Eton switches on at 7pm on Thursday 12 November and Maidenhead on Saturday 21 November. Windsor's Castle Hill date is not out; last year it was 15 November.

Two of the borough’s three big Christmas lights switch-ons have dates. Eton is first, on Thursday 12 November 2026, with the lights on at 7pm. Maidenhead follows on Saturday 21 November. Windsor’s own switch-on on Castle Hill has not been dated yet.

The quick answer

  • Eton: Thursday 12 November, from 5pm in Jubilee Square, lights on at 7pm.
  • Maidenhead: Saturday 21 November, an all-day event in the town centre.
  • Windsor: date not announced. In 2025 it was Saturday 15 November, with the switch-on at 5.30pm outside the castle.
Town 2026 date Switch-on time Where
Eton Thu 12 Nov 7pm Jubilee Square, High Street
Maidenhead Sat 21 Nov Not yet published (6pm in 2025) Town centre and Town Hall
Windsor Not announced 5.30pm in 2025 Castle Hill

Eton: Thursday 12 November

Eton’s evening starts at 5pm in and around Jubilee Square with food stalls, funfair rides and music. A Chapel service at 6pm is followed by a Christmas procession with Father Christmas, and Kevin Cruise, who stars in Theatre Royal Windsor’s pantomime, hosts from 6.30pm. The lights go on at 7pm.

The street event is free. Tickets for the Chapel service cost £3, with no concessions, and go on sale in early November at the Eton Information Centre and Ella’s Party Shop in Eton Wick (Visit Windsor).

Maidenhead: Saturday 21 November

Maidenhead Festival says it will host a stage takeover at the town’s Christmas Lights Switch-On on 21 November 2026, across several stages including the Desborough Theatre during the Christmas market and the main outdoor stage (Maidenhead Festival).

The 2026 running order is not out. Last year’s event, on Saturday 22 November 2025, ran from 11am with a Christmas market, a festive bar, Traylen’s funfair rides and mini golf in Library Square. The countdown came just before 6pm, followed by a fireworks display, weather permitting. It was free to attend (Visit Windsor, archived).

Windsor: date to be confirmed

Visit Windsor’s listing for the Windsor switch-on still shows last year’s event and is marked as passed. We checked it on 25 September 2026 (Visit Windsor).

In 2025 the switch-on was on Saturday 15 November, with performances from 3pm on a stage outside the castle, children’s rides, food stands and market stalls through the town centre, and the switch-on at 5.30pm (Visit Windsor, archived October 2025). The running order last year had local school choirs, dance schools, the Windsor Upper Schools Big Band and the Theatre Royal’s Stars of the Stage before the countdown, then a community sing-along.

If Windsor follows the same pattern, a mid-November Saturday is likely, but no date should be relied on until the council or Visit Windsor publishes it.

Getting there and what else is on

Car park prices and the park and ride are on our parking in Windsor page, and closures on roadworks and travel. The borough’s Christmas fairs and markets are on our Christmas markets page, and Windsor Great Park Illuminated opens the day after Eton’s switch-on, on 13 November (Illuminated page).

Still to be confirmed

Windsor’s 2026 date and running order, and Maidenhead’s timings. We will check again in mid-October and update this page when they are published.