Birmingham to be illuminated by inaugural light festival

Birmingham is to be transformed into a spectacular gallery of illuminated artworks, with the inaugural Birmingham Light Festival.

The festival will light up city centre locations from 19 to 22 February, 2025 in what will become an annual multi-day event.

Birmingham Light Festival will feature at least eight light artworks, all within walking distance of each other, encouraging visitors to come together and explore the city.

Some of the illuminated artworks will even remain in place after the festival, as organisers commit to brightening city spaces more permanently over time.

The festival will be brought to life with an accompanying programme of events, to be announced in the New Year, with local organisations being invited to be a part of the line-up.

Organised by city curator Alex Nicholson-Evans and produced by Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS), the festival is bringing together all five of Birmingham’s central Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) as founding partners.  

Alex Nicholson-Evans said: “As a city we need free, accessible arts and culture more than ever before and I am so excited that we’re able to provide exactly that through the debut of Birmingham Light Festival.

“We’ll no doubt all need some literal light relief in those challenging post-Christmas months!

“We really want to encourage people from across the region to visit the city-centre and experience Birmingham in a different way during the festival.

“To be curious, to explore and to have a great time in this fantastic city!

“We also know how much local businesses will be in need of a trading boost at this time of year and our test event data tells us that Birmingham Light Festival will deliver that too.

“We can’t wait to share more about the amazing installations and events programme in January.”

Birmingham Light Festival is being produced by OPUS, a Birmingham-based production house, who previously staged Wondrous Stories, the outdoor opening act for Birmingham 2022 Festival, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games festival sites, a year-long public art programme at New Street Station and Birmingham Festival 23.

Local artists, organisations and businesses will have the opportunity to respond to an open call for light-themed events, activities, or promotions, to coincide with Birmingham Light Festival and be included in the official programme of events. Expressions of Interest can be registered before 5 December.

Sign up to the mailing list or follow on Instagram at @birminghamlightfestival

Local artists, organisations and businesses looking to submit an expression of interest, can find out more on the website.