As January gloom sets in, Vilnius offers the perfect antidote: the Vilnius Light Festival, returning 23–25 January 2026. Celebrating the city’s 703rd birthday, the festival transforms the UNESCO-listed Old Town into an open-air gallery of contemporary light installations, running each evening from 5pm to 10pm. With five hours of illuminated exploration each night, visitors can wander historic streets, romantic courtyards and hidden architectural gems bathed in creativity and colour.
Explore Thought-Provoking Art Across the City
More than just a spectacle, the festival encourages reflection. Each installation explores unique themes — from plant life and mould to solar energy and the cosmos — while guiding visitors through Vilnius’ seven centuries of architecture, blending Gothic, Baroque and contemporary styles.
Free, Accessible and International
In 2026, the festival continues its free and public format, with installations spread across churches, courtyards, historic squares, underground spaces and secret corners. This year features:
Liquid Lens by Alessandro Lupi (Italy) – optical illusions in contemplative form
The Bird of a Thousand Voices by Boris Acket (Netherlands) – exploring memory and imagination
Deviation by Sven Sauer (Germany) – transforming architecture into immersive sensory environments
Alcove Ltd. by Encor Studio (Switzerland) – a dialogue between light, space and architecture
Memory Garden by Agnė Stirnė & Oskaras Stirna (Lithuania) – interactive natural elements inspire creativity
αsκlipion by Emilien Guesnard (France) – a plant-focused installation with sound, biology and herbalism
Visitors can navigate the route easily with the Vilnius Light Festival app, featuring maps, installation descriptions and wayfinding tools for iOS and Android.
Vilnius Beyond the Lights
The city itself is a winter-friendly playground. Within 30 minutes of any festival location, explore the MO Museum, independent galleries, Michelin-starred dining, and Europe’s most accessible urban ski slope at Liepkalnis.
Getting to Vilnius
Vilnius is served by direct flights from London Stansted, London City and London Luton several times a week. Its convenient connections to Riga, Tallinn and Poland also make it an ideal base for Baltic adventures.
Main image: Vilnius Light Festival (c) Saulius Ziura.
