Full Dundee Christmas Lights Switch-On 2026 schedule revealed with drone show, live music and festive entertainment
Dundee is getting ready for one of the biggest festive celebrations of the year, with the full programme now revealed for the city’s Christmas Lights Switch-On on Sunday 15 November!
Thousands of people are expected to head into the city centre for a packed day of Christmas entertainment, featuring live music, market stalls, funfair rides, street performers, the return of the Grinch and, for the first time, a spectacular family-friendly drone display.
Running from 10am until 7pm, this year’s celebrations will take place around City Square and the High Street, with something for all ages throughout the day.
The festivities will build towards the big Christmas tree lights switch-on at 6pm, followed by Dundee’s first-ever drone display and a headline performance from Scottish boyband Just the Brave.
What’s happening and when?
Here’s the full schedule for Dundee’s Christmas Lights Switch-On 2026.
Morning: Santa Dash
10.30am: Santa Dash warm-up with Active Dundee, joined by special guests from the MKM Dundee Stars and mascot Starsky.
11am: Dundee Santa Dash Fun Run begins in City Square.
All-day activities: 10am to 7pm
City Square will host a variety of festive activities throughout the day, including:
Christmas Market in association with The Yard Market
Christmas crafts tent with Scrapantics
Family funfair rides
Snow Globe photobooth
Street food stalls
Afternoon: Street entertainment
From 12pm, the High Street and City Square will come alive with a festive playlist from Tay FM and roaming entertainers.
Visitors can look forward to appearances from the Grinch, acrobatic elves, the Candy Cane Fairy and Nutcracker Prince stiltwalkers, and football freestyler Ross Brown.
There will also be several performances taking place at specific times:
1.30pm: Giant Snowglobe acrobatics
2pm: Show Globe - A Living Snow Globe
2.45pm: Giant Snowglobe acrobatics
3pm: Show Globe - A Living Snow Globe
4pm: Show Globe - A Living Snow Globe
4.30pm: Giant Snowglobe acrobatics
4.30pm: Santa collects letters from the special on-site postbox
5.25pm: Giant Snowglobe acrobatics
Main stage: Live music and entertainment
Tay FM’s Gregor and Lynsey will host the afternoon’s main stage entertainment, bringing together local performers, theatre groups and musical societies.
The full running order is:
3.30pm: Live music and entertainment begins with Gregor and Lynsey
3.40pm: Dundee Instrumental Band
4pm: Rock the Halls
4.20pm: Downfield Musical Society - Cinderella
4.45pm: Thomson-Leng Musical Society - Mother Goose
5.05pm: Dundee Rep Theatre - The Snow Queen
5.25pm: The Vintage Girls
The big switch-on and drone display
The evening celebrations will reach their peak as darkness falls over Dundee.
5.50pm: Christmas Switch-On Party
6pm: Dundee’s Christmas tree lights switched on
Just after 6pm: Family Christmas Drone Display
6.10pm: Headline performance from Just the Brave
7pm: Event closes
The drone display, titled A Christmas Star, has been created by FlightShows and will tell the story of a little star travelling through a magical festive adventure.
Colourful Christmas scenes will appear and transform in the night sky, with the drones choreographed to music.
It will be the first display of its kind in Dundee, adding an exciting new element to this year’s celebrations.
Just the Brave to headline celebrations
Scottish boyband Just the Brave will bring the evening to a close with a special headline performance.
The group have already expressed their excitement about performing in Dundee and revealed that audiences will get to hear a brand-new song for the first time.
They will take to the stage following the Christmas lights switch-on and drone display, helping round off a full day of festive entertainment.
Could you switch on Dundee’s Christmas lights?
One lucky person will also have the opportunity to join Santa and the Lord Provost on stage to officially switch on the city’s Christmas tree lights.
The winner will press the big button on a special illuminated plinth and receive a Dundee goodie bag, including a £150 Dundee Gift Card.
Details on how to enter can be found through Tay FM’s Christmas Switch-On competition here: https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/tay/competitions/win/win-the-chance-to-switch-on-dundees-christmas
Accessibility arrangements
Organisers have also confirmed several accessibility measures to help make the celebrations enjoyable for everyone.
Live British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be available on the main stage from 4pm until 6.15pm.
A dedicated quiet space, managed by Uppertunity, will be available in the former Bee Inspired unit in the Overgate Shopping Centre between 4pm and 6.15pm for anyone who needs somewhere quieter during the celebrations.
An accessible Changing Places toilet facility, provided by Accessoloo, will also be available on site throughout the day.
Further information, including the event accessibility guide, can be found through the official Christmas in Dundee website.
Dundee’s festive season is about to begin!
The Christmas Lights Switch-On marks the beginning of a wider programme of festive activities across Dundee.
The celebrations will continue later in November with Christmas in the Square and the return of the Dundee Hooley on Sunday 29 November.
With live entertainment, festive shopping, activities for families and a spectacular new drone display, the Christmas Lights Switch-On promises to bring a fantastic atmosphere to Dundee city centre.
Dundee Christmas Lights Switch-On 2026 takes place on Sunday 15 November, from 10am until 7pm, in City Square and the surrounding High Street. The main event is free to attend.
