For nocturnal travelers, a night festival would be an event worth experiencing in each country. These festivals showcase not only the latest sophisticated lighting tricks on iconic landmarks but also serve as beautiful cultural rituals that locals continue to preserve.
Discovering the new charm of illuminated landmarks, interactive installations, and streets bathed in an ethereal glow provides a sensory playground for visitors. These annual events, which only come around once a year, offer a unique opportunity for night photographers to capture the wonder and beauty of the festival.
Each event is uniquely reflective of its local heritage and contemporary creativity. It invites spectators on a luminous journey that ignites wonder across the world through the universal language of light. These are some of the most wonderful light festivals around the world.
1. Macao Light Festival – Macao
Source: TimeOut
📆 When the light festival occurred: Annually held around the New Year holiday, in a long period from December to February.
Macao Light Festival is an annual event organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) since 2015. It’s a collaboration with six integrated resort enterprises, held over a long period of time to spread light across the districts in Macao. The idea manifested by the destination appeal in ‘tourism’ combined with ‘events’.
The event is usually held in various locations across Macao’s seven districts. There will be light installations, interactive installations, and mapping shows in city landmarks. Visitors can visit each location and collect all the stamps to join the grand lucky draw. There will be souvenirs and other engaging night activities.
2. Pingxi Lantern Festival – Taiwan
Source: CNN
📆 When the light festival occurred: Annually held in February, as part of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration.
The Pingxi Lantern Festival is an annual event in Taipei. The main light attraction of this festival is releasing lanterns into the night sky simultaneously. Before that, the community gathers to write their dreams and hopes for the year on the lantern. Tourists are also welcome to send their wishes.
In the past, these lanterns were released to let refugees hiding in the hills know that their town was safe to return to. These days, the ceremony is part of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in Taiwan. This kind of night festival would be a visual feast for night photography enthusiasts. Don’t forget your camera to capture the moment!
3. Loy Krathong – Thailand
Source: Fodors Travel Guide
📆 When the light festival occurred: It usually takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. Which typically falls in November.
Loy Krathong is a traditional festival celebrated annually in Thailand. The festival involves creating ‘krathongs,’ which are small floating containers. It is made from a slice of the trunk of a banana tree and decorated with intricately folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks.
Loy Krathong is a traditional festival celebrated annually in Thailand. The festival involves creating ‘krathongs,’ which are small floating containers. It is made from a slice of the trunk of a banana tree and decorated with intricately folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks.
People then float these krathongs on rivers, canals, lakes, or ponds as a way of paying respect to the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha. Locals and believers thank her for providing water and to seek forgiveness for polluting it.
Loy Krathong coincides with another festival known as Yi Peng in northern Thailand, particularly Chiang Mai. The sight of thousands of candle-lit krathongs floating on waterways and illuminated lanterns dazzling in the night sky creates truly magical atmosphere to witness.
4. i Light Singapore – Singapore
Source: Uncover Asia
📆 When the light festival occurred: Around the first quarter of the year, often between January and March. The festival usually lasted for a few weeks.
i Light Singapore is an annual light art festival held in the Marina Bay Area of Singapore. It is Asia’s leading sustainable light art festival, typically showcasing innovative and environmentally sustainable light art installations created by artists from Singapore and around the world.
This light festival features a diverse range of installations that interact with the urban spaces around Marina Bay. It is often incorporating elements of the cityscape and the natural environment, such as the waterfront. These installations are not only visually captivating but also often interactive, allowing visitors to engage directly with the art.
Beyond the main event of light, the festival typically includes a variety of programs. There will be workshops, family-friendly activities, and performances. All are aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and deepening understanding of sustainability issues.
5. Vivid Sydney – Australia
Photo: Vivid Sydney
📆 When the light festival occurred: Around three weeks between May and June.
The highlight of Vivid Sydney is the immersive light art installations and large-scale illuminations projected onto the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. It also occurred on various other locations around the city.
In addition to the whole festival, Vivid Music features a program of music performances and collaborations across a variety of genres. This music program taking place in both major concert halls and smaller venues around Sydney.
Vivid Idea is another key component of the festival, offering a series of talks, workshops, and discussions that explore the intersection of technology, art, and culture.
6. Amsterdam Light Festival – Netherlands
Source: STIRworld
📆 When the light festival occurred: Usually in December and January.
Amsterdam Light Festival is an annual city event organized by Amsterdam. The main attraction of this event is the canal belt of Amsterdam shows its rare charms; when it is lights up with spectacular light sculptures, installations, and sophisticated projections.
This type of light festival is best enjoyed on a canal cruise, offering a different experience from other festivals on this list. Immerse in the story behind each light attraction with the tailor-made audio guide. Visitors will hear all about the artworks, artists, themes and the route for an approximately 75-minute cruises.
There is also an affordable alternative to experience it through a guided walking or bike tour.
7. Birgu Fest – Malta
Source: Oh My Malta
📆 When the light festival occurred: In October.
Birgu is also known as Vittoriosa, one of the oldest cities in Malta. Birgu Fest is a humble and cozy local festival of light, originally held to showcase the hidden charm of historical architecture in Vittoriosa.
As the festival gains more enthusiasm both from locals and tourists, it now includes a concert, reduced museum prices to explore, mini cruises, screenings, and food stalls.
The highlight of Birgu Fest is the whole ancient city dazzled with candles. Locals enthusiastically decorated and welcomed tourists to see their homes. Birgu Fest would be the perfect occasion to experience for history, culture, and night photography enthusiasts.
8. Lilu Light Festival Lucerne – Switzerland
Source: SBB
📆 When the light festival occurred: Usually started around the second week in January.
Still, in the spirit of welcoming New Year, Lucerne becomes a luminous city in Switzerland every January. Particularly new, the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne was held for the first time in 2019.
The festival aimed for supporting light artist around the world and boosting local tourism in diverse and fascinating facets of light arts. The highlight of the Lilu Light Festival is the illuminating squares, sights, and alleyways in the Old Town and around Lucerne’s lake from 6 pm to 10 pm.
9. Berlin Festival of Lights – Germany
Source: Rove.me
📆 When the light festival occurred: In October.
The Festival of Lights in Berlin is an annual event that transforms the city into a dazzling canvas of light. Artists from around the world are welcome to contribute to the festival; creating light artworks that range from projections that tell stories, to installations that encourage interaction from viewers.
The highlight sites typically illuminated during the festival included the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, and the TV Tower, among others. Each location features unique designs that highlight its architectural features and historical background.
The Festival of Lights in Berlin not only showcase the beauty of light art, but also aims to bring art and culture into public spaces, making them accessible to everyone. The festival often offers guided tours, either on foot or by bus.
10. El Alumbrado – Colombia
Source: The HoliDaze
📆 When the light festival occurred: During the holiday season, which starts in late November or early December. Typically lasting until early January.
‘El Alumbrado’ refers to the Christmas light display that is a major tradition in Colombia, particularly famous in Medellin. This event also known as ‘Los Alumbrados Navidenos,’ transforms cities across Colombia into vibrant sites of colorful light, channeling the holiday spirit of the season.
Medellin is especially renowned for its extravagant Christmas lights. Provided by Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM), the city’s utility company, millions of light installations decorate the Medellin River, in parks, roads, and public spaces. each year features a different theme and includes various light structures, 3D installations, and extensive decorations that tell stories or represent both cultural and social aspects of Colombian life.