We welcome the magic of the holidays. The illa Carlemany shopping center in Andorra invites everyone to the 2026 Christmas lights switch-on, the most anticipated family event of the season in Andorra. Once again, the Christmas decorations are ready: all that is missing is the audience, the live music, and a countdown that will once again flood the center of Andorra with excitement.
👀The Event, in Four Facts
Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Start: at 8:00 PM
Artist: Doctor Prats
Location: illa Carlemany shopping center, Escaldes-Engordany
Access: open and free, no ticket or reservation required
📅 When does the Christmas lights switch-on take place?
The great event for both adults and children will take place on Thursday, November 26, 2026, at 8:00 PM at the illa Carlemany shopping center. It will be at that precise moment when the regular lights inside the center will dim to make way for an emotional show featuring music as the main highlight.
The switch-on has been, for years, the unofficial kickoff of Christmas in the center of Andorra: the evening when the country marks the beginning of the shopping season, company dinners, family gatherings, and family tourism.
🌙 What the night will be like: show, music, and countdown
The evening combines three ingredients that are already the house signature: light, live music, and audience participation.
Music and festive atmosphere. The party’s soundtrack and an enthusiastic audience, the true highlights of the night.
Brilliant decoration. The grand Christmas tree and all the themed lighting will shine bright the moment we all do the countdown together.
Collective countdown. During the performance, the musicians and the audience will count down from ten to zero; upon reaching the end, the tree and the lights will turn on simultaneously.
From that moment on, the lights will shine brightly until Three Kings’ Day inclusive, and the center will become one of the most photographed Christmas settings in the country.
🎤 Doctor Prats: The 2026 Switch-On Concert.
The group originally from Terrassa, Doctor Prats, will be in charge of bringing rhythm and energy to this year’s Christmas light switch-on. The band will offer an exclusive concert in a short format, during which they will review their most recent discography, featuring that fusion of Mediterranean sounds, festive rhythms, and local festival spirit that characterizes them on stage.
It is no coincidence that illa Carlemany has chosen this format: the switch-on has featured top-tier names year after year—Buhos in 2023, Miki Núñez in 2024, and Els Catarres in 2025—becoming one of the most attended Christmas concerts in Andorra.
👉🏽How to get there and tips for the evening
The shopping center is located in the heart of the Andorran commercial hub, between Carlemany Avenue in Escaldes-Engordany and Meritxell Avenue in Andorra la Vella, and can be easily reached on foot from both parishes.
🚗 By car. Underground parking with direct access from Valira Street, plus more than 20 charging points for electric vehicles.
🚌 By bus. Stops for all lines are a short distance away: Unió Street, Consell de la Terra Avenue, and Nacions Unides Avenue.
🚶🏻♀️ On foot. Access via a pedestrian street, with entrances also from Valira Street and Consell de la Terra Avenue.
⌚️ Arrive early. The spots closest to the tree fill up quickly: half an hour ahead is a good buffer for families.
⛔️ Do not stand on the escalators. Escalators must be kept clear for the use of visitors who wish to visit the shopping center for a purpose other than the event.
🍸After the concert. The center’s restaurants and cafes are open, so the evening can end with dinner without moving your car.
🎄Christmas at illa Carlemany: beyond the switch-on
The switch-on is just the beginning. Over the following weeks, the shopping center concentrates Andorra’s Christmas campaign: more than 60 fashion, accessories, sports, jewelry, electronics, decoration, and perfumery stores; the dining area on level 0 and level 2; the only cinemas in the country —six screens and 1,022 seats—, temporary points of sale, and the great family attraction located at the foot of the Christmas tree.
Frequently Asked Questions about the lights switch-on
When does the Christmas lights switch-on at illa Carlemany take place?
On Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting at 8:00 PM, at the illa Carlemany shopping center in Escaldes-Engordany.
Who is performing this year at the switch-on?
The band Doctor Prats from Terrassa, who will perform a short-format concert before the countdown and the holiday lighting switch-on.
What time does Doctor Prats perform?
At 8:00 PM.
Do I need to buy a ticket to go?
No. The switch-on is an activity open to the public and completely free of charge, with no ticket or prior reservation required.
How long can the Christmas lights be seen on?
The lights and the Christmas tree will remain lit up until Three Kings’ Day inclusive.
Where can I park during the event?
In the center’s underground parking lot, which has direct access from Valira Street and offers more than 20 charging points for electric vehicles.
Is it a family-friendly event?
Yes; the switch-on is designed for both adults and children, and Doctor Prats’ repertoire works great for a family audience.
Come turn on Christmas.
Thursday, November 26, starting at 8:00 PM, at illa Carlemany. Check out the complete holiday schedule and updated hours for stores, restaurants, and cinemas.
View the official website
