By 
Christmas 2026 in Warwick: the Victorian Evening and lights switch-on, Christmas at the Castle with its light trail and ice rink, carols at St Mary’s and the Lord Leycester, festive shows and Christmas racing. Every date here comes from the organiser’s own website, and the list at the bottom updates itself as more events are announced.
On this page
Key dates
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 21 Nov to Sun 3 Jan | Christmas at the Castle: light trail, ice rink, Stories with Santa | Warwick Castle |
| Thu 26 Nov, from 3pm | Victorian Evening (lights on at 7pm) | Town centre |
| Sat 28 Nov | A Christmas Carol | Bridge House Theatre |
| Wed 9 Dec | Christmas Carols by Candlelight | The Lord Leycester |
| Thu 10 Dec | Christmas at the Races | Warwick Racecourse |
| Sat 12 Dec | Carols Around the Apple Tree | Hill Close Gardens |
| Tue 15 Dec and Sat 19 Dec | Carols by Candlelight | St Mary’s Church |
| Wed 16 Dec | Ceremony of Carols | St Mary’s Church |
| Fri 18 Dec | The Wind in the Willows | Bridge House Theatre |
| Sat 19 Dec | Carols at the Castle | Warwick Castle |
| Thu 31 Dec | New Year’s Eve racing | Warwick Racecourse |
| Sat 16 Jan | Wassail | Hill Close Gardens |
Victorian Evening and lights switch-on: Thursday 26 November
Warwick’s Victorian Evening is on Thursday 26 November 2026, with a Victorian market, rides, entertainment and the Christmas lights switch-on. Warwick District Council’s programme:
- From 3pm: a Victorian market in the Square, with rides and entertainment around the town centre
- 5pm: performances begin on the stage
- 7pm: the Mayor of Warwick, Councillor Simon Pargeter, switches on the lights
- 7.30pm: judging for the best-dressed Victorian costume, at the stage (prizes to be announced)
Free parking: all of the council’s car parks in Warwick are free from 12pm on 26 November; on-street parking charges still apply. Warwick Town Council runs the town’s lights and says over 7,000 people came in 2025 (town council Christmas lights page).
Switch-ons nearby
- Leamington, Sunday 15 November: a Christmas market from 10am, music outside the Town Hall from 3pm and the lights on at 5.30pm. The council’s Leamington car parks are free from 8am.
- Kenilworth, Friday 27 November: High Street event from 5pm to 8pm, lights on at 6pm; then a Festive Hub at Abbey End on Saturday 28 November, 10am to 5pm.
Christmas at the Castle: 21 November to 3 January
- Light trail (from £17, about 45 minutes after dark): the 2026 theme is “Follow the Glow, Find the Fairies”, through the castle grounds and gardens. There are extra sensory, dog-friendly and Digbeth Dining Club evenings.
- Ice skating (from £8 for a 45-minute session): an open-air rink on the castle’s east front, under Guy’s Tower. Skate aids for children, while they last. Arrive 15 minutes early.
- Stories with Santa (from £29), a food and drink village, and a family pantomime in the Woodland Theatre.
- Combined tickets add daytime castle entry (10am to 4pm, last entry 3pm): castle and skate from £18, castle and light trail from £27.
Book on the castle’s Christmas page. More in our Warwick Castle guide.
Every Christmas event in Warwick
From our events calendar, from today to Twelfth Night. It adds new events as organisers announce them.
November 2026
- Christmas Sip and Paint a Christmas Scene with Jess Hartshorne Thu 19 Nov Details: Heritage and Culture Warwickshire
- Christmas Christmas Card Lino Printing Fri 20 Nov Details: The Lord Leycester
- Christmas Christmas at the Castle Sat 21 Nov – Sun 3 Jan Details: Warwick Castle
- Christmas Christmas Cards Wet Felting Workshop with Ursula Westwood Sun 22 Nov Details: Heritage and Culture Warwickshire
- Christmas Wreath Making Sun 22 Nov Details: Warwick Castle
- Christmas Warwick Victorian Evening and Christmas Lights Switch-On Thu 26 Nov Details: Warwick Town Council
- Christmas A Christmas Carol Sat 28 Nov · Dyad Productions Details: Bridge House Theatre
December 2026
- Christmas Bublé Christmas By Candlelight Tue 1 Dec · Organised by Concerts by Candlelight Details: St Mary's Church
- Christmas Festive Wreath Workshop Thu 3 Dec Details: The Lord Leycester
- Christmas Rat Pack – A Swingin' Christmas By Candlelight Thu 3 Dec · Organised by Concerts by Candlelight Details: St Mary's Church
- Christmas Warwick School Music presents: The Christmas Cracker 2026 Fri 4 Dec Details: Bridge House Theatre
- Christmas Christmas By Candlelight Sat 5 Dec · Organised by Concerts by Candlelight Details: St Mary's Church
- Christmas Festive Wreath Workshop Sun 6 Dec Details: The Lord Leycester
- Christmas Christmas Carols by Candlelight Wed 9 Dec Details: The Lord Leycester
- Sport Warwick Races: Eventmasters Christmas at the Races Thu 10 Dec Details: Warwick Racecourse
- Christmas ABBA Christmas By Candlelight Sat 12 Dec · Organised by Concerts by Candlelight Details: St Mary's Church
- Christmas Carols Around the Apple Tree Sat 12 Dec Details: Hill Close Gardens
- Christmas Carols by Candlelight Tue 15 Dec · Organised by Armonico Consort Details: St Mary's Church
- Christmas Ceremony of Carols Wed 16 Dec · Organised by St Mary's Church Details: St Mary's Church
- Christmas Carols at the Castle Sat 19 Dec Details: Warwick Castle
- Christmas Carols by Candlelight Sat 19 Dec · Organised by Armonico Consort Details: St Mary's Church
- Christmas Twelve Days of Christmas Mon 21 Dec · Operation Moonlight Details: Bridge House Theatre
See the full Warwick events calendar · Updated 16 October from organisers' own listings.
Practical things over Christmas
- Parking: the council’s Warwick car parks are free from 12pm on 26 November for the Victorian Evening. Otherwise see our Warwick parking guide, including the two car parks with 2 hours free.
- Bins: there are no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. Check your changed dates on the council’s lookup. See our bin guide.
- The tip: Princes Drive recycling centre closes at 12.30pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
