At a glance
- Entries close
- 9.00am Friday 27 November 2026; entry is free and done online
- Lights on
- Every night from Tuesday 1 December to Friday 25 December 2026
- Final judging
- Thursday 3 December 2026, 6.30pm to 10.30pm, at finalists’ displays
- People’s Choice vote
- Online from 9.00am 1 December to 9.00am 9 December; one vote per person
- Winners announced
- Friday 11 December 2026 at St Nicholas Precinct; the public link follows after the event
- Prizes
- A share in more than $11,500 worth of cash and prizes
- Who it’s for
- Ipswich households, businesses and streets that put up lights, and families who want a lights trail to visit
- What to do now
- If you want to enter, submit your 2 to 5 photos before 9.00am on 27 November; if you want to look at lights, wait for the trail and map to fill from 1 December
- Last checked
- Sunday 8 November 2026, against three Ipswich Festivals pages and the 2026 terms and conditions
- Not yet confirmed
- The full Christmas in Ipswich 2026 program, including St Nicholas Precinct dates and times, which Ipswich Festivals has not yet published
Entries for the 2026 City of Ipswich Christmas Lights Competition close at 9.00am on Friday 27 November, the lights must be on every night from 1 to 25 December, and winners are announced at St Nicholas Precinct on Friday 11 December.
This brief uses the Ipswich Festivals competition page, its FAQ page and the 2026 terms and conditions. The competition is presented by Narellan Pools Ipswich and run by Ipswich City Council. Ipswich Festivals has not yet published the full Christmas in Ipswich 2026 program, so only the competition dates below are confirmed.
What are the key dates for the Ipswich Christmas Lights Competition?
| Step | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Entries opened | 9.00am Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Entries close | 9.00am Friday 27 November 2026 |
| Lights on | Tuesday 1 December to Friday 25 December 2026 |
| People’s Choice voting | 9.00am 1 December to 9.00am 9 December |
| Final judging of finalists | Thursday 3 December, 6.30pm to 10.30pm |
| Winners Announcement | Friday 11 December, St Nicholas Precinct |
The competition terms say entries must be received by the closing date and no entries are accepted after it. The competition page asks entrants to use a mobile device or the Chrome browser when opening the entry portal.
Who can enter, and what does it cost?
There is no cost to enter. Entrants pay for everything in their own display. Each entrant can choose one of three categories: Residential, Business/Organisation or New Entry. A street with three or more participating homes or businesses can also enter Best Street. A New Entry must be the first time that home or business has entered the City of Ipswich Christmas Lights Competition. For Best Street, every display must register individually and name the street’s main contact in the entry.
Everyone except “Listing Only” entrants is entered into the People’s Choice automatically. A Listing Only entry is for people who do not want to compete, and for Ipswich City Council employees. It is not judged and cannot win a prize. Its address is still added to the official Christmas Lights Trail so the community can visit.
What are the prizes?
The competition page says entrants could win a share in more than $11,500 worth of cash and prizes, and every entry goes into the draw for a Lucky Entrant prize.
| Category | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Best Residential, presented by STRUD | $1,500 cash | $1,000 cash |
| Best Business/Organisation, presented by General Public Ipswich | General Public Ipswich Corporate Package valued at $1,500 | Corporate Package valued at $500 |
| Best Street, presented by Stockland Providence | $1,500 cash and a Council installed Best Street sign | $1,000 cash |
| People’s Choice, presented by She’s My Broker | $1,500 cash | Not listed |
| Best New Entry, presented by G.J. Gardner Homes, Ipswich | $1,000 cash | $500 |
The page notes that individual terms and conditions apply to some prizes.
How do I enter?
Entry is online. You upload a minimum of two and a maximum of five photos of your display. Each file must be between 1MB and 10MB. The first photo you upload becomes your listing photo in the People’s Choice gallery, so the FAQ suggests choosing one that shows the full display. The photos are viewed by the judges and by the public when voting.
The FAQ gives these photo tips: start photographing around dusk, act fast because the light changes between sunset and nightfall, forget the flash, and fill the frame. On an iPhone, burst mode takes several shots at once so you can choose the best one.
Your display address, and your business details if you are a business, are shown publicly so people can visit. Other contact details are handled under the Council Personal Information Digest. To withdraw an entry, email events@ipswich.qld.gov.au.
What does the display need?
- All entrants except Listing Only must display the official Christmas lights corflute sign, or the window decal for businesses and organisations, in a prominent, well-lit position during the competition period.
- Lights must be turned on each night from 1 to 25 December.
- Entrants must consider the safety of vehicle and pedestrian traffic and obtain any relevant permits. The FAQ says Council does not cover the risks or permits for you.
Council has produced a tips and tricks sheet on design and safety. Energex, the competition’s safety partner, has published electrical safety tips for entrants. For questions, contact Council at events@ipswich.qld.gov.au or on (07) 3810 6666.
How does the judging work?
All entrants’ images and videos are reviewed by a selection panel, which decides a list of finalists. Judges then visit the finalists on the night of Thursday 3 December, between 6.30pm and 10.30pm. Finalists are told by email or phone before that night, and are acknowledged publicly on the lights locations map. The judging is done by local celebrities and partners of the competition.
All entrants are invited to the Winners Announcement at St Nicholas Precinct on Friday 11 December. Winners are announced to the public after that event, and a link to the winners will be available after Friday 11 December.
How does People’s Choice voting work?
The public can vote online for a favourite display from 9.00am on 1 December to 9.00am on 9 December. Voting is limited to one vote per person, and entrants may vote for their own display. If you try to vote from a workplace and see an “already voted” message, the FAQ suggests trying from home or a mobile device. The winner is the entry with the most votes lodged in that period.
What else is on in Christmas in Ipswich?
Ipswich Festivals describes Christmas in Ipswich as a city-wide festive celebration with light displays, community events and regional carols, running from late November to New Years Eve. It names St Nicholas Precinct, the City Christmas Lights Competition and the City Tree as highlights. It says the 2026 program has not been published yet. The St Nicholas Precinct page says performer and market stall applications have closed, and that Ipswich Festivals is seeking volunteers through the Council volunteer portal.
If you are heading into the city for the Winners Announcement or the precinct, our guide to Ipswich CBD parking covers the Nicholas Street Precinct car park, which Council says offers up to 3 hours free on weekdays and free parking all day on weekends and public holidays.
Sources
- Ipswich Festivals — Christmas Lights Competition (checked 8 November 2026)
- Ipswich Festivals — Christmas Lights Competition FAQs (checked 8 November 2026)
- Ipswich Festivals — 2026 Christmas Lights Competition Terms and Conditions (PDF) (checked 8 November 2026)
- Ipswich Festivals — Christmas in Ipswich (checked 8 November 2026)
Featured image: a house with a Christmas light display (photo: Jaidyn345 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Ipswich City Council, Ipswich Festivals or Narellan Pools Ipswich. Dates can change; check the Ipswich Festivals pages before you enter or go.