Worthing does not hold a lights switch-on ceremony, and the BID explains why on its own site. Here is what runs instead, and what is confirmed for 2026 so far.

If you are looking for the date Worthing switches its Christmas lights on, there is no such date. Worthing does not hold a single switch-on ceremony, and the organisation that pays for the lights has explained why in writing.

Worthing Town Centre BID, which funds the town centre displays through business contributions, put it plainly on its own site: “Worthing doesn’t hold a switch on event because the lights are fed from so many different power sources it isn’t possible to switch them on together without a huge investment in infrastructure resulting in a lot less lights.” (Worthing Town Centre BID, Christmas in Worthing)

That statement is dated November 2019 and is still published. The lights themselves go on in stages across Montague Street, South Street, Warwick Street, Bath Place, Portland Road and Brighton Road. Adur & Worthing Councils fund the Christmas trees in South Street and outside the Town Hall.

What the town does have is a run of separate festive events, most of them free. In 2025 those were spread across seven weeks.

What ran in 2025, with dates

Every entry below comes from the organiser’s own listing.

Event Date in 2025 Where
Love Worthing Christmas Celebration and Market Fri 7 November, 4pm to 8pm Montague Street
Worthing TennerFest, two weeks of £10 offers Mon 10 to Mon 24 November Town centre
Worthing Lions Santa’s Grotto, free Sat 6, 13 and 20 December South Street Square
Worthing Lions Santa street collections December weekday evenings, 6pm to 8pm Residential streets
Late Night Shopping, independent traders Thu 11 December, 11am to 7pm Town centre
Love Worthing Festive Family Day Sun 21 December, 12pm to 3pm South Street Square

The Christmas Celebration on 7 November is the closest thing Worthing has to a switch-on, and it is the event most people mean when they search for one. The BID’s listing for it gave the date, the time and the street, and nothing else. The description read in full: “Love Worthing Christmas Celebration & Market… watch this space, more information coming soon!” (Worthing Town Centre BID listing)

The Festive Family Day in December was better documented. The BID’s listing named the Worthing Silver Band, live festive music, a stage programme, games and an appearance by Bluey, with the afternoon hosted by Dave Hunt. (Worthing Town Centre BID listing)

Late Night Shopping was built around independent shops rather than the chains. The eleven named were Colonnade House, First & Last, Chintz and Wood, HandmadeByHolly, Little Shop of Jules, Paint A Bag, Bygone Treasures, Sabotage Gallery, Inspired, Flux Piercing and Gin and Ink Tattoo. (Worthing Town Centre BID, 11 December 2025)

Nothing is confirmed for 2026

As at 5 September 2026, no Worthing festive event has been published for this year.

  • The BID’s what’s on listing carried nothing dated later than 18 September.
  • Worthing Lions’ events page has been updated for 2026 in one place only, its summer festival. The Santa’s Grotto page still reads “Saturday 6th 13th and 20th December 2025” and the street collections page still reads “December Weekday Evenings 2025”.
  • Adur & Worthing Councils have published no news release of any kind since 21 August 2026.

The BID does not announce these things far ahead. Its TennerFest post went up on 11 November 2025, the day after TennerFest had already started, and the Late Night Shopping post went up on the morning of the event itself. Its fireworks announcement, the one piece of autumn programming it does trail properly, came six weeks out. Assume late October at the earliest for anything happening in November.

Two things worth knowing before you plan

The Montague Place tree is not a fixture. The BID’s own account records that the Rotary Club historically funded a tree in Montague Place, but it was repeatedly damaged by wind and the decision was taken not to install it.

South Street Square is the centre of gravity now, not Montague Place. Both of the 2025 Love Worthing daytime events and the Lions’ grotto were held there.

If you are driving in

Grafton multi-storey is closed permanently, so the December Saturdays lean on Buckingham Road, High Street and Civic Quarter. Those three charge £1.55 an hour and £13.40 for a full day from Monday to Saturday, and drop to £1.25 an hour and £6.20 all day on Sundays. All current tariffs are on our parking in Worthing page, and any street closures will show on our roadworks and travel page.

We will update this page when the 2026 dates are published. If you want the confirmed festive fixture that already has dates, it is the Worthing pantomime, which runs from 3 December.

Frequently asked questions

When does Worthing switch its Christmas lights on?

There is no switch-on date. Worthing Town Centre BID says the lights run off too many separate power supplies to be switched on together, so they go on in stages instead.

Is there a Christmas event in Worthing town centre?

Yes, several. In 2025 they were the Love Worthing Christmas Celebration on 7 November, TennerFest from 10 to 24 November, Santa’s Grotto on three December Saturdays, Late Night Shopping on 11 December and a Festive Family Day on 21 December.

Where is Santa’s grotto in Worthing?

Worthing Lions ran a free grotto in South Street Square on 6, 13 and 20 December 2025. The 2026 dates have not been published.

Which streets have Christmas lights in Worthing?

Montague Street, South Street, Warwick Street, Bath Place, Portland Road and Brighton Road, funded by the BID through business contributions. The councils fund the trees in South Street and outside the Town Hall.

When will the 2026 dates be announced?

Late October at the earliest for anything in November, on the BID’s usual timing.

Sources