La Laguna begins installing 2026 Christmas lights in the middle of summer

The Ayuntamiento de La Laguna has begun preparatory work for its 2026 Christmas lighting campaign — an undertaking that, according to the council, must start several months in advance given the size of the municipality and the installation of more than 3,500 decorative features. The announcement was made on 29 July 2026.

Operators are already working at locations in the town centre including Heraclio Sánchez, Juan de Vera, El Juego, San Juan, Nava y Grimón and La Piterita, where preliminary work is under way ahead of the installation of arches, garlands and other illuminated elements. The Municipal Services department says work will continue progressively over the coming months until the full programme has been completed across the entire municipality.

Why the installation is starting so early

The Municipal Services councillor, Fran Hernández, explained that "a campaign of this scale requires extensive prior planning." "We are talking about thousands of decorative elements that will go up not only in the historic centre but also in our villages and neighbourhoods, so it is essential to begin the technical work now to ensure that, when the switch-on moment arrives, everything is in place with the highest possible guarantees," he said.

According to the council, starting early makes it possible to carry out the work during a period of lower traffic volumes, particularly on the main roads and avenues. The campaign requires the use of vehicles fitted with elevated platforms, the coordination of various technical resources, and a series of checks before the official switch-on. This approach, the council says, makes life easier for installation teams and reduces the impact on traffic, local businesses and residents' daily routines.

The sight of workers putting up lights in the height of summer caught some residents off guard. According to Diario de Avisos, people in Las Mercedes were surprised on 18 August to see the lights going up — "Is this for real? Putting up Christmas lights? Summer's over," the outlet reported one resident as saying. The council has reiterated that the scheduling is designed to avoid traffic restrictions during the busiest months of the year.

Coverage across villages and neighbourhoods

The council stresses its intention to distribute the lighting evenly across the municipality rather than concentrating it solely in the centre. "We want Christmas to once again be a moment of togetherness for residents and visitors, but also a boost for our shops, hospitality businesses and the local economy," said Hernández, who called for the distinctive character of each village and neighbourhood to be respected.

In previous editions, the traditional arch on Calle Obispo Rey Redondo and the installations in the Plaza del Adelantado were among the most recognisable features of the 2025 campaign.

LED technology and costs

The 2026 campaign will introduce new decorative designs while continuing to reuse and adapt elements from previous years. All ornamentation will use low-consumption LED technology, the council says, in order to save energy and reduce environmental impact.

The council notes that the supply of decorative features, along with their installation, maintenance and subsequent removal, falls to the contracted service provider under the terms of the existing contract, meaning the campaign will not incur any additional cost to the public purse.

Further details about new features and the date of the official switch-on will be announced, the council says, as planning and installation progress across the various districts.