Leicester City Council has confirmed that Diwali Day 2026 will return to Cossington Recreation Ground on Sunday 8th November, after last year’s celebrations were significantly scaled back over crowd safety concerns on Belgrave Road. This year’s event, backed “in principle” by the city’s Safety Advisory Group, will bring back a stage with music and dance, food stalls, arts and crafts, and a children’s funfair. As with last year, though, there will be no public fireworks display, the specific safety concern that prompted the changes in the first place.
Belgrave Road itself, the heart of Leicester’s Diwali celebrations for more than 40 years, keeps its famous Wheel of Light and street illuminations, with rangoli displays at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre. The council says the lights will be switched on without a formal ceremony around two weeks before Diwali.
“Diwali will always be a huge part of Leicester’s cultural calendar,” said Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for culture, “and I am delighted that we’ve been able to safely develop this year’s event.”
With Diwali just over five weeks away, now’s the time to start planning. Save the date, Sunday 8th November, and tell us in the comments if you’ll be heading to Belgrave Road or Cossington Park this year.
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