Event Details
Welcome to the Fête des Lumières 2026 in Lyon
From Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December 2026, Lyon transforms once again into a vast open-air gallery of light. The Fête des Lumières is one of the world's largest and most celebrated light festivals. Across the entire city centre, artists from around the globe illuminate historic façades, public squares and the banks of the Rhône and Saône with breathtaking light installations, video mapping and soundscapes. Admission is entirely free of charge. Several million visitors from across the world are expected to attend.
Highlights
- Four festival nights from 5 to 8 December 2026
- Around twenty light installations spread across the city centre
- Place des Terreaux: traditionally the most visited single site of the festival
- Projections on the façades of Hôtel de Ville, Cathédrale Saint-Jean, Fourvière Basilica and Place Bellecour
- Installations throughout Vieux-Lyon (Old Lyon) and the Presqu'île peninsula
- Lyon residents' tradition of placing lumignons (small candles) in their windows throughout the city
- Free admission to all installations; no tickets or reservation required
Program & Opening Hours
Installations are open each evening from approximately 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM (some evenings may run from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM). The complete program featuring all artists, locations and an interactive city map will be published in October 2026 on the official website fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr. Every year the festival typically covers the neighbourhoods of Presqu'île, Vieux-Lyon, Croix-Rousse and the Fourvière hillside with a rich selection of new artworks.
History & Tradition
The festival traces its origins to 1643, when the people of Lyon vowed to honour the Virgin Mary with candles if the city were spared from the plague. Since 1852, the 8th of December has been Lyon's traditional day of illuminations. The modern festival was officially established in 1999 and has grown into an internationally recognised event attracting millions of visitors each year. To this day, Lyon residents continue the tradition of placing small candles or tea lights on their window ledges during the four festival nights, keeping the original spirit of the event alive.
Routes & Visitor Tips
- No tickets or reservation required for any installation; all access is free.
- Plan for at least two evenings to see all the works without rushing.
- Start your first evening on the Presqu'île, then head to Vieux-Lyon and Place Saint-Jean for the cathedral projections, which tend to be calmer.
- Saturday evening is the busiest; access to Vieux-Lyon on Saturday afternoon can be particularly difficult due to high visitor numbers.
- Use public transport (Metro, Tram, TCL buses); parking in the city centre is extremely limited during the festival.
- Queues at Place des Terreaux can reach up to 60 minutes; factor this into your itinerary.
- Dress warmly and bring waterproof layers; December in Lyon is cold and unpredictable.
- Hotels across the metropolitan area fill up months in advance; book as early as possible.
- Restaurants in neighbourhoods away from the main festival routes (e.g. 6th, 3rd and 7th arrondissements) are generally more accessible and less crowded.
