The Vilnius Light Festival is back and shining bright for 2026.
The dates are January 23-25 and it transforms Lithuania’s capital into an open-air gallery of contemporary light installations across its UNESCO-listed Old Town. Now in its eighth year, the three-day event marks Vilnius’ 703rd birthday and features an evening route with 24 illuminated artworks from 5-10 p.m.
The festival, which fits into the “noctourism” tourism trend – that is, trips focused specifically on after-dark cultural experiences – happens during the darkest time of the year. It’s mission is to turn winter darkness into a city-wide spectacle of lights that spotlights Vilnius’ architecture from historical façades to the romantic courtyards most visitors miss in daylight.
“Winter darkness becomes our stage,” said Paulius Jurgutis, Head of Vilnius Cultural Center. “We want visitors to discover the fascinating corners of Vilnius they would never find by daylight – think hidden courtyards and quiet squares – that suddenly transform into places of congregation. Light art reveals the city from a unique perspective: architectural details you would walk past during the day become fairytale-like spaces. Our goal is to help people see familiar locations with fresh eyes, rather than just create a big, flashy spectacle.”
Diverse Works By International Artists
In 2026, the festival will continue its tried and tested format of free public installations accessible without tickets or advance registration located across multiple venues, including church interiors, baroque courtyards, historic squares, underground spaces, and lesser-known spots in the old town. This year’s festival program features 15 works by artists from 9 different countries, along with 7 student works and 4 additional objects.
A range of interesting themes are explored within the works, from mold and plant life to solar energy and the vastness of space. Notable works include:
● Liquid Lens, a contemplative and experimental look at optical illusions by Italian artist Alessandro Lupi.
● The Bird of a Thousand Voices by Boris Acket (the Netherlands), a motor-controlled installation exploring the relationship between memory and imagination.
● Deviation by German artist Sven Sauer, a work that deploys light as an architectural force and creates vivid sensory environments.
● Alcove Ltd., an installation by Encor Studio (Switzerland) that juxtaposes architecture, light and space.
● Memory Garden by Lithuanian creators Agnė Stirnė and Oskaras Stirna, a piece that turns wildflowers, leaves, and pebbles into objects of exploration and play, and inspiration for creativity.
● And αsκlipion, a plant-oriented installation created by returning French artist Emilien Guesnard in collaboration with sound designer Cédric Béron, biologist Emeline Mourocq, and herbalist Claire Lebeau.
To help visitors navigate the route, the Vilnius Light Festival app offers maps, installation descriptions, and wayfinding tools for iOS and Android.
Resource: Go Vilnius, the official tourism and business development agency of the City of Vilnius.
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