Bonfire Night 2026 night in: cosy games, films and shows for while the fireworks go off

Thursday 5 November 2026 is Bonfire Night in the UK, which means a sky full of fireworks from early evening onwards (and, realistically, for a few nights either side). Some people love standing in a cold field with a sparkler. Plenty of us would rather stay in with the curtains drawn, a blanket and something good on screen. This one’s for the second group.

What is Bonfire Night? (For readers outside the UK)

Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes Night or Fireworks Night, marks the failed Gunpowder Plot of 5 November 1605, when a group of conspirators planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London during the State Opening. Guy Fawkes was caught in a cellar under the House of Lords guarding barrels of gunpowder. Over four centuries later, people in the UK still mark the date with bonfires, organised firework displays and, in some places, a “guy” (an effigy) on the fire. It’s not a public holiday, so most displays happen in the evening or on the nearest weekend.

When the fireworks start, by region: UK displays usually get going after dark, roughly 6–8pm UK time (GMT). On 5 November that’s 7–9pm CET, 1–3pm ET and 10am–noon PT. The UK clocks went back on 25 October and the US clocks go back on 1 November, so by Bonfire Night the UK is back to its usual five hours ahead of New York. If you’re watching a UK stream or chatting with friends there, that’s the window when they’ll be distracted by bangs.

Games to settle into

You want something absorbing but forgiving, where a sudden loud bang outside won’t cost you a boss fight.

• Cosy puzzle and mystery games. Plant-shop detective work, a tower of languages to decode, a manor full of rare flowers: our cosy puzzle and mystery games for a rainy night in list is basically built for this evening. None of them have timers.
• Low-stakes life sims and cosy indies. Our best cosy games this autumn picks are all things you can pause mid-task without losing anything.
• Something to play together. If you’re in with a partner, housemate or family, try our two-player games or the co-op picks for winter nights.
• A big story to get lost in. If you’d rather disappear for hours, our story-driven games for winter have you covered.

A tip for anyone (or any pet) who hates the noise: a decent pair of over-ear headphones does a lot to soften the bangs. Our sister site What2Buy, a UK guide site, has a round-up of PS5 headsets under £50, and its picks and prices are for UK shoppers. Many of them also work with PCs and other consoles, but check compatibility for yours.

Films for a fireworks night in

Animated films are perfect here: warm, visually rich and easy to dip in and out of if you get up to check on the dog. Our anime films for a cosy night in list covers the Studio Ghibli classics and newer favourites like Suzume and Look Back, with notes on where they stream. Ghibli films are a good example of how much streaming varies: they sit on different services in different countries, so check a tool like JustWatch or your own service’s app for your region.

Shows to binge

• Comfort anime. For something gentle, try our slice-of-life anime for when you need something comfy.
• Something new this season. Our Fall 2026 anime watchlist and TV and anime premieres for November 2026 list what’s airing right now, with platforms.
• Free options. If you don’t want to pay for another subscription, broadcaster catch-up services and free, ad-supported apps have more than people think. Availability depends heavily on where you live; our streaming services compared guide has regional notes.

Make a night of it

Draw the curtains, switch on a lamp instead of the overhead light and line up one game and one film before the first rocket goes up, so you’re not scrolling menus when the noise starts. If you want to make your gaming spot a bit more comfortable, our guide to building a cosy gaming corner has easy, cheap ideas. For more low-stakes picks, the whole Cosy Corner section is here.

Wherever you are: streaming catalogues and game store availability vary by country, so check your local service before you settle on a plan.