Lumiere, the UK's light art biennial, returns with spectacular 2025 line-up

24th September 2025

● The UK’s landmark light art biennial transforms Durham once again, Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 November 2025.
● Announced today, a remarkable programme of light artworks from international and UK artists, with major new commissions, premieres, and community collaborations.
● Over 15 years, Lumiere has attracted more than 1.3m visitors and boosted the local economy by an incredible £43m since 2009.
● Beyond the lights, Lumiere’s Learning & Participation programme has engaged more than 14,000 local people since 2009
● Backed by over 100 supporters, a testament to the pride and commitment of County Durham’s businesses and communities in championing culture.
● Inspiring communities, creating opportunities, celebrating County Durham as the Culture County, Lumiere has propelled the city and the county onto the international light art map.

Produced and curated by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council, Lumiere returns this November for its ninth edition, transforming Durham into an illuminated city-wide art gallery.
Taking place over three evenings, from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November, audiences will encounter a dazzling line-up of installations and experiences, ranging from large-scale spectaculars to intimate moments of reflection.

Since its beginnings in 2009, Lumiere has become recognised internationally as the UK’s light art biennial, and has inspired light shows and festivals up and down the UK. Over the years, it has welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors and delivered £43m of economic impact. Its significance extends across the global light art community. Lumiere is made possible by funding from Durham County Council and Arts Council England, who are joined for the first time by regional commissioning partner North East Combined Authority.

Lumiere’s success depends on the backing of Durham’s visionary businesses and individuals, including major partners Durham University and Point North. This year, over 100 local supporters have come together to make Lumiere possible: from long-standing partners like MGL Group who champion the volunteers, to new sponsors such as Prima Cheese who collaborated with us on the Prima Commission. Their commitment helps bring Lumiere to life and leaves a lasting legacy of inspiration and opportunity for County Durham and beyond.

For 2025, the programme Lumiere once again brings together world-renowned artists, UK debuts and commissions alongside community-created projects that celebrate the creativity of County Durham’s people. From the monumental to the meditative, the 2025 programme reflects Lumiere’s power to enchant and inspire.

Durham Cathedral Quarter A highlight of the biennial since 2009 has been the artistic interaction with Durham’s Norman Cathedral both inside and out. Inspired by the building’s significance as a place of sanctuary, two new commissions for the Cathedral Nave and Cloister will engage with this history.
EVERYONE EVER by Nighthouse Studio (Elaine Buckholtz and Ian Winters, USA) transforms the vast nave of Durham Cathedral into a poetic confrontation in stone and light. Accompanied by an original soundscape, the work acknowledges past and present injustices while offering space for reflection and resilience.

The Cathedral cloister will be the site of a new commission by Amelia Kosminsky (UK). Solace fills the Cloister with hundreds of handmade lanterns, suspended as if in mid-flight. Offering comfort and hope during turbulent times, they invite audiences to imagine the lanterns’ journey while reflecting on their own.

Visitors approaching the Cathedral will be greeted by riot of colour as Palace Green becomes a supersized forest of illuminated flowers standing two metres tall. Elysium Garden by Jigantics (UK) was inspired by mythical gardens of paradise, with the towering blooms offering a kaleidoscope of colour and light, an uplifting celebration of nature, empathy and hope.

Elemental Nature From Koi carp to butterfly clouds, fire, melting glaciers and waterfalls, many of this year’s installations contemplate the joys of the natural world, and the uncertain future of our planet.
The Garden of Shadows by Jony Easterby (UK) takes the audience on a magical journey of eight installations through The College and South Bailey, that blend sound, shadow and ecological reflection, contemplating the contrast between light and darkness.

Cédric Le Borgne’s The River (France) suspends three giant illuminated koi carp above Prebends Bridge. Majestic yet wild, the glowing sculptures conjure an unexpected encounter with nature, inviting audiences to look up and dream.

Glittering Grove by Sound Intervention (UK) creates an immersive 300-metre woodland walk, where mirror balls scatter dancing points of light like fireflies. Accompanied by an original soundscape by Dan Fox, the trail encourages visitors of all ages to wander among stars and trees.

