Birmingham Light Festival will include 11 spectacular illuminated artworks and over 50 events – here’s details of all the dates, full programme and everything you need to know.
Birmingham Light Festival has released the list of dazzling installations which will transform the city centre into an illuminated, open-air gallery from February 19 to 22. A programme of events has also been revealed, giving visitors more than 50 opportunities to fully immerse themselves in the festival.
There will be 11 installations transforming the night in locations across the city centre from 6pm to 10pm, with artwork popping up in Birmingham’s streets, squares and public spaces.
Flux, by French design studio Collectif Scale, will bring a mesmerising display of dancing light beams and exciting electronic music to Snow Hill Square.
Centenary Square will become a space for play, hosting several participatory artworks including Floor is LAVA x Silent Disco. Funded by United By 2022 and created by Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces, the ultimate silent disco experience will encourage festival goers to dance along to their favourite party tunes until they hear the ‘Floor is LAVA’ track, when they’ll need to avoid the lights.
Visitors to Centenary Square will also be able to enjoy Twist & Shine by Kaleider, a collection of interactive light prisms that can be twisted into thousands of shapes, and ahead of the Yonex All England Open, Badminton England will be challenging visitors to a game of Night Badminton.
The full list of Birmingham Light Festival artworks includes:
· Taking root in the Jewellery Quarter’s St. Paul’s Square, Mycelium Network by Stevie Thompson uses fibre-optic lighting to recreate the underground fungal networks that help plants to grow, celebrating the hidden energy of the Earth.
· Part fortune teller, part fruit machine, Positive Spin by Liz Harry is a 5-metre-high interactive artwork which generates tarot readings, along with animated illustrations of the spinner’s fortunes. Positive Spin will be situated at The Mailbox.
· Un-Reel Access by Kappa, a mysterious glowing locked door, will appear at New Street Station, provoking curiosity at what lies beyond.
· Hippodrome Square will be the home of Peace Poem by Emergency Exit Arts, an illumination of the beautiful words of poet Robert Montgomery. The message of peace from Birmingham to the world will come to life with breathtaking butterflies at points throughout the night, which have been animated by Birmingham-based performers.
The city-wide festival will feature three additional legacy artworks, with thanks to funding support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will stay in situ after the festival ends, in a bid to brighten city spaces over time.
Alright Bab!, a collaboration between Colmore BID, local merchandise business Brumbox and Midland’s based production company, Taylex Group, pays homage to this iconic Brummie greeting.
Ideas Happen Here, a collaboration between local agency Rough Diamond, The Whitmore Collection, RAWLS, Taylex Group and Jewellery Quarter BID, will take the form of an abstract and free-form light bulb, speaking to the remarkable historical achievements of the Jewellery Quarter in innovation, manufacturing and design.
Inspired by the stars who pass through the Hippodrome’s Stage Door, Roof of Stars will be installed on Thorp Street, delivered through a partnership between Birmingham Hippodrome and Southside District.
A Birmingham Light Festival map is available for download from the festival website here, making artworks easy to discover and allowing visitors to be ‘called’ to discover an extra glowing surprise in the Colmore area, which promises to be picture perfect. All artworks are fully accessible, with step-free access and an audio description tour running on the Thursday evening.
Alongside the illuminated artworks, a programme of over 50 events will be running, staged by organisations and venues across Birmingham. The full programme is available from the Birmingham Light Festival website here.
Get active at festival events
Guests that want to combine enjoying the art with keeping active have plenty of activities to choose from. Run the Lights will see The Goodsyard Run Club, led by RUN OF A KIND take keen joggers on a free 5km run, taking in all of the illuminations.
Roundhouse Birmingham is taking over the waterways hosting Neon Paddle, a guided night-time kayak tour through the canals for £40pp.
Furry festivalgoers won’t be left out as Cuddle Paws asks dog-owners to don their best light-up gear and join Paws of Light (£2 donation for Birmingham Dogs Home), a dog walk starting in the Jewellery Quarter and taking in the artworks.
