Festival of Lights

For 4 evenings, artists of all kind of inspiration enlighten buildings with light installations, creating a magic atmosphere in the streets, main parks and places of the downtown and Old Lyon. 
Lighters, designers, videographers, architects, graphic artists, plastic artists, but also street shows companies, make the city a showcase of their ephemeral works with their new and surprising installations. 
N​umerous French and foreign visitors will enjoy the friendly and joyful spirit of this unique event.

In 2021, Lyon has decided to dazzle you even more than usual with a spectacular edition, where water and nature will play the leading role. The recent experience of the pandemic and lockdowns, as well as the growth of virtuality, have also been a source of inspiration for the artists. 

This year, you will be able to explore 30 very different works: some grand and spectacular, and others more intimate; sometimes participative and always unexpected. They are born of the imaginations of both internationally acclaimed artists and young talents who are given a platform by the Festival of Lights.

Another new feature of this year’s festival is that some of the installations will remain in place throughout the month of December. Elsewhere, activities and gatherings will be organised both before and after the four days of the festival.

Lastly, the festival wishes to involve children by providing suitable opening times, which will allow them to participate, as well as a well-researched book of games, which includes routes to follow and information about light and the main installations.

As is the case each year, the Festival of Lights welcomes a charity organisation to enable collective solidarity with students through the sale of lumignons (small lanterns that the people of Lyon traditionally place on their window sills and balconies), and the creation of a giant light fresco on Place des Jacobins. This year, it is the non-profit GAELIS (a federation of student associations and elected representatives).
You can buy lumignons in advance from GAELIS to light up your windows on the 8th of December.
You can also buy a virtual lumignon to share on social networks at e-lumignonsducoeur.fr

To get a taste of what’s to come, see the Festival of Lights programme.