Muswell Hill's tree in St James Square was lit by the Mayor of Haringey at 4pm on Sunday 7 December 2025. No 2026 date yet; last year's came six days ahead.
No date has been published yet for Muswell Hill’s 2026 Christmas tree switch-on. The Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association (MHFGA), which announced last year’s, has posted nothing about Christmas 2026 as of 30 September. Do not read much into that yet: last year’s announcement went up on 1 December, only six days before the evening.
The quick answer
- Is it on this year? Not confirmed. The tree was described last year as a new arrival, so there is only one year of precedent.
- Last year: Sunday 7 December 2025 at 4pm, St James Square, lit by the Mayor of Haringey, with carols led by the St James choir.
- When to expect news: late November or the first days of December, on last year’s timing.
What happened in 2025
The MHFGA’s post of 1 December 2025 is the only first-hand account (MHFGA). It said:
- “we have a Christmas tree in St James Square this year”, an 18-foot Norway Spruce, described as “a festive gift to the community”;
- the switch-on ceremony was on Sunday 7 December at 4pm;
- the lights were switched on by the Mayor of Haringey;
- there was carol singing around the tree led by the St James choir.
The words “this year” suggest the St James Square tree was new in 2025. Other accounts of a Muswell Hill switch-on in earlier years name different places and organisers, and none of them is an organiser’s own announcement, so we have not used them. That is also why this page did not exist earlier in the season.
Other things on in Muswell Hill before Christmas
These are the dates organisers have already published:
- Alexandra Palace Farmers’ Market is back in the park at the Muswell Hill entrance, N10 3TG, on Sundays 15 and 22 November, and at Campsbourne School, N8 7AF, on 29 November, 10am to 3pm (City and Country Farmers’ Markets).
- Muswell Hill Creatives has moved its winter market off the hill this year, to Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End on Saturday 5 December. The details are on our Christmas markets page.
- Handmade In Highgate holds two winter fairs on South Grove, N6, from 20 November, and Jacksons Lane on Archway Road has its first Christmas market on Sunday 6 December, the day before last year’s tree date. Both are on the same markets page.
Getting there and parking
Muswell Hill’s controlled parking zone charges on Sundays too, 11am to 1pm, which catches people out on a Sunday. Zone hours are on our parking page. Bus diversions and road closures around the Broadway are on our roadworks and travel page.
Nearby switch-ons
- Highgate village: lit on South Grove on Wednesday 19 November 2025 by Rupert Grint. See our Highgate Christmas lights page.
- Crouch End: the Crouch End Festival tree at Hornsey Town Hall, lit at 6pm on Saturday 6 December 2025. See our Crouch End Christmas lights page.
We will update this page as soon as the MHFGA or the Mayor’s office publishes the 2026 date.
Sources checked on 30 September 2026
- Muswell Hill Christmas tree 2025, MHFGA, published 1 December 2025, for the date, time, place, tree, Mayor and choir.
- The MHFGA post archive, searched for “christmas”, “tree”, “lights” and “switch-on”, for the absence of any 2026 post; its latest items are the July 2026 reports.
- Alexandra Palace Farmers’ Market, City and Country Farmers’ Markets for the November dates and sites.
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