Light up Leicester 2025

Leicester will host the largest light festival in the Midlands when the free, city-wide Light Up Leicester celebration returns to transform the city centre from 12-15 March 2025.

Light Up Leicester will create a glowing masterpiece, showcasing a stunning array of light installations, captivating performances and spectacular artworks from artists around the world.

The festival will feature towering projections, and mesmerising light and sound displays to shine a spotlight on the city’s vibrant history, cultural diversity, sporting triumphs and artistic innovation.

Over four nights, visitors can wander the streets of Leicester to discover an electrifying blend of local, national and international talent, all woven together in a celebration of creativity and imagination.

The festival will also feature thrilling public events, parades and performances for people of all ages. Highlights include:

•A parade of over 300 local schoolchildren celebrating King Richard III and Leicester’s rich cultural heritage, presented by local arts organisation Inspirate
•Stunning light, paint and dance performance by Nupur Arts, inspired by the vibrant Hindu festival of Holi
•Illuminated bicycle ride lighting up the streets
•On the grand finale night (15 March), Compagnie des Quidams, a French street theatre company, will bring giant illuminated horses to life, roaming the city in a magical performance!

As visitors explore the city, they can follow a trail of illuminated and spectacular installations every day of the festival.

One standout is Evanescent, a captivating playground of giant glowing bubbles by Australian duo Atelier Sisu.

Then there's The Beacon, a towering 2km-high column of light reaching for the heavens, created by British artist Tom Campbell, and Double Flux and Hula Hoop by Paris-based Collectif Scale, which combine movement, music, and digital tech into a dynamic experience.

There will also be a stunning new digital art projection Cathedral, Culture and Crown at Leicester Cathedral, created by award-winning local artists, MBD. This immersive projection will illuminate the iconic cathedral with a mix of animation, sound and a bespoke soundtrack, celebrating Leicester's rich cultural legacy in vibrant colour.

Full details of the festival, including information about all the installations, the opening day parades, free performances and a Gallowtree Gate night market, are available on the festival website at lightupleicester.com

Light Up Leicester is presented by Leicester City Council, BID Leicester, Leicester Cathedral and Art Reach. It is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Global Streets, PPL PRS and headline sponsor Highcross.

Filmed Wednesday 12th March by LM News.