Rye Bonfire Night 2026 and the Sussex Bonfire Season

Rye Bonfire Night 2026 is on Saturday 14 November. The Rye and District Bonfire Society still lists the date as to be confirmed, so check ryebonfire.co.uk before you travel. We'll update this page when the timetable is out.

Details checked on 8 October 2026.

Rye Bonfire Night at a glance

• Date: Saturday 14 November 2026 (to be confirmed by the Society).
• What: a torchlit procession through the town, then the bonfire and fireworks on the Salts.
• Timings: in 2025 the procession set off at 7pm, the bonfire was lit at 8pm and the fireworks started at 8.15pm. The 2026 timetable isn't out yet.
• Cost: free. The Society is run entirely by volunteers and gets no public money, so bring some change for the collection buckets.

Why it's my favourite

East Sussex must be one of the only counties in the UK that really goes to town when it comes to remembering the foiling of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Bonfire celebrations run from September right through to the end of November, and whether it's a small village celebration or one of the big Bonfire Society gatherings, there's something for all the family.

The finale for me is always the Rye procession. There's something quite magical about the smoke in the air from the burning torches, the costumes, the fire-breathing dragon, the burning boat, and then the spectacular firework display and bonfire on the Salts.

What happens on the night

• The procession. It's led by the Ryebellion Drummers and Scorcher, Rye's famous dragon (the third to carry the name). Bonfire societies from across Sussex join in, each in their own costume, and members make more than 1,000 torches for the night.
• The route. In 2025 it started on the Tilling Green estate, came along Ferry Road past the Crown Inn, through the Landgate arch and up the High Street and the Mint, looped back via Cinque Ports Street and Tower Street, then went down to the bonfire site.
• Rye Fawkes. Each year someone is chaired down to the Salts as Rye Fawkes to light the bonfire. The first after the Society re-formed in 1994 was Spike Milligan.
• The burning boat. Rye has always burned a boat. One explanation goes back to the French attack on Rye in 1377, when locals burned their own boats rather than have them taken.
• The crowds. An estimated 10,000 or more people came in 2024, so expect the town to be busy.

Tips for the night

• Arrive early. In 2025, parking restrictions started on the procession route at 4pm, and the route had to be clear of all vehicles by 6pm.
• Stay within walking distance. It's much easier if you don't need to drive in and out of town that evening.
• Watch the procession, then follow it down. Find a spot along the route to see the procession, then follow the crowds down to the Salts for the bonfire and fireworks.
• Bring a reusable cup. The Society asks for reusable drinks containers rather than glass.
• Leave the dog at home. The drums, bangs and crowds are a lot for most dogs. If you're bringing yours on holiday, they'll be happier settled in the cottage for the evening.
• Wrap up. It's mid-November, so bring warm layers and something waterproof.

Make a weekend of it

Bonfire night is on a Saturday, so it's easy to make a weekend of it. Several of our cottages are in Rye itself, so you can walk to the procession and back. See which cottages are free from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November, and book early: the town gets very busy.

Other Sussex bonfires in autumn 2026

These are the dates the local bonfire societies have published so far. Smaller societies sometimes change dates, so check each society's website before you travel.