At the start of January, after all the excitement that accompanies the holiday festivities has died down and people begin to return to the humdrum of the winter season, a bright light appears in the city centre of Lucerne, or rather, a multitude of lights emerge like a canopy of fireflies or a cascade of shooting stars.
This glowing display, offering light and warmth during the chilly season, is Lilu Light Festival Lucerne, an annual event where artists all over the world enchant the streets, squares, and façades of the city with jaw-dropping artistic displays of light.
This luminous meeting place consists of over 20 light installations around the Lucerne Lake basin, which can be explored free of charge, alongside indoor light and music shows and guided walking tours, allowing you to take a look behind the scenes of the popular festival and learn more about the artistic endeavours accompanying each display.
More than just pretty lights shining on the city’s main buildings, the festival consists of a variety of talented artists who tell a story through the medium of diverse and fascinating facets of light art. Selected squares, buildings, and sights are illuminated and brought to life through a colourful roller coaster of emotions, with some installations even inviting visitors to directly participate.
Initiated in 2018 with the aim of making the city even more appealing during the cold winter months, the sixth edition of Lilu Light Festival Lucerne will take place from 9th – 19th January 2025 and is projected to expand the light exhibitions and shows even further, creating an experience that truly appeals to all the senses.
The light shows of the Lilu Light Festival Lucerne offer an impressive interplay of light, music, and colour. The audiovisual performances in Lucerne‘s beautiful churches take place daily at selected times during the festival.
Beams of light dance across the walls and ceilings, merging into figures and patterns, each telling an exciting story. All shows are accompanied by music and some even have live organ music. These shows are very popular, and there are also exclusive concerts. Every year, a number of Swiss and international musicians perform a unique live concert in the middle of the light show.