Birmingham restaurant events
Restaurants and bars throughout the city will be hosting events or introducing special menus to celebrate Birmingham Light Festival.
The Mailbox plays host to a Culinary Light Trail (£48pp) where guests will embark on a journey between three restaurants (Bazar, Indico, The Mayan) for exclusive light themed snacks and cocktails.
Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood restaurant Otto will be hosting a three-course dinner by candlelight, including an exclusive festival cocktail, for £45pp.
Cocktail lovers can enjoy exclusively priced, themed cocktails at both Aluna in The Mailbox and Isaac’s Restaurant in The Grand Hotel, the perfect stop offs when exploring the installations.
Music and lantern procession in Birmingham Light Festival
CBSO and the Canal and River Trust are teaming up to present Bringing the Light, a lantern procession along the canals from Roundhouse Birmingham to the CBSO Centre.
Light will wind through the city on a heritage narrowboat, accompanied by music from the CBSO Chorus and harp player, Katherine Thomas.
Events at Birmingham nightclubs
Those not willing to call it a night can dance away under neon lights at Snobs and Rosie’s nightclubs, which will feature glow bubble machines, UV face painting and games and a glow-in-the-dark confetti cannon.
Crafting memories during Birmingham Light Festival
Ikon Gallery will be marking the setting sun, bringing back a centuries-old tradition to celebrate a sacred place and ‘Clipping the Ikon’ by inviting communities together to form a human chain around the building. Workshops will take place during the day, including lantern making, ahead of the procession to encircle the gallery.
Quartermasters is asking ‘who lights up your life’ and will be personally engraving over 350 gold ingots and displaying them in the Jewellery Quarter, for You Light Up My Life. Nominations can be submitted between January 14 and 31 via the Quartermasters website.
Artsy Party are inviting budding artists to create their own masterpieces using glow in the dark paints and neon lights, either at a family friendly session in the afternoon, or at the 80’s Sip and Paint Party in the evening for the grown-ups.
Birmingham Light Festival is a City Curator event, produced by Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces and founded in partnership by us here at Central BID along with Colmore BID, Jewellery Quarter BID, Southside District and Westside BID.
In addition to the city-centre BIDs and UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Birmingham Light Festival 2025 has been made possible with thanks to a number of Festival Supporters of Mailbox, United by 2022 and Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships, which is returning to Birmingham for the 32nd year at the Utilita Arena between March 11 to 16.
Alex Nicholson Evans, City Curator, said: “We’re so proud of the way that our city has come together to deliver what is shaping up to be a truly spectacular festival. It’s thanks to our incredible partners, artists, and businesses across Birmingham and beyond, that we have an amazing line-up of artworks and events that will give people so many opportunities to see our city in a different light!
“The events we’ve shared above are a small selection of the fantastic programme that visitors will be treated to from February 19 to 22. I’m also so pleased that some of the magic of the festival will continue beyond February, with some of the artworks staying where they are, to bring more light to Birmingham throughout the year.”
Caroline Davis, Managing Director of Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS) and Executive Producer of the Birmingham Light Festival, said: “We’re so full of joy to be announcing our full programme today. Across the city centre, our public spaces will come alive with beautiful artwork and fun events for absolutely everyone to enjoy, we can’t wait to watch visitor’s faces light up too.
“We hope that we’ll get to see visitors from near and far enjoying the programme, there’s definitely enough on there to warrant a couple of city centre visits. February is going to be quite a lot brighter!”
Visit the Birmingham Light Festival website to see the full list of artworks, events, and details on how to book for ticketed events. We have the full programme of events listed below.
