🎄 Seville now has a date to welcome Christmas. The Christmas lights switch-on 2026 will take place on Friday 27 November from 17:30, and the star attraction this year will be on the Avenida de la Constitución: 32 illuminated Giraldillos, each 6.5 metres tall, turning the avenue into a gallery of light with the Cathedral as a backdrop.
The honour of pressing the button goes to Leo García, a young Sevillian who has become a leading voice in raising awareness of Butterfly Skin, while the music will come from Niña Pastori and Fonseka DJ. Here are the times, what's new in this year's lights and a few tips to enjoy it like a local.
📅 Christmas lights switch-on 2026 in Seville: date, time and place
The event will begin at 17:30 on the Avenida de la Constitución, with the big moment taking place in Plaza de San Francisco, where the mayor, José Luis Sanz, will press the button alongside Leo García and the guest artist. It also coincides with Black Friday, so the city centre will be especially lively.
The lights will stay on until 5 January 2027, from 18:30 to 01:00. On New Year's Eve, they will remain on until 08:00 on 1 January.
🌟 The giant Giraldillos of the Avenida de la Constitución, the image of this Christmas
If one photo is going to define Christmas 2026 in Seville, it is this one: 32 figures, 6.5 metres tall, inspired by the Giraldillo, lined up along the Avenida de la Constitución to form a corridor of light that draws your eye towards the Cathedral and the Giralda.
The original Giraldillo is the bronze weathervane that has crowned the Giralda since the 16th century, representing Faith. It is one of the city's great symbols, and seeing it multiplied and turned into light, right at the foot of the tower that holds it, creates an image you will not find in any other city. It is, without doubt, the highlight of this year's lights.
A few tips to enjoy and photograph them:
- Look for the view from Puerta de Jerez, facing the Cathedral: it is the best spot to see the row of Giraldillos with the Giralda behind.
- Go at dusk, when there is still a touch of blue in the sky: photos come out much better than in the dead of night.
- Avoid the switch-on day for photos if you want some calm: any weekday from 18:30 onwards, the avenue is much quieter.
✨ Leo García, the young Sevillian who will switch on Christmas
Leo García lives with Butterfly Skin (epidermolysis bullosa), a rare disease that makes the skin extremely fragile. His story has helped raise awareness of rare diseases and of the need for research and support for families, work championed in Spain by the association DEBRA – Piel de Mariposa.
Having him switch on the city's more than 9.2 million LEDs turns the event into much more than a light show: it brings Christmas and solidarity together.
🎤 Niña Pastori and Fonseka DJ, the soundtrack of the switch-on
The musical performance will be by Niña Pastori, one of Andalusia's best-loved voices. The singer from Cádiz, whose carol 'Palillos y Panderos' has become a Christmas classic and a social media phenomenon, will open the evening in front of what is expected to be a huge crowd.
Alongside her, Fonseka DJ will set the mood before and after the switch-on, with a festive atmosphere that will spill over into the streets of the centre.
💡 Seville's Christmas lights 2026: 9.2 million LEDs and new designs
As well as the Giraldillos, this year's lights break records and feature other designs inspired by Seville's heritage:
- 9.2 million LEDs across 316 streets and squares, twelve more than in 2025.
- 17 motifs inspired by the Cathedral's stained-glass windows, with stars and a crescent moon alluding to the Virgin Mary.
- An illuminated Nativity scene up to 9 metres tall next to the Palacio de San Telmo.
- Video mapping in Plaza de San Francisco, with six daily shows between 18:30 and 22:15.
Newly lit streets include Plaza de la Alianza, Resolana, Avenida Sánchez Pizjuán, Avenida de la Oliva and Parque Cerro Amate.
👀 Where and how to watch the Christmas lights switch-on 2026
- Arrive early. Plaza de San Francisco and the central stretch of the Avenida fill up quickly; aim to be there at least an hour beforehand.
- Go on foot. The centre will be closed to traffic and packed with people: if you are staying nearby, you won't need a car or taxi.
- If you are with children, find a spot along the sides of the Avenida, which are calmer than the square.
- Stay on afterwards. After the switch-on, it is well worth strolling beneath the Giraldillos towards the Cathedral and El Arenal and finishing with some tapas.
🗣️ A word from our CEO
The switch-on is one of those moments when Seville takes to the streets without needing any excuse. Every year we see guests who arrive for an ordinary weekend suddenly find the Avenida lit up and the whole city looking up. This year, Leo's role gives it a special meaning: I think it is a wonderful idea for Christmas to begin with a message of solidarity.
🏠 Luxury apartments in Seville just steps from the Christmas lights
Our Luxury Apartments in El Arenal are just a few minutes' walk from the Avenida de la Constitución, so you can walk to the switch-on, come back to photograph the Giraldillos any evening and rest whenever you like. If you are looking for another area, discover all our Luxury Apartment Rentals in Seville.
We recommend booking early if you plan to come for the December bank holiday weekend or for New Year's Eve in Seville, the most popular dates. In the meantime, find inspiration in our guide to Christmas lights and markets, our Seville tapas route or the Three Kings Parade, the grand finale of the festive season.
In the coming days we will publish our complete guide to Christmas 2026 in Seville, with Navigalia, the Nativity Fair, the concerts at the Real Alcázar and the New Year chimes.
📞 Get in touch and we will help you find the perfect place to stay this festive season.
And if this Christmas you fancy a change of scene, the magic also shines in our other destinations: our luxury apartment rentals in Madrid, with the Christmas markets of the Golden Mile; our luxury apartments in Barcelona; a few peaceful days in our luxury accommodation on the Costa Brava or in Ibiza out of season; and, without leaving Andalusia, our Luxury Apartments in Córdoba, 45 minutes away by high-speed train, our luxury apartments in Cádiz, our luxury accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and an exclusive stay in Marbella and Puerto Banús. All our destinations at The Sun Places.
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