Ghent Light Festival 2027 in Belgium

When the sun goes down, thousands of lights illuminate Ghent

Dates: January–February, 2027

Every three years, for five days, the city turns into the scene for local and international light artists. They turn windows into displays and walls into screens for enchanting projections. They decorate the sights and monuments of Ghent and construct a new look for the city.

Festival Program & Displays

From 7 pm until after midnight, Ghent changes its appearance. Up to 50 different light-based installations, sculptures, and performances are scattered around the city. Some of the lights previously featured at the festival included a 10-feet (3 m) tall mask, a vibrant image projections on the buildings, a recycled bath sculpture, a mesmerizing installation, which resembles soap bubbles, and more breathtaking displays.

The festival is not unique in the world. Similar events can be observed in Berlin, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and many other cities worldwide. Nevertheless, Ghent keeps on attracting more and more visitors. In comparison to the first edition, which attracted around 200,000 spectators, the attendance grew to over 600,000 people. The event is not annual, so it is important to keep an eye on the schedule.

Locations & Venues

You would need to walk 4 miles (7 km) through the center to pass by all the installations. The entire route takes approximately two hours to complete. There is also a shorter route, which covers the most beautiful installations and is approximately 2 miles (3 km) long. Don't miss the parks and sights such as St. Peter’s Square, Saint James’ Church, Portus Ganda, the crane at the Old Docks, the Castle of Gerard the Devil, and the Baudelohof. It is also possible to take a guided tour in order not to miss anything stunning.

History of the Festival

Ghent serves as an excellent backdrop for this event. The first edition of the festival was organized in 2011 and was focused only on the historical parts of the city, with the main goal to reinforce the Ghent Light Plan. Every new edition shows that the event has evolved, showcasing new, previously not highlighted parts of the city. As of today, the festival has expanded further and covers not only the city centre but also the industrial districts.