Birmingham Light Festival Programme of Events
Wednesday, 19 February
● Free Family and Community Crafts, by Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Location: Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
○ Activities: Lantern-making, heritage-themed crafts, and family-friendly trails. | Free | No booking required
o The Culinary Light Trail, by venues at The Mailbox
○ Locations: Bazar (10am – 6pm), Indico (12pm – 10pm), The Mayan (12pm – 11pm)
○ Activities: Culinary trail between three restaurants, featuring snacks and cocktails
o £48pp for full tour
● Schmaltz: You Light Up My Life, by QuarterMasters
○ Location: Jewellery Quarter near Warstone Lane Cemetery
○ Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Create engraved acrylic “light ingots” to honour loved ones.
· Free.
● Paws of Light, by Cuddle Paws
○ Location: Meet on Golden Square, Warstone Lane
○ Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30PM
○ Features: Dog walk around all illuminated artworks
· £2 donation for Birmingham Dog’s Home
● Certain Kind of Light, by JQ Common Room
○ Location: Starts at Golden Square, Jewellery Quarter
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Explore lit-up windows and displays across the area. | Free.
● Dinner by Candlelight, by OTTO
○ Location: OTTO, 15 Caroline Street, Jewellery Quarter
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
○ Features: Three course set menu by candlelight, £45pp
● E-Textiles Light Up Craft Session, by Feed My Creative CIC
○ Location: Temper & Brown
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
○ Features: Craft glowing designs using e-textiles and LEDs. | £15 + booking fee.
● Born to a Flower, by Pushkar
○ Location: Pushkar, Broad Street, Birmingham
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
○ Features: Set menu by candlelight. £29pp
· Bringing the Light, by CBSO and Canal and River Trust
○ Location: Starts at Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Time: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
○ Features: Lantern procession led by CBSO Chorus along the canal, following the Canal and River Trust’s heritage narrow boat
o Free.
● Glow Flow Yoga, by Vodbull UK
○ Location: Snobs Nightclub
○ Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
○ Features: UV yoga session with live DJ and glow decor. | £8-£12.
● Hotpod Yoga Glowing Lights Class, by Hotpod Yoga Birmingham
○ Location: Hotpod Yoga Birmingham
○ Time: 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
○ Features: A hot yoga class in a glow-lit inflatable pod. | £5.
● Fluorescent Adolescent Party, by Snobs Birmingham
○ Location: Snobs Nightclub
○ Time: 10:30am – 3:30am
○ Features: The usual Snobs Wednesday night is going UV, expect face painting, games and UV glasses, with UV clothing encouraged! | £3-5 plus booking fee
Thursday, 20 February
● Free Family and Community Crafts, by Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Location: Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
○ Similar activities as Wednesday
● The Culinary Light Trail, by venues at The Mailbox
○ Locations: Bazar (10am – 6pm), Indico (12pm – 10pm), The Mayan (12pm – 11pm)
○ Activities: Culinary trail between three restaurants, featuring snacks and cocktails
o £48pp for full tour
● Certain Kind of Light, by JQ Common Room
○ Location: Starts at Golden Square, Jewellery Quarter
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Explore lit-up windows and displays across the area. | Free.
● Born to a Flower, by Pushkar
○ Location: Pushkar, Broad Street, Birmingham
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
○ Features: Set menu by candlelight. £29pp
● Schmaltz: You Light Up My Life, by QuarterMasters
○ Location: Jewellery Quarter near Warstone Lane Cemetery
○ Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Create engraved acrylic “light ingots” to honour loved ones |Free
● E-Textiles Light Up Craft Session, by Feed My Creative CIC
○ Location: Temper & Brown
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
○ Features: Craft glowing designs using e-textiles and LEDs. | £15 + booking fee.
● Atelier de Lumiere, by Dual Works
○ Location: Dual Works, Jewellery Quarter
○ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
○ Features: Illuminated artwork unveiling, lighting collection debut, and studio tours. | Free.
● Audio Description Tour, by Birmingham Light Festival
○ Location: Meet outside Library of Birmingham
○ Time: 6:15PM – 8:30PM
○ Features: Audio description tour of the Birmingham Light Festival artworks and wider event | Free
● Neon Kayak, by Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Location: Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Times: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
○ Features: Neon guided kayak through Birmingham’s canals | £40
● Introducing the Roundhouse by Candlelight, by Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Location: Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Times: 6:45 PM – 7:30 PM & 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM
○ Features: Candlelit tour exploring the Roundhouse’s history. | £10.
