Christmas Lights Switch-Ons 2026: Every Date Across the Black Country
The countdown to Christmas starts next month, with free lights switch-on events in town centres right across our patch. Here is every date confirmed so far for Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, Bilston, Willenhall, Wednesbury, Dudley and the rest of the Black Country, with switch-on times, what’s on and where to park.
All the events below are free. Details were checked against council announcements on 21 October 2026, and we will update this page as more line-ups are announced.
At a glance: every switch-on in date order
| Date | Town, where and when |
|---|---|
| Fri 13 Nov | Oldbury Town centre. Lights on 6pm |
| Sat 14 Nov | Dudley Marketplace. Lights on 5pm |
| Sat 14 Nov | Blackheath Town centre. Lights on 6.30pm |
| Sun 15 Nov | Sedgley Vicar Street. Lights on 6.30pm |
| Sat 21 Nov | Wolverhampton Bell Square, Victoria Street. Lights on 6pm |
| Sat 21 Nov | Stourbridge Town centre. Lights on 5pm |
| Sat 21 Nov | Halesowen Town centre. Lights on 5pm |
| Thu 26 Nov | Wednesfield High Street. Lights on 6.30pm |
| Thu 26 Nov | Willenhall Town centre. Time to be confirmed |
| Fri 27 Nov | Bilston Church Street. Lights on 6.30pm |
| Fri 27 Nov | Tipton Town centre. Lights on 6.15pm |
| Sat 28 Nov | Tettenhall Upper Green. Lights on 7pm |
| Sat 28 Nov | Wednesbury Town centre. Lights on 6pm |
| Sat 28 Nov | Brierley Hill Moor Centre. Lights on 4pm |
| Fri 4 Dec | Smethwick Sandwell Aquatics Centre. Festive evening, 4pm to 6.45pm |
| Sat 5 Dec | West Bromwich Town centre. Lights on 6.15pm |
Not listed yet: Walsall town centre and Darlaston. More on those further down.
Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, Bilston and Tettenhall
The Mayor of Wolverhampton and Father Christmas do the honours at all four, with Wolverhampton’s own Dicky Dodd helping out on the night.
Wolverhampton city centre, Saturday 21 November
- Where: Bell Square, Victoria Street (note the new spot, it used to be Queen Square)
- Times: 3pm to 6.30pm. Lights on at 6pm
- What’s on: Free face painting, fairground rides, Woody and Jessie from Toy Story, Elf on the Shelf characters, and Father Christmas. On stage: Big Arena Performing Arts School, The Ronnies, Masti Music, The People’s Show Choir and Callum Doignie from The Voice
- Getting there: Victoria Street is a short walk from the bus station and the railway station, so leave the car if you can
- Cost: Free
Bilston is handing out free hot chocolate to the first 200 visitors. (Illustration)
Wednesfield, Thursday 26 November
- Where: High Street
- Times: 4.30pm to 7pm. Lights on at 6.30pm
- What’s on: Free face painting, fairground rides and games, Father Christmas (with the Rotary Club of Wednesfield) and the Wednesfield Christmas Market run by Hands On Wednesfield. On stage: Big Arena Performing Arts School, Jake Nelson and Lauren Paige
- Cost: Free
Bilston, Friday 27 November
- Where: Church Street
- Times: 4.30pm to 7pm. Lights on at 6.30pm
- What’s on: Free face painting, Buddy the Elf and The Grinch, a Reindeer Flying School, a free arts and crafts workshop in the Bilston Town Hall foyer, and Father Christmas in St Leonard’s Church. On stage: Big Arena Performing Arts School and Sam Southall
- Good to know: Free hot chocolate for the first 200 visitors, so get there early. Bilston’s new Christmas Village opens the night before, so you can make an evening of it
- Cost: Free
Tettenhall, Saturday 28 November
- Where: Upper Green
- Times: 5.30pm to 8pm. Lights on at 7pm (later than the others)
- What’s on: Free face painting, fairground rides and games, and Father Christmas (with the Rotary Club of Tettenhall). On stage: Big Arena Performing Arts School, Daniel James and Samira Hills
- Cost: Free
Full details: City of Wolverhampton Council, Christmas in Wolverhampton
Dudley, Sedgley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Brierley Hill
Dudley Council is running five switch-ons this year, each with live stage acts, street entertainers and market stalls. The council says more on special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. The best bit: parking is free on named council car parks in each town on the day of its event.
