Christmas in Eastbourne

About Christmas in Eastbourne

By the ULTIMATE Brighton Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Eastbourne does Christmas with seaside elegance: a pantomime in the Victorian Devonshire Park Theatre, street parties in its two village quarters, Meads and Little Chelsea, a winter festival at Sovereign Harbour and a seafront that is at its most dramatic in December. In 2026 the pantomime is Cinderella, from 11 December to 17 January.

Eastbourne is a town of long seafront parades, grand hotels and the white cliffs of Beachy Head at its western edge. In winter the promenade is quiet and the light is wonderful, and the town’s theatres and streets put on a full Christmas programme.

The pantomime

The Devonshire Park Theatre’s 2026 pantomime is Cinderella, from 11 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, a longer run than most, which makes it a good choice for the first weeks of January.

Check opening times and trains on the official sites before you travel.

Lights and markets

Eastbourne’s Christmas lights switch-on comes with entertainment, street food and a Christmas market. In recent winters the seafront bandstand has also hosted a Christmas market. Visit Eastbourne publishes each year’s date and programme on its Christmas pages.

Meads and Little Chelsea

Two of the town’s village quarters hold their own Christmas street parties. In Meads Magic, Meads Street is lined with stalls, a Christmas market of local produce and arts and crafts, entertainers, a Christmas parade and Santa’s grotto. Christmas in Little Chelsea brings late-night shopping, a Christmas market on Grove Road and South Street, festive food and live entertainment.

Winterland at Sovereign Harbour

From 1 to 31 December 2026, Eastbourne Winterland brings a festive season to The Waterfront at Sovereign Harbour, with skating events among its attractions.

Art, carols and trees

Towner Eastbourne holds a Christmas Fair of contemporary craft and local makers, and runs workshops for making Christmas cards inspired by Eric Ravilious’s festive prints. St Andrew’s Church, Seaside, holds a Christmas Tree Festival from 4 to 6 December 2026, and community carol concerts take place across the town.

Our advice: combine a December walk over Beachy Head or along the seafront with an evening at the pantomime; Eastbourne is about 35 minutes from Brighton by train.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Christmas in Eastbourne before you go.