● Vodbull GlowBull Gathering
○ Location: Rosie’s Nightclub
○ Time: 11:00 PM – 4:00 AM
○ Features: Glow-themed nightclub party with multiple music rooms. | £4-£8.
Friday, 21 February
● Stila Complimentary Glitter Eyeshadow Look, by Harvey Nichols
○ Location: Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox
○ Time: All day
○ Features: Free glitter makeup session. | Booking required.
● Free Family and Community Crafts, by Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Location: Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
○ Similar activities as Wednesday.
● Clipping the Ikon, by Ikon Gallery
○ Location: Ikon Gallery
○ Time: 2:00 PM – 7:00PM (Workshops 2:00PM – 7:00PM, Clipping performance 5:00PM – 7:00PM)
○ Features: Creative workshops, lantern-making, and ceremonial procession. | Free.
● The Culinary Light Trail, by venues at The Mailbox
○ Locations: Bazar (10am – 6pm), Indico (12pm – 10pm), The Mayan (12pm – 11pm)
○ Activities: Culinary trail between three restaurants, featuring snacks and cocktails
o £48pp for full tour
● Brush and Glow With It, by Artsy Party Brum
○ Location: The Mercian
○ Times: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
○ Features: Neon painting workshops for families and adults. | £20 – £25 +booking fee.
● Schmaltz: You Light Up My Life, by QuarterMasters
○ Location: Jewellery Quarter near Warstone Lane Cemetery
○ Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Create engraved acrylic “light ingots” to honour loved ones |Free
● Certain Kind of Light, by JQ Common Room
○ Location: Starts at Golden Square, Jewellery Quarter
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Explore lit-up windows and displays across the area. | Free.
● Born to a Flower, by Pushkar
○ Location: Pushkar, Broad Street, Birmingham
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
○ Features: Set menu by candlelight. £29pp
● Illuminating the Invisible – Physics and Light, by University of Birmingham
○ Location: Ikon Gallery
○ Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
○ Features: Interactive exhibits and talks on the physics of light. | Free.
● Run the Lights, by RUN OF A KIND/The Goodsyard Run Club
○ Location: The Goodsyard
○ Time: 7:00PM – 8:00PM
○ Features: 5km run past the artworks | Free
Saturday, 22 February
● Stila Complimentary Glitter Eyeshadow Look, by Harvey Nichols
○ Location: Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox
○ Time: All day
○ Features: Free glitter makeup session. | Booking required.
● Free Family and Community Crafts, by Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Location: Roundhouse Birmingham
○ Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
○ Similar activities as Wednesday.
o The Culinary Light Trail, by venues at The Mailbox
○ Locations: Bazar (10am – 6pm), Indico (12pm – 10pm), The Mayan (12pm – 11pm)
○ Activities: Culinary trail between three restaurants, featuring snacks and cocktails
o £48pp for full tour
● Luminous Threads, by Stryx and Glue Collective
○ Location: Stryx Community Café and Art Gallery
○ Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Interactive light installations, glowing art, and workshops. | £0-£5.
● Schmaltz: You Light Up My Life, by QuarterMasters
○ Location: Jewellery Quarter near Warstone Lane Cemetery
○ Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Create engraved acrylic “light ingots” to honour loved ones |Free
● Certain Kind of Light, by JQ Common Room
○ Location: Starts at Golden Square, Jewellery Quarter
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
○ Features: Explore lit-up windows and displays across the area. | Free.
● Born to a Flower, by Pushkar
○ Location: Pushkar, Broad Street, Birmingham
○ Time: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
○ Features: Set menu by candlelight. £29pp
● Wildlife Photographer of the Year late opening, by Birmingham Museums Trust○ Location: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
○ Time: 6pm – 9pm
○ Details: Late opening of the prestigious wildlife photography exhibition. | £15 with booking advised.