The 2026 search for Winchester’s local heroes to help switch on the city’s Christmas lights has begun – nominations are now open!
The annual Winchester Christmas Lights Switch On will take place on Thursday 19 November 2026 in The Broadway outside the Guildhall from 4.20pm.
As part of the community-focused event, Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) is launching our annual search for your ‘local heroes’. This campaign aims to find Winchester stars to help switch on the festive lights. On the night, the countdown will begin just before 6.30pm, when the local heroes will help press the giant red ‘ON’ button that will light up our heritage city. Being a local hero recognises an individual’s or organisation’s contribution to the city and the community. Could this be you or someone you know? Who deserves a Winchester Hero accolade?
This year’s event will be hosted by Jonny Meah from Heart Radio who loves Winchester. The night will be packed full of festive fun! Visit the Giant Inflatable Snow Globe and Winchester Round Table’s Santa’s Sleigh in Middle Brook Street and watch the wonderful live performances on stage in The Broadway from Osborne School’s Rubik’s Cube, Encore Choir, The Pilgrims’ School Chamber Choir, Harestock Primary School Choir, Integr8 Dance, Winchester Rock Choir, Winchester Cathedral Choristers, Theatre Royal Winchester Pantomime Cast, Winchester A Capella, Love Soul Choir, Diva Academy and Weeke Primary School Recorder Club. Our live entertainers love to help kick start the festive season celebrations. We thank this year’s kind sponsor of the Winchester Christmas Lights Switch On, Costa Coffee Winchester.
Click here to nominate a local hero to help switch on the Winchester Christmas lights.
Nominations close on Saturday 31 October 2026.
Back by popular demand, we are delighted that the Snow Globe and Santa’s Sleigh will be in Middle Brook Street again outside The Brooks Shopping Centre from 3pm until 8pm. The Giant Inflatable Snow Globe is a fundraising initiative for Spare Change For Lasting Change and donations will go directly to two local charities working to support people experiencing homelessness in Winchester, The Winchester Beacon and Trinity Winchester. Winchester Round Table’s Santa Sleigh is part of a community initiative to spread Christmas magic across the city and raise money for local charities and good causes. Find out more here: winchestersantasleigh.co.uk.
Other activities to look out for this festive season organised by Winchester BID include the Winchester Independents Chalet at the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market.
Sarah Davis, Winchester BID Manager, said: “We love Christmas in Winchester and are excited to be coordinating the Christmas Lights Switch On event again. A big thank you to our new event sponsor this year, Costa Coffee Winchester. This year, we shine the spotlight on Winchester’s heroes again, which is why we will be searching for well-deserving local people to help switch on the lights. On the night, we will be encouraging the public to get involved with the celebrations on social media too. Tag photos and posts with @WinchesterBID so we can repost and share the fun.”
To find out more and to keep up to date with further details, follow #WinchLights, #FestiveWinch and @WinchesterBID on Facebook, Instagram and X.
The 2026 Winchester Christmas Lights Switch On is kindly sponsored by:
