moveable chairs and an accessible toilet about 20 metres away.
- Quiet room inside City Hall (the Wellbeing Room, entrance on Bethel Street), and a calm area in the closed-off motorbike park on the corner of St Peters Street and Bethel Street.
- Changing Places toilet in The Forum; other accessible toilets at The Forum, Norwich Market and Chantry Place.
- First aid on site; assistance dogs welcome.
What the previous two years looked like
Useful for planning, not a promise about this one.
2025, on Thursday 20 November, ran across three sites: City Hall, Hay Hill and Norwich Market. Entertainment started at 5.15pm and the switch happened at 7pm, thrown by Joe Tracini, who was starring in the Theatre Royal pantomime. Norwich Market stayed open late with food and drink and a set from Hellesdon Brass Band.
2024, on Thursday 14 November, was tighter: 5.30pm to 7.05pm, entirely on St Peters Street in front of City Hall, with the lights coming on at 7pm from the stage. A funfair ran from 4.30pm until late and market stalls stayed open to 8pm.
2026 follows the same pattern: a Thursday in the second half of November, about 90 minutes of entertainment, and the switch at 7pm.
The Canopy of Light and the rest of the lighting
The lights are Norwich BID’s, with council support. The BID says its scheme runs wrap-around lighting on trees and lamp posts from Gentleman’s Walk to London Street, through Davey Place to Prince of Wales Road, Tombland and Timberhill.
The single biggest installation is the Canopy of Light at Hay Hill. The BID gives its specification as 32,000 energy-efficient LEDs, more than 1,200 two-metre drops and 1.6 miles of linear light string, a length it compares to 183 double decker buses. In 2025 the canopy had its own switch-on slot at Hay Hill from 7pm to 8pm after the main event, with a DJ set and two LED hoop performances. Whether that is repeated in 2026 is not yet published.
The council described the 2024 scheme as 100% LED, powered by 100% renewable energy, with lamp posts wrapped in lights for the first time.
The rest of the Norwich festive season
- Christkindl Market, Chapelfield Gardens, NR2 1SB: Friday 11 to Sunday 20 December, daily 10am to 9pm. Run by Fine City Events Ltd, with the council citing more than 80 stalls. Entry is free Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm; after 3pm on weekdays and all day at weekends it is £2 per adult, and children are free at all times.
- Winter Wonderland Norwich at the Norfolk Showground: 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, free entry booked in advance, with a covered real ice rink, funfair rides, an observation wheel and a Santa’s grotto. The organiser’s earlier 12 November opening has moved back. See our Winter Wonderland Norwich page.
- Pantomime at Norwich Theatre Royal runs from 5 December. See our Norwich pantomime page for every date, time and price.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Norwich Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Thursday 19 November 2026. Entertainment starts at 5.30pm in front of City Hall and the lights go on at 7pm, according to Norwich City Council.
Who is switching on the Norwich Christmas lights?
JaackMaate (Jack Dean) and his Happy Hour podcast co-hosts Stevie White and Robbie Knox, who are all from Norwich. The council announced them on 16 October.
Is the Norwich lights switch-on free?
Yes. There are no tickets and no box office. The accessible viewing area is also free but needs booking by 13 November.
Which roads are closed for the Norwich switch-on?
St Peters Street and Bethel Street (from The Forum car park) from 10am to 9pm, then Gaol Hill, Guildhall Hill, Gentleman’s Walk, Brigg Street, White Lion Street, London Street and Exchange Street from 5pm to 9pm. No car parks close.
How long do the Norwich Christmas lights stay up?
Until the end of January 2027. The council says keeping them up after Christmas is new this year, following feedback from residents, businesses and visitors.
When is the Norwich Christmas market?
The Christkindl Market runs at Chapelfield Gardens from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 December 2026, daily from 10am to 9pm. Entry is free on weekdays between 10am and 3pm, £2 per adult at other times, and free for children at all times.
Is there an ice rink in Norwich this Christmas?
Yes, at Winter Wonderland Norwich on the Norfolk Showground, which runs from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and has a covered real ice rink. Entry is free; skating is a paid extra.
Sources
Norwich City Council, “Norwich grants festive wish as Jaackmaate set to switch on city’s lights”, 16 October 2026, Festive Switch-On 2026, plan your visit, accessibility, Festive Lights Switch-on and events planner; Norwich BID, Christmas in Norwich, Festive Lights Switch On 2026, Festive Lights Switch On 2025, Festive Light Switch-On 2024 and Norwich citywide events 2026; Norwich City Council news, “Magical evening planned for Norwich Festive Lights Switch-On”, 18 October 2024; Christkindl Market Norwich and Winter Wonderland Norwich. Checked 6 September 2026; the council and BID switch-on listings re-checked 3 October 2026; council pages re-checked 17 October 2026.
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