Festival of Lights

October 09 - 18, 2026

Once a year, Berlin’s world famous sights and monuments in the city center become the canvas for spectacular light and video projections during the Festival of Lights.

At the Festival of Lights, many landmarks, historical sites, streets, squares, trendy districts and interesting places from Berlin's recent history are staged with light. The festival will take place for the 22nd time in 2026 and is traditionally held under the patronage of the governing mayor of Berlin.

Motto 2026: «Colours of Love»

At the start of the festival at 7 p.m., the illuminations of the landmarks and buildings throughout the city will be switched on. Every visitor of the festival is invited to stand in front of one of the buildings participating in the festival and witness the start of the Festival of Lights live. Most of the illuminations will be on display from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The 2026 festival will be held under the motto «Colours of Love».

Highlights and Hotspots

The light art installations on Bebelplatz are particularly impressive every year. Here, visitors can take in the colorful light art projections, perfectly matched to the conditions, from three sides. The light shows will be accompanied by music. Another place with numerous different installations is Potsdamer Platz. This no less impressive hotspot is another one of the must-sees of the Festival of Lights.