Entanglement Is Existential (II) by Justin Brice Guariglia (USA) reimagines solar-powered highway message boards as roadside signals for change. Instead of traffic alerts, the boards display compelling ecological texts by writers and thinkers including Margaret Atwood, Robert Macfarlane, Timothy Morton, Zadie Smith, Re:wild and Guariglia himself, blending poetry, metaphor and humour, challenging audiences and sparking new conversations about our planet.

Sign by Vendel & de Wolf (Netherlands) conjures an illusion of flames and sparks rising into the night sky. Both terrifying and mesmerising, the work reflects on fire as destruction and renewal, an elemental force of change.

Flutter by Emma Allen (UK) immerses visitors in a glowing swarm of butterflies at Crook Hall, inviting them to reconnect with the natural world. Inspired by Durham’s Green Corridor, the kaleidoscope of wings celebrates biodiversity and the beauty of ecosystems.

As Water Falls by Iregular (Canada) is a digital waterfall that responds to human touch. Constantly evolving with organic patterns, no two moments are ever alike. Inspired by the power and unpredictability of flowing water, each interaction releases a surge of movement and sound, much like water breaking free from a dam.

Point of (No) Return by Anastasia Isachsen (Norway) merges luminous visuals with music by Nils Petter Molvær in a powerful metaphor in which behaviour mimics human impacts on the environment.

Dreams of Freedom and Connectivity
A number of installations address the human condition, be it a longing for freedom in body and spirit or patterns of connectivity.

Ralf Westerhof’s Take Flight! (The Netherlands) is a large-scale three-dimensional drawing in light, a neon bird perched on the dome of Hotel Indigo on Old Elvet. Visible across the city, for the artist it symbolises the freedom of letting go and the courage it takes to begin again.

In Market Place, Rhizome by Bobolito&Co (Belgium) is a living network of luminous ropes and sound that dominates the space. Reflecting on both the complexity of natural networks and the way we build digital and social connections, the tangled web of its glowing ropes, often found in forests or urban spaces, evokes a living structure – organic yet artificial, beautiful yet chaotic.

Run Beyond by Angelo Bonello (Italy) is a large-scale light sculpture of illuminated figures leaping along Milburngate Riverside. Animated in perpetual motion, the work embodies the liberating leap towards freedom and the courage it takes to overcome fear.

BRILLIANT – Lumiere’s small-scale commissioning programme Since 2011, Lumiere has nurtured new talent through this scheme, which encourages anyone from the North East and across the UK, to submit their artistic light ideas to be created and exhibited.

This year five artists have been selected and helped to develop their work, including three from County Durham. Conduit by Mani Kambo (UK), is a luminous archway inspired by sacred thresholds across cultures, that invites audiences to step through a ritual portal. LOVE IS by Kevin Edworthy (UK) is a playful homage to his own true story, reflecting Durham’s everyday life through street photography-inspired humour. A light still shines by Lewis Hobson (UK), is an installation inspired by austerity-era window grates, offering space for reflection on inequality and resilience in County Durham’s communities.
FluoreCycle by Hannah Ayre (UK) presents a canopy of woven UV-reactive bicycle wheels, a colourful celebration of cycling, sustainability, and joy. Vault of Echoes by Aaqib (UK) is a mirrored installation that blends Islamic geometry with County Durham’s brutalist landmarks, revealing hidden threads between heritage and place.

Spotlight on Shildon This year’s “Spotlight on Durham” falls on Shildon, currently celebrating the 200th anniversary as home of the first railway station and passenger service. A trio of installations will bring the Lumiere magic to Locomotion, including community-created lantern installation,Glimmer, and two new commissions that reflect on Shildon’s special history.

Newcastle-based NOVAK (UK) return to Lumiere with Alight, a celebration of 200 years of railway heritage through a spectacular projection-mapped artwork at Locomotion, telling a story of connection and imagination inspired by the world’s first railways. Also at Locomotion, Iron Horse Junction by Hannah Fox (UK), created together with Durham Academy students, offers a whimsical signal-box journey through 200 years of railway history, blending light, sound and original heritage objects.

