Lichfield Cathedral's Follow the Star light show runs 15 to 21 December, entry 5.15pm to 8.45pm. Cheapest after 6.45pm midweek: £12 adult, £36 family.
Lichfield Cathedral’s Christmas Light Show is on for 2026. It is called Follow the Star, it runs for seven nights from Tuesday 15 to Monday 21 December, and tickets are on sale now in 15-minute entry slots from 5.15pm to 8.45pm.
Everything here comes from the Cathedral’s own light show page, its box office and its 2026 FAQs (PDF), all read on 5 October 2026. We will update it as the nights sell.
The quick answer
- When: Tuesday 15 to Monday 21 December 2026, every night, entry slots every 15 minutes from 5.15pm, last slot 8.45pm.
- Where: Lichfield Cathedral and the Close, WS13 7LD. In and out through Dam Street only.
- Price: adults £12 to £15, children £8.50 to £11, families £36 to £47. Under 2s free, but they need a ticket.
- Cheapest: any slot from 6.45pm on 15, 16 or 17 December.
- Allow: about an hour. Parking: none at the Cathedral, not even drop-off.
What it is
The show is a walk-round rather than a seated show. Your group enters the Close at its ticket time, walks between projections on the Bishop’s Palace (now the Lichfield Cathedral School building) and the West Front, then goes inside. The animation team Illuminos is back again, and new for 2026 the projections continue inside the Cathedral itself, the Cathedral says.
Inside there is seasonal music from local choirs, the Christmas Tree Festival and the Crib, open after hours, plus the gift shop. SALT, the Cathedral’s café, serves hot drinks and snacks at the Dam Street entrance.
Ticket prices by night and time
Prices depend on the night and the slot. The box office lists four bands:
| Nights | Entry slot | Adult (16+) | Child (2 to 15) | Family (2 adults, 2 children) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 15 to Thu 17 Dec | 5.15pm to 6.30pm | £13 | £9 | £39 |
| Tue 15 to Thu 17 Dec | 6.45pm onwards | £12 | £8.50 | £36 |
| Fri 18 to Mon 21 Dec | 5.15pm to 6.30pm | £15 | £11 | £47 |
| Fri 18 to Mon 21 Dec | 6.45pm onwards | £14 | £10 | £43 |
A family of four saves £11 by choosing a late midweek slot over an early weekend one. There are no other concessions, and every visitor needs a ticket, including babies, who take a free one so they count towards capacity. The box office calls children “aged 2-15” while the FAQs say “2-16”; anyone aged 16 is safest booked as an adult.
Tickets are scanned on entry and phone tickets are accepted. The FAQs say tickets may be sold at the gate by contactless card only, if any are left, and advise booking ahead because “tickets are limited and will sell quickly”. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable unless the Cathedral cancels; refund protection is sold separately by a third party at checkout.
Getting in and getting round
- Entrance and exit are both on Dam Street, on a one-way route round the Close. Volunteers guide you.
- Arrive at your slot time: groups go in at their ticket time, which keeps the queue short.
- Accessibility: all areas take wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters, with a ramped entrance to the Cathedral. Limited seating inside. Expect loud music, moving and flashing images, and dim areas.
- Toilets: the public toilets in The Old Stables, near the Dam Street entrance, are open, including one accessible toilet. There are none inside the Cathedral.
- Dogs: registered assistance dogs only.
- Children under 16 must stay with a parent or guardian throughout.
Parking
The Cathedral is blunt: there is strictly no parking or drop-off on site, accessible parking included. Its FAQs name Bird Street as the nearest public car park with disabled bays. Bird Street, Lichfield’s other city-centre car parks and the current tariffs are on our parking in Lichfield page. Coming by train? Check the Christmas trains page and the roadworks and travel page before you set off.
Other Christmas lights near Lichfield
- The city’s lights switch-on is on Sunday 22 November at 5pm in Market Street: Lichfield Christmas lights switch-on.
- Illuminated at the National Remembrance Gardens, formerly the National Memorial Arboretum, runs 4 to 22 December: our Illuminated page.
- The Garrick’s pantomime, Robin Hood, runs from 20 November: Lichfield panto. Santa’s grottos are on our Father Christmas page.
Questions
Is the Lichfield Cathedral light show on in 2026?
Yes. Follow the Star runs from Tuesday 15 to Monday 21 December 2026, and the Cathedral’s box office is selling tickets now.
What time does the light show start?
Entry slots run every 15 minutes from 5.15pm, with the last at 8.45pm each night. Allow about an hour.
Can you buy tickets on the door?
Possibly, by contactless card, if any are left. The Cathedral strongly recommends booking online.
Can you park at the Cathedral?
No. There is no parking or drop-off on site. The nearest public car park with disabled bays is Bird Street.
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