Rugby's free Diwali celebration is on Sunday 1 November, 2pm to 7pm, in Market Place and the Asda car park, with a lantern procession at 5pm. What's confirmed.

Rugby’s Diwali celebration returns to the town centre on Sunday 1 November 2026, from 2pm to 7pm. It is free, open-air, and centred on Market Place by the Clock Tower and the Asda car park in front of the Swan Centre. The lantern procession starts at 5pm.

Checked 3 October 2026 against Rugby Borough Council’s announcement and the council’s visitor site, The Rugby Town.

The quick answer

  • When: Sunday 1 November 2026, 2pm to 7pm
  • Where: Market Place and the Asda car park in front of the Swan Centre, Rugby town centre
  • Price: free entry
  • Highlight: the lantern procession at 5pm
  • Organised by: the Rugby Indian Association, supported by Rugby Borough Council and the event company Unlimited Communications

What is confirmed

From the council’s announcement of 7 September 2026 and the event listing:

  • Stalls selling Diwali-themed arts, crafts and artefacts
  • Indian food and snacks
  • Lantern-making for children and families
  • Live stage performances by local artists from different regions of India
  • Festive lighting, music, dance and the 5pm lantern parade

The programme of performers and the stage times have not been published. On 3 October the organisers were still asking for stallholders, performers and community groups, and inviting town centre businesses to run a promotion on the day, so the line-up is still being put together.

Cllr Ish Mistry, the council’s portfolio holder for people, resources and governance and one of the organisers, said this year they are “really keen to involve other communities from across the borough”. To take part, the council’s contact is chris@ucltd.co.uk.

How it has changed

This is the fourth Rugby Diwali in the town centre: the Rugby Observer dates the first to 2023. It has moved around the calendar and the map since.

  • 2024: Sunday 27 October, 12 noon to 6pm, across Market Place, High Street, Sheep Street and the Asda car park, organised by Rugby Indian Communities with Rugby First and the council (Rugby Borough Council)
  • 2025: Sunday 12 October, 1pm to 7pm, on the same streets, as reported by the Rugby Observer before the event
  • 2026: Sunday 1 November, 2pm to 7pm. The council’s 2026 announcement names only Market Place and the Asda car park, not High Street or Sheep Street

Rugby First, the town’s business improvement district, helped run the first three. It closed on 31 March 2026, and the council now delivers the town centre events it used to run.

Getting there and parking

Part of the Asda car park in front of the Swan Centre is the event site, by agreement with Asda, so do not plan on parking there that afternoon. No road closures had been published by 3 October. Our parking in Rugby page has the council car parks, tariffs and Sunday rules, and roadworks and travel will carry any closures if they are announced.

The same fortnight

Halloween and half term come the week before: our Halloween page has the pumpkin patches and the Caldecott Park trail. The Rugby Fireworks Show at Whinfield Park is six days later, on Saturday 7 November.

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