Beyond the lights: Lumiere and Community Participation Community creativity remains at the heart of Lumiere which continues to deliver lasting benefits across the county. Since 2009, its Learning & Participation programme has engaged more than 14,000 local people, inspiring schoolchildren, supporting community creativity, and offering skills and training opportunities.

For this year’s light art biennial, hundreds of local residents of all ages have taken part in lantern-making workshops across County Durham to create Glimmer, a two-part installation
presented in both Durham City and Shildon. Each lantern carries a message, a memory, a hope, or a truth, personal to the maker, evoking a moment of pause and reflection.

Celebrating Lumiere’s Brightest Moments at the Dead Dog Gallery presents a retrospective of Lumiere through the lens of North East locals and visitors. Artichoke has worked with Durham Sixth Form Centre students, supporting them through the process from designing a photography competition to curating the final exhibition of images of Lumiere over the years.

New College Durham’s media students have also been involved in a film-making project, guided by the Artichoke team. The film memorialises Lumieres past and present through interviews and voxpops with County Durham residents. Lumiere tickets Lumiere in Durham City and Shildon runs from 17:00-22:00 each night from Thursday 13 November to Saturday 15 November. Tickets will be required to enter the central controlled zone in Durham City throughout each evening and should be booked in advance. More than half the installations are outside the ticketed zone and can be visited without a ticket. Tickets are not required for Shildon at any time. County Durham residents will be able to book free tickets (£1.50 booking fee applies) from 10:00, Tuesday, 30 September. The general release to the wider public will be from 10:00, Wednesday 1 October.

Ahead of tickets going live, visitors are advised to register for an account in advance via the Lumiere website, to enjoy a faster booking process.

Helen Marriage, Artistic Director of Artichoke says:
"The 2025 Lumiere programme is a love letter in light — a glowing tribute to the wonderful city and County of Durham. It doesn’t take long to feel the extraordinary beauty of this place – where the countryside gently cradles its towns and cities, which rise from the ancient landscape, proud, enduring, and strong.

“Generations have left their mark here, and many more will follow. But as we walk this earth together, we’re reminded of the transience of our existence and the enduring, restorative power of the natural world.

“In this 2025 edition of Durham’s world-renowned art event, you'll discover old friends alongside fresh voices and emerging talent. We’re grateful to everyone who has stood beside us over the last 15 years – helping to create unforgettable moments of light and joy for those who call the North East home and for those who travel from afar to experience the richness and diversity of this remarkable place."

Cllr Andrew Husband, Leader of Durham County Council says

“Lumiere is a bright example of how culture can transform places and lives and, as commissioners of the festival, we are pleased to once again bring this event to the county. Over the years, it has attracted more than a million people to County Durham, boosted our economy by millions, and created opportunities for residents, schools, and businesses alike. This year’s programme will once again showcase Durham on an international stage while also bringing Shildon and its contribution to worldwide history into the spotlight. Through Lumiere we continue to demonstrate why we are proud to be known as the Culture County, and we look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to experience this extraordinary festival.” Lumiere Durham is a central pillar of The Culture County, the long-term creative regeneration strategy born out of the Durham 2025 UK City of Culture campaign.

Rebecca Ball, Area Director, Arts Council England says:

“Over 15 years, Lumiere has illustrated how sustained investment and strong partnerships in creativity and culture can deliver extraordinary results, from generating skills and employment opportunities to attracting visitors and contributing significantly to the local economy. This year’s exciting programme promises to dazzle its audiences once again and I’m looking forward to my visit.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness says: “Lumiere is a simply brilliant festival for Durham and I want as many local people as possible to go see it, have a great night and feel inspired. That’s why we have made sure that, through our funding for this year’s festival, even more people from the local area will be invited and encouraged to come into the city to see this amazing festival of light. “Durham has a really strong offer to visitors, steeped in the pride and creativity of its people, places and rich history. Lumiere really puts that on the map and will bring people together to celebrate that as they marvel at the beauty of the illuminations.”

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University, says:

“We’re really pleased that Lumiere will again take place in our beautiful city in November and to be supporting the event as a major partner.

“The incredible installations all across the city, including on some of our campus locations, will shine a light on the amazing places to see right on our doorstep. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors and being part of this brilliant event.”