Bonfire Night 2026 falls on Thursday 5 November, and this year organised displays in our part of Sussex are spread across several dates. This guide covers what's happening in Brighton, Hove and Lewes, what the official advice says, and a few things worth knowing before the bangs start.
We checked every date and time against an organiser's or official page on 2 November 2026. Plans can change, so treat every listing as check before you go. For more on what's happening this month, see our round-up of things to do in Brighton and Hove in November.
When is Bonfire Night 2026?
Bonfire Night is on Thursday 5 November 2026. It falls on a Thursday this year, and some organised displays near Brighton and Hove are on the weekend instead, so the date on the poster isn't always the 5th.
It's also the one night of the year when the fireworks curfew is later. Under the law in England, fireworks mustn't be set off between 11pm and 7am, but on Bonfire Night the cut-off is midnight (GOV.UK: fireworks and the law).
Lewes Bonfire, Thursday 5 November
Lewes Bonfire is one of the most famous bonfire celebrations in the country, and the official message for 2026 is clear. Not in Lewes? Public bodies and the Bonfire societies ask people from outside the town not to travel in this year. Find a display near you, and check the official notices before you go.
The message comes from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Sussex Police, the councils, the transport operators and the ambulance services together. Travel restrictions are in place on the night, and the full details are in the joint public safety statement from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and its partners.
Hove Cricket Ground fireworks, Saturday 7 November
The Hove Cricket Ground display isn't on the 5th. Sussex Cricket's Fireworks Night is at Hove Cricket Ground (the County Ground, BN3 3AN) on Saturday 7 November. Sussex Cricket says gates open at 5pm, pre-show entertainment starts at 5:15pm and the fireworks start at around 7pm.
Sussex Cricket says tickets must be bought in advance, and the ticket office on the gate will be closed. Details, including what you can and can't bring in, are on Sussex Cricket's Fireworks Night page.
Getting there and away:
- Brighton & Hove City Council has given notice that Eaton Road will be closed to traffic between Wilbury Road and Salisbury Road from 5pm to 8pm that evening, so people can leave the ground safely. Check before you travel.
- Brighton & Hove Buses says it won't be able to serve the Law Courts or Hove Cricket Ground stops in either direction from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, and suggests the Lansdowne Road or Eaton Road stops instead. Check Brighton & Hove Buses service updates before you travel.
Preston Park and central Brighton
We couldn't find a council or organiser listing for a fireworks display in Preston Park or central Brighton on Bonfire Night 2026. Fireworks don't appear on the council's list of outdoor events on council-owned land. If that changes, it will be on the council's outdoor events page.
Displays elsewhere in East Sussex
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service runs a "Choose Local" campaign, asking people to go to an organised display in their own community rather than travel to Lewes or set off fireworks at home. Its Choose Local events list includes bonfire society events later in November. The service says the list is subject to change, so check with each organiser before you travel.
Fireworks safety: what the official advice says
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service says organised public displays are the safest way to enjoy fireworks, citing RoSPA figures showing far fewer injuries than at private gatherings. It strongly advises against bonfires and fireworks in gardens and private spaces.
The main points of the law, from GOV.UK:
- You can't buy "adult" fireworks if you're under 18.
- You mustn't set off or throw fireworks, including sparklers, in the street or other public places.
- Fireworks can only be sold for private use by registered sellers from 15 October to 10 November, and at certain other times of year. At other times you can only buy them from licensed shops.
- The curfew is 11pm to 7am, with a midnight cut-off on Bonfire Night.
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service publishes the Firework Code on its Choose Local page, and more fireworks safety advice.
Pets and fireworks
The RSPCA says many animals find fireworks frightening. It suggests walking dogs in daylight, keeping cats indoors after dark, closing windows and curtains, and giving pets a quiet, safe place to hide. Its full guidance on pets and fireworks also covers rabbits and guinea pigs.
From us at Legally Green
We're a small Brighton and Hove business, and we put these local guides together because they're the things we look up ourselves. Short days are here too, so our post on the clocks going back has this season's sunset times. You'll find more guides on our Journal. If you spot something that's changed, get in touch or email legallygreenuk@gmail.com.
Bonfire Night 2026 FAQs
When is Bonfire Night in 2026?
Thursday 5 November 2026. Some organised displays near Brighton and Hove are on the weekend instead, including the Hove Cricket Ground fireworks on Saturday 7 November.
Is there a fireworks display in Preston Park in 2026?
We couldn't find one listed by the council or an organiser for Bonfire Night. Check the council's outdoor events page for any updates.
Can I buy tickets for the Hove fireworks on the night?
Sussex Cricket says tickets for Fireworks Night on 7 November must be bought in advance, and the ticket office on the gate will be closed.
What time do fireworks have to stop on Bonfire Night?
Midnight. On most other nights of the year, the law says fireworks mustn't be set off between 11pm and 7am.
Should I go to Lewes Bonfire?
Not in Lewes? Public bodies and the Bonfire societies ask people from outside the town not to travel in this year. Find a display near you, and check the official notices before you go.