Skip to main content

Lumiere 2025

Lumiere returns for three nights of spectacular light art, transforming the streets of Durham into an illuminated art gallery from Thursday 13 - Saturday 15 November 2025. Discover more about Durham University and Lumiere.
An array of giant, light-up flowers in a variety of colours, with Durham Cathedral and the night sky in the background.

Lumiere returns to Durham University

We are excited for the return of Lumiere to Durham and to once again support the event as a partner. Three installations will be hosted on University buildings and land, with light art at Palace Green, the Waterside Building and South Bailey helping Lumiere to light up Durham from 13-15 November.

Visit the Lumiere website to explore the full programme of installations for this year's event and to book your tickets. Image credit: Festa delle Luci A2A - Light is Life
Explore the full programme for Lumiere 2025

Lumiere 2025 at Durham University

Find out more about the three installations hosted by the University: Sign at the Business School Waterside Building, Elysium Garden on Palace Green, and the Garden of Shadows at South Bailey.

Find out more about the installations

Changes to ticketing for 2025

To help to cover the increasing administrative costs of ticketing and managing the event, there will be a booking fee of £1.50 per ticket this year. Installations outside of the central zone remain free to visit without a ticket. For more information, please check Lumiere's FAQs page.

Lumiere FAQs

The Lumiere App

The must have companion to navigate your visit.

Download for free before your visit to enjoy the interactive map and live updates. Enable your location and notifications for the best experience.

Phone showing Lumiere App with Apple and Google Play App Store logos
Student orchestra from behind facing a conductor

Student Life at Lumiere

Discover more about how our students recorded the soundtrack to the centre piece of the 2021 Lumiere Festival. Explore Durham by night with English graduate Ruby, and winter in Durham with international student Tia. Criminology graduate Cynthia also covers this must see event in her blog.

Read our student stories

 

 

Two female students in front of an illuminated light bulb art display at night

Jim Campbell's renowned Scattered Light 2021 (US) incorporated almost 2,000 LED bulbs which flickered to create the illusion of figures moving across St Mary's College terrace.

Little lantern houses lit from within shown through the lens of a camera phone

City of Light City of Stories 2021 by @non_bumble.q our #DULumiere Instagram competition winner 2021.

Three students in front of a planetary light art display on the outside of the Ogden Centre

CHRONOS 2021 by Epsztein & Gross (France) was a video-mapped projection and soundscape that took the viewer on an audio-visual voyage through time from the Belle Epoque and the Industrial Revolution, through to the present day.

A lantern illuminated in the foreground with a view of Durham Cathedral behind

Lamplight view of Cathedral by @el_va_ from our #DULumiere competition 2021.

Planetary light art display on the Ogden Centre

CHRONOS at the Ogden Centre 2021.

Illuminated scattered light bulbs hanging outside at St Marys College

Scattered Light at St Marys College 2021.

  

  

 

 

Latest News and Events

Lumiere news and events from across the university and from Artichoke Trust.

Research news: Lumiere lights up our ground-breaking research

This year’s event includes three installations drawing on some of our ground-breaking research in computational cosmology, criminology and sustainable energy solutions.
A graphic illustration of a large blue diamond

Event: Daniel Canogar in conversation with Professor Carlos Frenk

Professor Carlos Frenk from our Institute of Computational Cosmology and artist Daniel Canogar, the creator of Universal Loom, will explore ideas around art and science.
The Ogden Centre at night illuminated by light art

Event: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer in conversation with Revd Professor David Wilkinson

Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Revered Professor David Wilkinson from our Department of Theology and Religion will discuss art, science and religion.
Durham Cathedral illuminated with art with crowds in the foreground

Event: Storytelling, the non-human and new animism at World Heritage Sites

Join us on the eve of Lumiere to explore new ways to bring historical sites to life. The best way to arrive is on foot, to see final testing on the light installations.
Durham Cathedral illuminated with art with crowds in the foreground

Lumiere 2023 Programme Revealed

The UK's light art biennial returns to Durham from 16 - 19 November 2023 featuring over 40 incredible installations.
A ghostly rendition of a cathedral transept

What to visit in Durham City; local recommendations from Lumiere's Business Club

Members of the Lumiere Business Club help you to plan ahead, so you don't miss out this November.
Durham Cathedral illuminated with art

World-renowned artists to be part of Lumiere

The work of five world-renowned artists will be part of this year’s Lumiere, artwork includes 61 antique chandeliers hanging in Durham Cathedral’s Chapter House.
sixty four illuminated chandeliers hanging inside an empty room