Illuminate is back at Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Ruins this November; 2026 dates are not out. Last winter: 15 Nov to 4 Jan, 4pm to 9pm, from £7.95.

Illuminate, the winter light trail through Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Ruins, is coming back to Reading for a second year. Its organisers say it opens “this November”. The 2026 dates and ticket prices have not been published yet: on 5 October the Illuminate Reading website said “2026 dates coming soon”, adding that this year’s dates and tickets would be announced soon.

The quick answer

  • Is it on this year? Yes. The organiser confirms a second year at Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Ruins, opening in November.
  • When? Not announced. Last winter it ran from Saturday 15 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026, 4pm to 9pm daily, closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
  • How much? Not announced. Last winter’s prices started at £7.95, and tickets on the gate, when any were left, were £17.50 for adults and £12.50 for children.
  • Booking: timed sessions, limited numbers. The website has a “register for tickets” form for this year’s release.

We will update this page as soon as the dates and prices are out.

What it is

The organisers describe a 30 to 50 minute walking route of light installations, glowing displays and lighting through Forbury Gardens and into the ruins of Reading Abbey, built around the park’s historic landscape and buildings. There are marshmallow toasting pits, hot food, waffles and sweet treats, and a bar serving mulled wine, cider and hot chocolate (Illuminate Reading). Reading Buses’ listing for last year’s trail placed the food and drink court towards the middle of the route (Reading Buses).

Illuminate also runs trails in Ipswich, Guildford, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight. Its website warns that some of the images it shows “do not represent the activations at Illuminate Reading”.

What last year’s rules tell you

The event details page still carries last winter’s information, so treat these as a guide until it is rewritten for 2026.

Last winter (2025/26)
Dates Sat 15 Nov 2025 to Sun 4 Jan 2026
Closed 25 Dec, 26 Dec, 31 Dec, 1 Jan
Hours 4pm to 9pm, Monday to Sunday
Prices From £7.95 in advance; £17.50 adult, £12.50 child on the day if available
Where Forbury Gardens, 26 The Forbury, RG1 3EJ
Exit Chestnut Walk, at the Abbey Ruins gate (no entry there)
Tickets Online through FIXR, emailed within minutes

A few rules catch people out:

  • No refunds, including for bad weather. The trail goes ahead in the rain. If the site has to shut for safety, you are offered another date. Date changes are only possible if you bought the “Flexi Ticket” add-on, and not within seven days of your booking.
  • No dogs, except assistance dogs.
  • Children need an adult. Anyone on a child ticket must be with someone aged 18 or over.
  • Flicker, laser and strobe effects may be used on the installations.
  • No large cameras or drones. Phones and small cameras are fine; DSLRs are not allowed in.
  • No group discounts.

Access

The organiser says the trail is wheelchair friendly. Pushchairs are allowed, but it asks for buggies that cope with off-road ground. The trail is outdoors, with tree cover on some sections and ground lighting along the route. Free carer tickets are available through its personal assistance ticket scheme, which needs evidence such as a Credibility Access Card with the +1 symbol. It can take up to ten working days to issue one, and the organiser says you can book your own tickets while you wait.

When to expect the 2026 dates

Last year the trail opened on Saturday 15 November 2025, the same day as Reading’s Christmas lights switch-on. This year the switch-on is Saturday 14 November, and the Broad Street Christmas market opens that day too. Illuminate has not said whether it will open on the same weekend again, so do not plan around that until the dates are published.

Sessions are timed and limited. The organiser said last year that it expected most sessions to sell out in advance, so if you want a weekend evening in December, register on its website now and book when tickets go on sale.

Getting there

Forbury Gardens is a short walk from Reading station and the town centre. The organiser does not provide parking and points drivers to the town centre car parks: our parking in Reading page has the car parks and tariffs, and Reading roadworks and travel has the closures. For the rest of the season, see Santa’s grottos, the pantomime and Reading Winter Wonderland at Hills Meadow.

Sources