Carnaby Street's Christmas lights are making their return, which means Soho is slowly slipping back into festive mode. The street is known for switching up its design every year, and this year's display is no exception. This year, 'All Is Bright' is part of Carnaby's five-year plan to reuse its LED lights instead of scrapping everything every year, so the look evolves rather than resetting completely.
The lights on the famous shopping street will be switched on from Thursday, 6 November, building on last year's 'Into the Light' scheme. Expect several six-metre-long sculptural light forms made from around 60,000 energy-efficient LEDs, suspended above the street. The chunky star and cracker shapes, which debuted in 2024 in all-white, will glow in a mix of bright colours this year, giving Soho a louder, more playful feel. Very on brand.
The switch-on is happening on November 6, which feels early but also makes sense once the clocks have gone back and it starts getting dark at about 4pm. It gets seriously busy, so if crowds are not your thing, swing by later in the season instead. The lights hang over the street all the way through December, and it is still a lovely sight on a weekday evening when things calm down a bit.
The Carnaby Street Christmas lights switch on November 6. And if you're planning a full festive wander, check out our guide to the best Christmas lights in London.