Bath has no Christmas lights switch-on ceremony in 2026. New lights go up instead, with a 12-Snowman sculpture trail from 19 November to 28 January.
No Christmas lights switch-on ceremony has been announced for Bath in 2026. What the city has this year is new: a five-year programme of Christmas lighting from the Bath Business Improvement District, starting this winter, and a trail of 12 giant Snowman sculptures across the city centre from 19 November 2026 to 28 January 2027, tied to a Snowman exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery.
The quick answer
- No switch-on event has been announced for 2026. The lights are run by Bath BID, whose 4 September announcement mentions new lighting but no ceremony.
- Walking with the Snowman trail: 12 sculptures, free, 19 November 2026 to 28 January 2027. Meet the Snowman on 19 and 21 November.
- The World of The Snowman exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery runs 20 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, adults £12.
The lights: five years, “Understated Elegance”
On 4 September 2026 the Bath BID announced a five-year plan to grow the city’s Christmas lights, starting this winter. The lights come from The Festive Lighting Company, on a theme the BID calls “Understated Elegance”, meant to show off the architecture rather than cover it. Its chief executive, Allison Herbert, said the aim is to give people “more reasons to visit the city” beyond the Christmas Market.
The announcement does not name the streets, the date the lights go on, or any event to mark it. That fits recent years. Search engines still offer a Bath BID page about a switch-on on Milsom Street at 5pm on “Thursday 25th November”; that page was published on 16 November 2021, and nothing like it has been announced for 2026. If you see those details repeated, they are five years old.
Expect the lights to be up by the time the Bath Christmas Market opens on Thursday 26 November: the market’s own site gives Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December 2026.
Walking with the Snowman: the trail
The BID’s first sculpture trail for Christmas has 12 larger-than-life Snowman figures, based on Raymond Briggs’ book, spread across the city centre from 19 November 2026 to 28 January 2027. Families are invited to find all 12. The BID has not published the locations yet, or said whether there will be a printed or app map.
Businesses supporting it include Bath Abbey, the Victoria Art Gallery, Thermae Bath Spa, Wylde Jewellers, SouthGate Bath, The Apex City of Bath, Visit West and the Fudge Factory, and the BID is asking shops to add Snowman window displays. It is the third year Wylde Jewellers has sponsored a BID trail.
Meet the Snowman: the BID says families can meet the Snowman in person on 19 and 21 November, created with Rainbow Productions. Times and places are not published yet.
The World of The Snowman at the Victoria Art Gallery
The exhibition the trail ties in with runs at the Victoria Art Gallery, by Pulteney Bridge, from 20 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, 10.30am to 5pm. It has the original illustrations from the 1978 book, set-ups from the animated film, artwork from The Snowman and The Snowdog, and a family activity area with a recreation of the red plane. A free guided tour is included on Thursdays, 1.30pm to 2pm.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (19+) | £12.00 |
| Student, full time | £9.50 |
| Senior (65+) | £9.50 |
| Child (6 to 18) | £5.00 |
| Child under 6 | Free |
| Family, 2 adults and up to 4 children | £22.50 |
| Family, 1 adult and up to 4 children | £15.00 |
Those are the gallery’s prices for exhibitions from 20 November, up from £9 for an adult before then. The upstairs Upper Gallery stays free. The gallery is council-run and its tickets page points B&NES residents to the Discovery Card scheme; check the terms for this exhibition before relying on it.
The Snowman with a live orchestra
Bath Philharmonia plays the score of The Snowman live to a screening of the film at The Forum on Saturday 19 December, according to the BID’s announcement. The Forum’s booking page sits behind a queue system that blocked our checks, so times and prices are not confirmed here yet.
Other Christmas lights nearby
- The Roman Baths light the torches around the Great Bath at about 4pm in winter. Details on our Roman Baths at Christmas page.
- Bath on Ice in Royal Victoria Park opens on 20 November, with lights around the rink.
Still to be confirmed
- Where the new lights go and when they are switched on (Bath BID, expected in November).
- The 12 Snowman sculpture locations and any trail map.
- Times and places for Meet the Snowman on 19 and 21 November.
- The Bath Philharmonia Snowman times and prices at The Forum.
Getting in during December: parking in Bath and the Bath roadworks page.
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