Kenilworth's lights go on at 6pm on Friday 27 November on the High Street, closed 3pm to 10pm. Then the free Abbey End Festive Hub with Santa on Saturday.

Kenilworth’s Christmas lights are switched on at 6pm on Friday 27 November 2026 on the High Street. The free evening runs from 5pm to 8pm, and the next day the Abbey End Festive Hub fills the town centre from 10am to 5pm. Both are on Warwick District Council’s own event pages for the switch-on and the Festive Hub.

The quick answer

  • Switch-on: Friday 27 November, 5pm to 8pm, High Street, CV8 1LY. Lights on at 6pm. Free.
  • Road closure: High Street, between New Street and Malthouse Lane, 3pm to 10pm.
  • Festive Hub: Saturday 28 November, 10am to 5pm, Abbey End, CV8 1QJ. Free.
  • Santa: at the Festive Hub on the Saturday, arriving with his sleigh.

Friday 27 November: the High Street switch-on

The council describes a community switch-on with festive entertainment for all ages and food and drink from local businesses, from 5pm to 8pm, with the lights switched on at 6pm. Entry is free.

No stage line-up has been published, and the council has not said who will switch the lights on. We will add both when they appear.

Road closure

The council lists one closure: High Street, from its junction with New Street and Bridge Street to its junction with Malthouse Lane, from 3pm to 10pm on Friday 27 November. It is a weekday afternoon, so allow for it on the school run.

Saturday 28 November: the Abbey End Festive Hub

The next day the festivities move to the main shopping area. From the council’s page and the listing by CJ’s Events Warwickshire, which runs the market:

Time What is on
10am to 5pm Arts and crafts market, children’s funfair rides, food and drink
1pm to 3pm Live brass band and choir
During the day Santa and his sleigh

Entry is free. Fifteen traders were listed on 3 October, from bakers and a pottery studio to a distillery, and CJ’s adds more as stalls are confirmed.

The only closure is the service road for public transport in front of the shops at Abbey End, from 6am to 7pm.

Parking

CJ’s names three town centre car parks: Abbey End (CV8 1QJ), Abbey Fields (CV8 1BP) and Square West (CV8 1EN), with public toilets at Abbey End. No free parking has been announced for either day.

Check our parking page for charges and closing times, and the roadworks and travel page for anything else on the roads into Kenilworth that weekend.

The rest of the district’s switch-ons

All free, all from Warwick District Council’s own pages:

Date Event Lights on
Sunday 15 November Leamington Christmas lights, the Parade 5.30pm
Thursday 26 November Warwick Victorian Evening, Market Place 7pm
Friday 27 November Kenilworth High Street 6pm
Sunday 29 November Whitnash, Civic Centre, Acre Close, 3pm to 6.30pm 6pm

Kenilworth’s regular Thursday market at Abbey End runs through December, including Christmas Eve. Our Christmas markets page has every date, and Father Christmas near Leamington lists the grottos that charge.

Every date, time and closure above was taken from Warwick District Council’s and CJ’s Events Warwickshire’s own pages on 3 October 2026. Tell us if something changes: hello@theleamingtonpost.co.uk.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Kenilworth Christmas lights switch-on 2026?

Friday 27 November 2026 on the High Street, from 5pm to 8pm. The lights are switched on at 6pm, according to Warwick District Council.

Which roads close for the Kenilworth lights switch-on?

The High Street, between New Street and Bridge Street at one end and Malthouse Lane at the other, from 3pm to 10pm on Friday 27 November.

When is the Kenilworth Festive Hub?

Saturday 28 November 2026, 10am to 5pm at Abbey End. It has an arts and crafts market, children’s funfair rides, a brass band and choir from 1pm to 3pm, and a visit from Santa. Entry is free.

Where should I park for the Kenilworth Christmas events?

CJ’s Events lists Abbey End, Abbey Fields and Square West car parks for Kenilworth town centre events. No free parking has been announced.