Light festivals throughout Europe
Many people are drawn to light during the dark season: the number of visitors to light festivals runs into the hundreds of thousands. Installations around the turn of the year light up all over Europe – before, during and after the fireworks on New Year's Eve. Most light festivals have a local, sometimes historical connection. Others are part of the Christmas programme, products of city marketing or have an artistic claim. licht.de presents the events at the turn of the year and after New Year.
Germany
Winter illuminations in the city centre can be admired at the Essener Lichtwochen (Essen Light Weeks) until 4 January 2025. The series of events is celebrating its 75th anniversary and today impresses with three-dimensional animal figures and themed images.
With more than one million LEDs, Magdeburg has the most extensive Christmas and winter lighting in central Germany. The Lichterwelt Magdeburg (Magdeburg World of Lights) can be seen until 2 February 2025 and is the perfect backdrop for selfies.
Austria
Claiming to have the largest illuminated nativity scene in the world, the Winterwunder (Winter Wonder) in Mörbisch, Austria, attracts visitors until 5 January 2025. The nativity light show takes place on the lakeside stage on Lake Neusiedl.
Also in Austria, hundreds of thousands of lights illuminate the Salzkammergut treetop path until 12 January 2025. The Lichterzauber am Grünberg (Magic of lights on the Grünberg) in Gmunden is committed to sustainability: 300,000 LEDs consume less energy than one person uses per day in a private household.
Almost 250 kilometres away, the path is not at altitude, but stretches over three kilometres through Laxenburg Castle Park. The Illumina event calls itself Austria's largest garden of lights and can be visited until 12 January 2025. Water, laser and light shows, light installations by international artists and impressive projections await the public.
Switzerland
During the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland, almost 20 light installations can be admired around the Lucerne lake basin and in the old town from 9 to 19 January 2025. Artists from all over the world will showcase the diverse and fascinating facets of light and media art.
The Murten Light Festival in Switzerland will take place from 15 to 26 January 2025. The programme is still a secret, but in the past Murten Tourism has often combined the light festival with acrobatics and dance.
The Netherlands
More than a million visitors are drawn to Amsterdam. The 13th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival light art event will take place until 19 January 2025. The installations can be viewed particularly well from the water.
Finland
Even further north, Finland's largest light festival Lux will take place in Helsinki from 8 to 12 January 2025. The well-known Finnish light artist Kari Kola will also be represented with an installation in Esplanade Park. The city plans to acquire one or two of the artworks each year and exhibit them permanently in public spaces.
England
Blackpool Illuminations will light up the six-mile promenade until 5 January 2025. The traditional festival in the English coastal town dates back to 1879, when electric street lighting was still completely new and largely unknown.
Festivals of light have a long tradition – even before the nineteenth century: for example, at the summer solstice in Sweden, at the Hindu Diwali festival or at the St Martin's processions in Austria and Germany.