Light Night Leeds confirms 2026 dates with major change to festival for first time
The two-day festival will feature more than 40 displays
The dazzling showcase of Light Night Leeds is set to return this autumn - and there’s a first for the festival.
This year, the event will take place during half term on October 28 and 29.
With the clocks having gone back the previous weekend. darkness will fall earlier, allowing the festival's spectacular large-scale projections and immersive artworks to begin from 6pm alongside the rest of the programme for the first time.
The theme for 2026 is A City Speaks, and the event will form part of Leeds 400, marking 400 years since Leeds was granted its first Royal Charter by King Charles I.
Through contemporary art, the festival will explore the stories, people and places that have shaped Leeds over the past four centuries while looking towards the city's future.
Using light, projection, performance and immersive experiences, artists will invite audiences to see Leeds in new ways, celebrating everything that makes the city unique.
Transforming familiar streets and buildings through art since 2005, the citywide festival is free and will feature more than 40 displays by artists working in Leeds, the UK and internationally.
The full programme is set to be announced at the end of September.
Light Night Leeds is one of the UK's largest light festivals, last year welcoming more than 200,000 visitors across the city over the two nights.
The festival is organised and delivered by Leeds City Council with additional funding from Arts Council England.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, said: “Light Night Leeds really shows off our city in the best light each year, bringing thousands of people together to enjoy hugely impressive projections and immersive experiences.
“The event is so important for the city, helping to establish Leeds as a cultural destination while making art accessible to everyone.
“The move into October half term, when the evenings are darker and children are off school, will make it easier for even more families to experience everything Light Night Leeds has to offer.
“It's wonderful to see an event that has been such an important part of Leeds since 2005 also play a key role in the Leeds 400 celebrations, using contemporary creativity to explore our past while looking towards our future."
Light Night Leeds 2026 takes place on Wednesday October 28 and Thursday October 29, from 6pm to 9.30pm.