Lumiere Durham

Where:	Formerly Durham city centre - various locations- and sometimes a few out of town (check website link for full details)
When:	Formerly Mid November (every other year,on odd-numbered years)
Time:	Formerly From 4.30 - 11pm each night (4.30-10 for out of town artworks)

The city centre of Durham hosted a variety of illuminated installations from many worldwide artists and designers in a festival held every other year. The focus was usually on the peninsula area around Palace Green with the Cathedral itself open as part of the exhibitions – the fabric of the building was used as a backdrop and the interior was full of lights and music. Other installations were scattered through the city including on the bridges over the River Wear and for the first time from 2021 there were exhibits further afield at landmarks around the County of Durham as well as the city. Visitors attended from all over the world and it’s easy to see why – it lit up the dark dull spell before Christmas got going! It was very popular and it remains to be seen whether another light festival will take its place.

Helpful Hints

The festival took place every two years on odd-numbered years. In 2025 it ran from Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th November- only 3 nights instead of 4 this time and it was announced that 2025 would be the final year for the festival. Click the link below for full programme, map and locations.

Overcrowding could be a problem – if you were able to, going outside the most popular visiting hours around 7pm was sensible. The park and ride service was very handy but could fill up at peak times so if travelling by car you needed to be prepared to park outside the centre and walk in- and take a torch as it seems very dark when you get away from the streetlights. Maps with all the locations marked were handed out on the night or you could download them from the website. It took us 3 hours and we didn’t see everything so you needed to allow plenty of time (and we went at around 8.30 so we’d have needed longer if we’d been there when it was busiest).

Click here for the event website : http://www.lumiere-festival.com