Dudley town centre, Saturday 14 November
- Where: Dudley marketplace
- Times: 10am to 5pm. Lights on at 5pm
- Free parking on the day: Stafford Street, King Street, Flood Street, Tower Street, Wolverhampton Street and Pitfield Street car parks
- Good to know: This is three weeks earlier than last year’s (6 December), so don’t get caught out
Sedgley, Sunday 15 November
- Where: Vicar Street
- Times: 4pm to 6.30pm. Lights on at 6.30pm
Stourbridge, Saturday 21 November
- Times: 10am to 5.30pm. Lights on at 5pm
- Free parking on the day: Church Street, Coventry Street, Ryemarket and Birmingham Street car parks
Halesowen, Saturday 21 November
- Times: 10am to 5.30pm. Lights on at 5pm
- Free parking on the day: Birmingham Street, High Street, Andrew Road and Pool Road car parks
Brierley Hill, Saturday 28 November
- Where: The Moor Centre
- Times: Noon to 4.30pm. Lights on at 4pm (the earliest switch-on time on our list, handy with little ones)
- Free parking on the day: Cottage Street, Little Cottage Street, Bank Street and Level Street car parks
All five are free. Full details: Dudley Council news release
Live music and stage acts feature at switch-ons in Dudley and Sandwell. (Illustration)
Wednesbury, Tipton, West Bromwich and the rest of Sandwell
Sandwell Council’s switch-ons all have live music, market stalls and Christmas characters. All are free and there’s no need to book. The council hasn’t published exact spots for 2026 yet, so we’ve included where each was held last year as a guide.
Oldbury, Friday 13 November
- Times: 3.30pm to 6.30pm. Lights on at 6pm
- Last year: Between Sandwell Council House and Sainsbury’s
Blackheath, Saturday 14 November
- Times: 4.30pm to 7pm. Lights on at 6.30pm
- Last year: High Street
Tipton, Friday 27 November
- Times: 4pm to 6.30pm. Lights on at 6.15pm
- Last year: Unity Walk
Wednesbury, Saturday 28 November
- Times: 3.30pm to 6.30pm. Lights on at 6pm
- Last year: Near the clock tower
Smethwick: Christmas at the Aquatics Centre, Friday 4 December
New for 2026, and not a switch-on as such, but well worth a look with kids.
- Where: Sandwell Aquatics Centre
- Times: 4pm to 6.45pm
- What’s on: A Santa’s Diving Elves show, Christmas market stalls, live festive entertainment and children’s fairground rides
West Bromwich, Saturday 5 December
- Times: 4pm to 6.30pm. Lights on at 6.15pm
- Last year: Farley Fountain, behind Primark
Friar Park and Bearwood, which both had switch-ons last year, aren’t on the council’s 2026 list. If you’re in Friar Park, Wednesbury’s on Saturday 28 November is the nearest. Sandwell posts line-up news and road closures on the Sandwell Valley Country Park Facebook and Instagram pages. Full details: Visit Sandwell, Christmas Lights
Willenhall, Walsall and Darlaston
Willenhall, Thursday 26 November
Walsall Council has confirmed to the Express & Star that the Willenhall switch-on will be on Thursday 26 November. Plans announced so far include a funfair, stalls, a choir and festive entertainment. Times and the exact location haven’t been announced yet. Last year’s event was in Market Place (WV13 2AA).
- Getting there: Willenhall’s railway station reopened in March 2026, so it’s an easy hop by train from Wolverhampton or Walsall
Walsall town centre: not announced yet
No date has been confirmed for 2026 yet. Last year’s switch-on was on the last Saturday in November, with the lights going on at 5.30pm at The Bridge by the Sister Dora statue. We’ll add this year’s details as soon as they’re out.
Darlaston: nothing listed yet
We couldn’t find a Darlaston switch-on for 2026. If you’re organising one, email us at simon@westmidlandsmagazines.com and we’ll add it. In the meantime, Wednesbury (Saturday 28 November) and Willenhall (Thursday 26 November) are both just down the road.
Is your town’s switch-on missing?
Tell us at simon@westmidlandsmagazines.com and we’ll add it to this guide.
Christmas lights switch-ons: your questions answered
When is the Wolverhampton Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Saturday 21 November in Bell Square, Victoria Street. The event runs from 3pm and the lights go on at 6pm.
When is the Dudley Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Saturday 14 November in Dudley marketplace, with the lights on at 5pm and free parking in council car parks.
Which is the first switch-on in the Black Country this year?
Oldbury, on Friday 13 November, with the lights on at 6pm.
Do I need a ticket?
No. Every switch-on on this list is free to turn up to. Some extras on the day, such as free pantos, have needed booking in past years, so check the organiser’s page.
Looking for more to do? See our Bonfire Night fireworks guide.
Events, times and line-ups can change, so please check with the organiser before you travel. Details checked on 21 October 2026. E&OE (errors and omissions excepted).