The Carnaby Street Christmas lights are getting a full 1990s makeover for 2026. London’s most famous shopping street has unveiled “Press Play on Christmas”, a brand-new festive display that will switch on on Wednesday, November 4.
Created by design studio Sculptivate, the installation promises to capture the colour, creativity and joyful energy of a British 90s Christmas. Think bold neon-style colours flowing through the street rather than traditional gold-and-white elegance — a look designed to be as playful as it is photogenic.
Why the 90s?
The theme is a deliberate nod to a decade when culture was experienced together and in person. Back then, photographs were things you could hold, shopping was a proper social occasion and a night out meant discovery. The organisers say they are taking that spirit and reimagining it for today — a Christmas that feels familiar but looks completely new.
It is a fitting choice for a street with Carnaby’s history. This was, after all, the beating heart of Swinging London in the 1960s, and it has form when it comes to doing Christmas differently — its festive displays over the years have rarely played it safe, from giant pop-art statements to underwater fantasy worlds.
Catherine Riccomini, marketing and communications director at Shaftesbury Capital, which runs the Carnaby estate, said the street “has always done Christmas differently”. This year’s theme, she added, is about much more than lights — it is about giving people reasons to come together, discover something unexpected and experience the neighbourhood in real life.
A free night out in the West End
The switch-on event on November 4 remains free and open to everyone. Visitors can also register for a free Switch-On Pass, which unlocks extra offers and experiences on the night and throughout the festive season. Registration opens later this month, with a full programme of events keeping the celebrations going across Carnaby Street and Soho right through December.
Carnaby’s reveal is the first big festive announcement of the season, but it will not be the last. Over on Regent Street, the famous shopping thoroughfare will close to traffic for its own Christmas lights switch-on night — well worth building into your plans if you are heading into the West End.
And if you want to make a proper evening of it, the John Lewis rooftop on Oxford Street is bringing back its heated Christmas igloos, with cosy pods overlooking the lights below.
Food, drink and late-night browsing
As ever, the lights are only half the story. Carnaby Street’s shopfronts run from big names like Sephora, Charlotte Tilbury, GANNI and Adidas Originals to independent boutiques and international flagships — and the surrounding Soho streets are packed with places to eat and drink.
New openings this season include Bistro Cocotte, Royale and Solis, joining long-standing favourites such as Padella, Kiln, Rita’s and The Shaston Arms. For something more theatrical, immersive cocktail bars Cahoots and the Little Violet Door are both an easy stroll away.
Over at Kingly Court, the three-storey dining destination just off Carnaby Street, cascading lights will illuminate the balconies while restaurants including ALTA, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, OKA, Le Bab and Goldies serve up festive menus. Larger groups are well catered for too, with feasting menus and private dining rooms bookable at the likes of The Blue Posts, Pastaio, Saltwater and The Palomar — including Evelyn’s Table, which can be hired exclusively for a Michelin-starred private dinner.
Planning your visit
Carnaby Street sits between Oxford Street and Regent Street, and the easiest approach is on foot from Oxford Circus or Piccadilly Circus stations. Getting around the West End should be pleasanter than ever this year, with Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation programme getting under way on 26 October.
Heading a little further afield? Brent Cross is reopening its ice rink this month, with early-bird skating sessions from £10 — another easy win for a family day out.
The essentials
- What: “Press Play on Christmas” — Carnaby Street’s 90s-themed Christmas lights
- Switch-on: Wednesday, November 4 — free entry
- Switch-On Pass: free registration opens this month, unlocking extra perks on the night
- Where: Carnaby Street, Soho, London W1
