| The short answer No. Sainsbury’s does not sell fireworks. It stopped in 2019, became the first major UK supermarket to do so, and has not sold them since.Why: Sainsbury’s has called the decision commercially sensitive and based on “a range of factors”, which it has said include animal welfare.Where to buy instead: Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Tesco and Morrisons have sold fireworks in recent years, mostly in store only during the legal selling window.The legal window: outside licensed specialist shops, fireworks can only be sold to the public from 15 October to 10 November, from 26 to 31 December, and around Diwali and Chinese New Year.Key dates: Bonfire Night is Thursday 5 November 2026 and Diwali is Sunday 8 November. Fireworks must not be let off after midnight on Bonfire Night or after 1am on Diwali night. |
Every October, shoppers search for Sainsbury’s fireworks in the run-up to Bonfire Night — and every year since 2019 the answer has been the same. If you were planning a combined food-and-fireworks shop at Sainsbury’s, you will need a second stop. This guide explains why Sainsbury’s does not sell fireworks, where you can buy them instead, and the rules on when they can be sold and used in 2026.
Does Sainsbury’s sell fireworks in 2026?
Can you buy fireworks at Sainsbury’s? No. Sainsbury’s stopped selling fireworks across its stores in 2019, when it became the first of the big supermarkets to remove them from sale, according to BBC News. The policy covered every one of its roughly 2,300 stores at the time, including its supermarkets and convenience shops in Scotland, and Sainsbury’s has confirmed in later years that it has not offered them since.
There has been no announcement of a change for 2026. If you see a listing or a social media post suggesting otherwise, treat it with caution and check with your local store.
Why did Sainsbury’s stop selling fireworks?
Sainsbury’s has never given a single reason. When the decision was announced in 2019, a spokeswoman told the BBC the reason was commercially sensitive. In later years the supermarket said it regularly reviews its ranges and that the decision was based on a range of factors. It told the fact-checking charity Full Fact that animal welfare was one of them.
The commercial side is easy to see. Fireworks are explosives: they cannot sit on an ordinary shelf, they need secure storage, staff must check that every buyer is over 18, and they can only be sold for a few weeks a year. Retail analysts pointed out at the time that this makes them an expensive line for a supermarket to carry. The decision was welcomed by animal charities including Dogs Trust, and Co-op had already stopped selling fireworks.
Where to buy fireworks instead
Most other big supermarkets and discounters have continued to sell fireworks, though ranges and selling dates vary by store:
| Retailer | Sells fireworks? | Worth knowing |
| Sainsbury’s | No — not since 2019 | Still worth a visit for party food and glow sticks |
| Co-op | No | Stopped selling fireworks before Sainsbury’s |
| Asda | Yes, in selected stores | Sold from 15 October to 10 November and 26 to 31 December; in-store fireworks cannot be added to a grocery delivery |
| Aldi | Yes | Seasonal range in stores while stocks last |
| Lidl | Yes | Seasonal range in stores while stocks last |
| Tesco and Morrisons | Have sold them in recent years | In store only; ranges have included low-noise options |
| Specialist firework shops | Yes | Licensed shops can sell all year and usually carry larger ranges |
Check your local store before travelling: supermarkets sell fireworks in selected branches only, and stock varies.
If you want the widest choice, a licensed specialist shop will usually beat any supermarket, because supermarkets only carry a small seasonal range. If you want quieter fireworks for the sake of pets or neighbours, look for low-noise products, which several supermarkets have stocked in recent years.
When can fireworks be sold and used in 2026?
In England and Wales, shops without an all-year licence can only sell fireworks to the public during set periods. Those periods, and the night-time curfew on using them, are set out in law:
| 2026 dates and times | |
| Main selling window | 15 October to 10 November |
| New Year selling window | 26 to 31 December |
| Diwali and Chinese New Year | The day itself and the three days before (Diwali 2026 is Sunday 8 November, inside the main window anyway) |
| Normal curfew | No fireworks between 11pm and 7am |
| Bonfire Night, Thursday 5 November | Allowed until midnight |
| Diwali (8 Nov), New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year | Allowed until 1am |
It is illegal to sell adult fireworks to anyone under 18, and under-18s must not have them in a public place. Scotland has stricter rules on when fireworks can be bought and used, and some Scottish councils have created firework control zones where letting them off is banned altogether, so check your council’s guidance if you live north of the border.
Celebrating Bonfire Night without buying fireworks
- Go to an organised display. Fire services consistently say this is the safest way to enjoy fireworks, and on a Thursday Bonfire Night many towns will hold displays on the weekend before or after as well.
- Use glow sticks and light-up wands. Sainsbury’s pointed customers to these when it stopped selling fireworks, and they are a good option for younger children.
- Plan for pets. If neighbours will be letting fireworks off, keep pets indoors after dark, close curtains and give them a quiet place to hide.
| Safety if you buy your own Buy only from a licensed retailer and check for the UKCA or CE mark and the category (F2 or F3) on the box.Read the minimum safe distance on each firework before choosing where to set it off.Light at arm’s length with a taper, stand well back, and never go back to a firework that has not gone off.Keep a bucket of water nearby, and keep sparklers away from children under five. |
Sainsbury’s fireworks: your questions answered
Does Sainsbury’s sell fireworks in 2026? No. Sainsbury’s has not sold fireworks since 2019.
Does Sainsbury’s sell sparklers? Sparklers are fireworks in law, and Sainsbury’s does not sell fireworks. It has pointed customers to glow sticks and light-up wands instead.
Which supermarkets sell fireworks in 2026? Asda, Aldi and Lidl are selling them in stores this autumn, and Tesco and Morrisons have sold them in recent years. Co-op does not.
When can you buy fireworks in the UK? From 15 October to 10 November and from 26 to 31 December, plus around Diwali and Chinese New Year. Licensed specialist shops can sell all year.
What time do fireworks have to stop on Bonfire Night? Midnight on 5 November in England and Wales. On other nights the curfew is 11pm.