Let there be light! Bristol Light Festival will once again stun with a combination of light, sound and colour in the heart of the city. After attracting 275,000 visitors in 2024, the fifth iteration of the award-winning festival will take place from January 31 to February 9 – with ten installations announced, including the return of a festival favourite.
Welcoming artists from near and far to showcase masterful light-based installations in this immersive, free and family-friendly event of talent, the Bristol Light Festival was also recently shortlisted in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category in the Bristol Bath and Somerset Tourism Award – after bringing in a huge £8.7m of additional revenue to the area last year.
Bristol Light Festival is free to attend and runs daily from 5pm to 10pm. The festival is founded by Bristol City Centre BID in partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID, and curated by multi-award-winning Creative Director, Katherine Jewkes. This year, expect everyone from a flock of pink flamingos to a giant heart-shaped disco ball and interactive whimsical giants.
Head to Bristol Light Festival’s hub at Queen Square for maps, information, seating, a food market and two of the festival’s installations! On top, several fringe events are happening across the city – everything from a neon kid’s rave to an after-dark aquarium experience. Meanwhile, Left Handed Giant has created the official beer, ‘Shining Stars’, which you can grab from the Brewpub, Small Bar, Glassboat and the Royal Navy Volunteer.
Bristol Light Festival installations 2025:
Anthems: Volume One by Marcus Lyall and RUN Collective
Anthems: Volume One is an immersive laser installation celebrating Bristol’s epic DNB legacy. Created by Marcus Lyall, with a soundtrack compiled by Bristol collective, RUN, the installation fuses choreographed laser animation and a high-quality sound system as it takes over an empty shop near Cabot Circus. Marcus is an internationally renowned artist known for large-scale light installations and has worked on live shows for Metallica, The Rolling Stones and the Chemical Brothers.
Marcus Lyall, artist, said: “RUN Collective have put together an epic soundtrack that takes you on a journey from the early roots to the present day. My part has been to amplify the energy of the music using light and movement and represent the emotions that this music holds for so many people. The music will be played at a ‘listening bar’ volume level rather than nightclub levels, so the craft of the music can really be appreciated.”
Parallels by Architecture Social Club
From the visionary London-based studio, Architecture Social Club, Parallels transforms its surroundings into an immersive living canvas that melds lasers, mirrors, and evocative imagery of natural phenomena. The installation is uniquely responsive to its environment, with weather and the elements shaping an ever-evolving experience.
Satyajit Das, Creative Director of Architecture Social Club, said: “In our experience, Bristol is one of the UK’s most special, creative and culturally rich cities. We’re really excited to bring Parallels here for its South West premiere and to share our ideas with the amazing people of Bristol.”
Tetra by Ottomata
Ottomata presents the European premiere of Tetra – an interactive audiovisual experience that invites participants to engage with its tactile interface. Using full-body movements, you will command visuals and sounds, immersing yourself in a dynamic dance of cosmic inspiration and natural forces. Founded in Montreal in 2017, Ottomata is redefining the boundaries of interactive media as it seamlessly blends design and cutting-edge technology.
Hugo Laliberté and Jonathan Jeanson of Ottomata, said: “We are delighted to bring Tetra to Europe and it’s great to do this in Bristol, a city that we love! We can’t wait to see how people respond to the artwork, as the audiences’ ability to interact with Tetra through touch, and using the weight of their whole body is quite unique. We are eager to see the artwork transform with each person’s input.”
The Whilers by Air Giants
Experts in interactive soft robotics, Air Giants will wow crowds with their pneumatically-controlled robotic creations. The Whilers are otherworldly creatures on a journey into the unknown who are stopping briefly in Bristol to interact with its residents and each other. Air Giants is a Bristol-based team with experience in theatre design, software development and access and inclusion.
Emma Powell of Air Giants, said: “Bristol is a city of such community and connection, and that is exactly what we want to capture with these creatures. Although they are just passing by, their ability to connect with audiences due to their sensors detecting human movement will make their stay an impactful and memorable experience.”
Ramandu’s Table by Bruce Munro
Taking inspiration from the original plastic pink flamingo creator, Don Featherstone, and from CS Lewis’ literature, Ramandu’s Table showcases nature in a whole new light. The installation, a flock of white flamingos, illuminated with continually changing dawn hues, brings a new layer to the traditional flamingo statue and is a vibrant depiction of nature’s most flamboyant creatures.
Bruce Munro, artist, said: “I have many warm memories of my time at the faculty of Art and Design, Bristol Polytechnic where I completed a Fine Arts degree in 1982 and just scraped through with a third-class honours! I never thought I would be lucky enough to make a living as an artist, so it feels like a full-circle moment to come back and show this piece of work here!”
Somnius by Illumaphonium
Following a double offering with Continuum and Halo in 2023, Illumaphonium returns to Bristol Light Festival with the South West debut of Somnius. A cosmic blend of light and sound, the installation responds to every movement of the audience. As participation grows, so does its soundscape and reactive illuminations, putting crowds in control of their experience.
