What time can you set off fireworks tonight? Bonfire Night rules and the law

5th November 2026

Updated 5 Nov 2026, 07:00 · First published 5 Nov 2026

Fireworks lighting up the sky around Big Ben in London — Photo: Melinda Nagy / Shutterstock

Tonight is Bonfire Night, and the usual 11pm fireworks curfew is pushed back to midnight. Here is what the law says about when you can set off fireworks, who can buy them and what happens if you break the rules.

Fireworks rules in England: the key facts
🕚 Normal curfew: no fireworks between 11pm and 7am
🎆 Bonfire Night (5 November): allowed until midnight
🎉 New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year: allowed until 1am
🔞 You must be 18 or over to buy fireworks or carry them in public
🛒 Shops can sell fireworks from 15 October to 10 November and 26 to 31 December, plus three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year
⚖️ Breaking the rules can mean an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison, or a £90 on-the-spot penalty

What time can you set off fireworks tonight?

On most nights of the year, it is against the law to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am. Bonfire Night is one of the exceptions, so on Thursday 5 November you can let them off until midnight.

The same rule extends to 1am on New Year’s Eve, the night of Diwali and Chinese New Year.

Where can you set off fireworks?

You can use fireworks in your own garden, or on private land with the owner’s permission. You cannot set them off in the street or in a public place, such as a park, unless it is an organised display.

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Safety tips for tonight

London Fire Brigade says the safest way to enjoy fireworks is at an organised display. If you are using them at home, keep them in a closed box, follow the instructions, light them at arm’s length and never go back to one that has been lit.

Keep pets inside with the curtains closed, and never give sparklers to children under five. A lit sparkler can get several times hotter than a cooking oven.

Looking for a display instead? Our guide to London fireworks tonight and this weekend has the times, places and tickets.

Sources: GOV.UK – Fireworks: the law, London Fire Brigade, Met Office.