Belfast’s Christmas lights switch-on outside City Hall marks the start of Christmas in the city. The 2026 event is on Saturday 14 November from 6.30pm to 7.30pm (gates open 6pm), with the Lord Mayor, Cool FM presenters, school choirs and a ballet extract from The Nutcracker on stage before the big switch-on.

It is a ticketed but free event: tickets are first-come, first-served and go live on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 10am and again at 7pm through Visit Belfast, limited to five per booking. Every person attending needs a ticket, including babies in pushchairs.

Ticket-holders gather along Donegall Place and Donegall Square North. Wheelchair-accessible platform tickets (two per booking) can be booked in person at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre or by phone.