Scroll Down

The light art biennial returned to Durham from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November

After 16 years and nine editions, more than 120,000 visitors turned out to see the lights of Lumiere before they went out over Durham.

The UK’s light art biennial lived up to its 16-year reputation, combining thrilling large-scale spectacle with moments of intimacy and reflection. For Artichoke, who created Lumiere and own the Lumiere trademark, this will be the last Lumiere event they produce in Durham.

Learn more about our sustainability aims

Learn more about the UK's light art biennial

Answers to your most frequently asked questions

Explore the 2025 programme

Drag to explore

A large illuminated roadside sign on a trailer displays the words “PRESS ANY KEY TO RESTART CIVILZATION” in bright orange letters against a dark background at night.

1. Entanglement Is Existential (II)

Justin Brice Guariglia (USA)

A tall, illuminated archway installation. The arch is black with white glowing outlines and decorated with repeating motifs of stylized eyes and hands. A spiral design sits at the top centre of the arch. A couple stands in front of the arch

2. Conduit

Mani Kambo (UK)

Hundreds of glowing lanterns nestled in a large tree with different colours and designs. Each lantern holds a message or wishes from a member of the Durham community.

3. Glimmer

Laura Brenchley (UK)

A swarm of colourful butterflies glowing in shades of blue, green, red, and purple. The vibrant lighting casts soft, multicoloured shadows around the butterflies, creating a dreamlike, kaleidoscopic effect.

4. Flutter

Emma Allen (UK)

A dense cluster of long, thin poles glowing bright orange-red. The illuminated poles crisscross upwards at sharp angles, creating the effect of fiery sparks shooting from the ground. The artwork looks like a bonfire.

5. Sign

Vendel & de Wolf (The Netherlands)

A low-angle night shot of a public space with a huge, interactive desk lamp sculpture.

6. Lampounette

TILT (France)

An exhibition of 24 photographs taken by the North East locals at previous editions of Lumiere. The photos are displayed on the walls of the Dead Dog Gallery.

7. Lumiere Photography Exhibition

Durham Sixth Form Centre art students

A low-angle, nighttime shot of four people sitting on a glowing red bench. The bench's seat and backrest are illuminated from within, casting a vibrant red light onto the faces of the people. They are looking towards the camera, smiling, and appear to be enjoying the light installation. The background is dark, with distant city lights and a railing running along the water's edge.

8. Lightbenches

Bernd Spiecker for LBO (Germany)

An illuminated sculpture of a bird with wings outstretched.

9. Heron

Jon Voss (France)

Square, backlit metal grates with a uniform grid of square perforations are mounted on a wall. Resembling decorative versions of security grilles often used to cover smashed windows, the panels emit a warm glow, creating a striking contrast against the gritty surroundings.

10. A light still shines

Lewis Hobson (UK)

A row of illuminated, stick-figure-like silhouettes, in different poses, run along a beam. The figures appear to be in a sequence of motion, from running to jumping.

11. Run Beyond

Angelo Bonello (Italy)

A large, glowing rectangle covered in vertical white lights that flicker and move like a digital waterfall. Children gather to interact with the water

12. As Water Falls

Iregular (Canada)

The words 'It's right after quarter to eight' projected on a wall.

13. Helvetictoc

Tobie Langel (Switzerland)

A wide, curved LED cylinder. The screen is displaying a vibrant, abstract light show with swirling patterns in shades of electric blue and white. Two people interact with the screens

14. POINT OF (NO) RETURN

Anastasia Isachsen (Norway)

A large illuminated roadside sign on a trailer displays the words “PRESS ANY KEY TO RESTART CIVILZATION” in bright orange letters against a dark background at night.

1. Entanglement Is Existential (II)

Justin Brice Guariglia (USA)

A tall, illuminated archway installation. The arch is black with white glowing outlines and decorated with repeating motifs of stylized eyes and hands. A spiral design sits at the top centre of the arch. A couple stands in front of the arch

2. Conduit

Mani Kambo (UK)

Hundreds of glowing lanterns nestled in a large tree with different colours and designs. Each lantern holds a message or wishes from a member of the Durham community.

3. Glimmer

Laura Brenchley (UK)

A swarm of colourful butterflies glowing in shades of blue, green, red, and purple. The vibrant lighting casts soft, multicoloured shadows around the butterflies, creating a dreamlike, kaleidoscopic effect.

4. Flutter

Emma Allen (UK)

A dense cluster of long, thin poles glowing bright orange-red. The illuminated poles crisscross upwards at sharp angles, creating the effect of fiery sparks shooting from the ground. The artwork looks like a bonfire.

5. Sign

Vendel & de Wolf (The Netherlands)

A low-angle night shot of a public space with a huge, interactive desk lamp sculpture.

6. Lampounette

TILT (France)

An exhibition of 24 photographs taken by the North East locals at previous editions of Lumiere. The photos are displayed on the walls of the Dead Dog Gallery.

7. Lumiere Photography Exhibition

Durham Sixth Form Centre art students

A low-angle, nighttime shot of four people sitting on a glowing red bench. The bench's seat and backrest are illuminated from within, casting a vibrant red light onto the faces of the people. They are looking towards the camera, smiling, and appear to be enjoying the light installation. The background is dark, with distant city lights and a railing running along the water's edge.

8. Lightbenches

Bernd Spiecker for LBO (Germany)

An illuminated sculpture of a bird with wings outstretched.

9. Heron

Jon Voss (France)

Square, backlit metal grates with a uniform grid of square perforations are mounted on a wall. Resembling decorative versions of security grilles often used to cover smashed windows, the panels emit a warm glow, creating a striking contrast against the gritty surroundings.

10. A light still shines

Lewis Hobson (UK)

A row of illuminated, stick-figure-like silhouettes, in different poses, run along a beam. The figures appear to be in a sequence of motion, from running to jumping.

11. Run Beyond

Angelo Bonello (Italy)

A large, glowing rectangle covered in vertical white lights that flicker and move like a digital waterfall. Children gather to interact with the water

12. As Water Falls

Iregular (Canada)

The words 'It's right after quarter to eight' projected on a wall.

13. Helvetictoc

Tobie Langel (Switzerland)

A wide, curved LED cylinder. The screen is displaying a vibrant, abstract light show with swirling patterns in shades of electric blue and white. Two people interact with the screens

14. POINT OF (NO) RETURN

Anastasia Isachsen (Norway)

1.3 million

Total audience since 2009

433
Artworks since 2009

Nearly 14,550
Community participants since 2009

£43 million
Economic impact since 2009