Gemma Mills of Illumaphonium said: “We know the people of Bristol love to come together and participate and that’s a really important part of this piece; the more people engage with the installation, the more of an experience it is. This is our most ambitious project to date, combining a quarter of a million light pixels and 970 sound bars, all of which have been soldered by hand.”
Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo
The South West premiere of visual spectacle, Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo -symbolising togetherness, shared love and the multifaceted aspects of the human experience – comprises a giant discoball composed of more than 11,000 mirrored tiles. The piece is made sustainably using glass and jesmonite and only requires 4 LED spotlights to bring it to life. You’ll also find colour-matched disco balls at nearby locations such as Four Wise Monkeys, Mr Wolfs, Mothers Ruin and the Clayton Hotel.
Lucy McDonnell, artist, said: “Our Beating Heart is inspired by the idea of shared love and the disco ball’s ability to bring people together. The multi-faceted mirrored surface reflects the diversity of the crowd, creating a sense of unity and shared experience. Bristol is such a cultural hub, with a nightlife scene that is as inclusive and diverse as it gets, so this work feels like the perfect piece to showcase at Bristol Light Festival.”
C-Scales by Bruce Munro Studio
Initially designed for Sydney Harbour, C-Scales by Bruce Munro Studio is a screen made up of 1,849 CDs and DVDs – and is an exploration of how water absorbs and reflects light, creating something as abstract as it is beautiful. The audio track accompanying the artwork is inspired by Barangaroo in central Sydney, reflecting the shoreline sounds of the plantlife, people, trade, shipping, commerce, buildings and day-to-day life of the Antipodean region.
Bruce Munro, artist, said: “Both Sydney and Bristol have such strong connections to water, so it feels very natural that this artwork should get its first large-scale viewing at Bristol Light Festival. For the Bristol iteration, an array of animations will be projected onto a suspended façade of CDs and DVDs, giving the effect of a sea shedding scales of light into the location. The resulting reflections paint both the architecture and visitors with shimmering skeins of light, resulting in a subtly immersive installation. It is a joy to bring this work to Bristol; simply said it’s a post-Christmas winter warmer from the Antipodes.”
Swing Song
A Bristol Light Festival favourite, Swing Song is back for more immersive musical play – this time with two new sets of swings for audiences to enjoy before embarking on a tour. Swing Song uses tracks produced especially for the festival, with each swing controlling a different musical element. Users have a choice of percussion, bassline and melody, and each movement contributes to the music generated by the swinging – swing low for chill beats and high for a dramatic crescendo.
Bristol is Always a Good Idea by Real Hackney Dave
Bristol Light Festival’s information hut will be bolder and brighter than ever as this year it will play host to last year’s festival favourite Bristol is Always a Good Idea. The installation, which has been situated at various locations throughout the city since summer, will return to the festival for a ten-day run before continuing on its tour of Bristol.
To see a map of all Bristol Light Festival installations head here.
What Fringe events are on?
Lunchtime talk: Crafting the Zero Moment – Friday 31st January, 1 – 2pm, Pervasive Media Studio
“In this talk, the co-founders of experiential design studio and creators of this year’s installation Tetra will share their approach to crafting personally reflective interactive installations.”
John Sebastian Light Ship’s 140th Anniversary – Friday 31st January – Sunday 9th February, Bathurst Basin
“The historic John Sebastian Light Ship will turn 140 years old in 2025. To mark this anniversary, Cabot Cruising Club have designed a beautiful light display to show the ship off for the duration of Bristol Light Festival.”
Saturday Art Club – Saturday 1st February, 10:30 – 11:30am at Bristol Loaf
“Perfect for children aged 4-11, this fun-filled workshop invites young people to come along and let their creativity shine.”
Photography Walk – Monday 3rd February and Wednesday 5th February, 5:30 – 7pm
“Award-winning photographer Adrian Wyatt will be guiding budding photographers around the installations, offering guidance on how to capture the best shots of the installations.”
Walking Tours – Monday 3rd, Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th February, 5:30 – 7pm
“An opportunity for festival-goers to orientate themselves within the locations and to learn about the installations. Participants can choose between the ‘waterfront’ or ‘central routes, or join an accessible tour.”
Official Silent Disco Tour – Wednesday 5th February, 5.30 – 6.30pm, Starting at Bristol Cathedral
“On this one hour tour, visitors are invited to boogie their way between art installations accompanied by hit tunes from across the decades. High-tech headphones mean that users will be able to hear both the music and their tour guide as they make their way around some of the festival’s highlights.”
Neon Kids Rave – Thursday 6th February, 4 – 7pm, Bambalan
“The whole family is invited to brighten up February with a non-stop rave party including bright colours and plenty of opportunities to boogie.”
Lights Under the Sea – Saturday 8th February, 10am – 7pm, Bristol Aquarium
“To celebrate Bristol Light Festival, the Aquarium will be open later on this date, so visitors can experience the aquarium after dark with its botanical house magically lit with colourful lights. Special UV animal crafts will be available throughout the day, free of charge with an aquarium ticket.”