A local hero will switch on Leamington's Christmas lights on 15 November, and anyone can nominate one. Nominations close on Sunday 11 October.

Leamington’s Christmas lights will be switched on by someone from the town this year, and residents get to say who. Warwick District Council and Royal Leamington Spa Town Council have opened nominations for a local hero to take the stage on Sunday 15 November 2026.

Nominations close on Sunday 11 October 2026, just under three weeks from now.

Anyone can be put forward. The councils are asking for “an individual or group that they feel has made an exceptional contribution to the town”, which the Mayor’s own statement widens to “a person, family, community groups or organisation”.

Timeline of three dates: nominations opened on Tuesday 15 September, nominations close on Sunday 11 October, and the switch-on is on Sunday 15 November on the Parade with the lights on at 5.30pm.
The three dates that matter. Graphic by The Leamington Post; sources: Warwick District Council and BID Leamington.
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Who decides

The Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa, Councillor Sarah Boad, will review the submissions with Warwick District Council and BID Leamington, and then select the winner. The winner shares the stage with the Mayor on the night.

Councillor Boad said in the council’s announcement:

This year, I’m particularly looking forward to sharing the stage with a person, family, community groups or organisation who have helped make our town a better place. We want to hear about those who have gone the extra mile and made a real difference.

Councillor Ella Billiald, the district council’s portfolio holder for arts and economy, said: “There are lots of unsung heroes out there, making a positive impact in the community. We would love to hear your nominations so that we can give thanks to an individual or group who brightens up the town throughout the year.”

Who has done it before

The council named four previous switch-on guests in its announcement:

  • Lauren Cox and Lewis Williams, Commonwealth Games medallists
  • Moosa Mostafa, the Wednesday actor
  • Tony Eden, a local businessman and barber

This year’s choice is a change of approach. Those four were chosen for national profile or a public achievement. The councils are now asking for a nomination based on contribution to Leamington itself.

What it means for you

To nominate, use the councils’ online form at smartsurvey.co.uk/s/LeamingtonLightsNomination. It is the only route the council has published. There is no email address or postal alternative in the announcement, and no stated limit on how many nominations one person can make.

The deadline is a Sunday, 11 October. The council has not published a time of day, so treat it as the end of that day and do not leave it to the evening.

The council has not published what the winner receives beyond the stage appearance, whether nominees are told they have been nominated, or when the result will be announced. We have no answer on any of those and will not guess.

If you are planning the day itself, the switch-on is on the Parade on Sunday 15 November, with the lights coming on at 5.30pm and free off-street parking in the district council’s car parks, according to BID Leamington’s events diary. The market, the stage times and what is confirmed against what is not are all on our Leamington Christmas lights switch-on page, which we will update as the councils publish more.

Getting into town on the day is covered on our parking in Leamington page, and any closures around the event will appear on our Leamington roadworks and travel page.

Sources