Bristol Light Festival

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Bristol Light Festival is set to return to Bristol for 10 days of dazzling light-based artworks to brighten up the darkest nights of January and February 2025. 

The Whilers by Air Giants - World premiere
Experts in interactive soft robotics, Air Giants will be wowing crowds at the event with their pneumatically-controlled robotic creations. The Whilers are otherworldly creatures on a journey into the unknown who are stopping only briefly in Bristol to interact with its residents and each other. Air Giants’ Bristol-based team come from diverse backgrounds with broad experience in theatre design, software development and access and inclusion, and their work is centred around connection and companionship. Using cutting-edge robotics research, The Whilers use non-verbal sounds and language to communicate with one another, and to take notice of audience members for an immersive and awe-inspiring experience. 

Ramandu's Table by Bruce Munro
Taking inspiration from the original plastic pink flamingo creator, Don Featherstone, and from CS Lewis’ literature, Ramandu's Table will showcase nature in a whole new light. The installation, a flock of white flamingos, illuminated with an array of continually changing dawn hues, brings a new layer of artistry to the traditional flamingo statue associated with front yards in America. The artist wants audiences to enjoy the piece for exactly what it is, a vibrant depiction of some of nature’s most flamboyant and gregarious creatures. 

Somnius by Illumaphonium
For their second visit to Bristol Light Festival, following a dazzling double offering in 2023 with Continuum and Halo, Illumaphonium is returning once more to combine light and sound with their latest work, Somnius. Somnius is a cosmic blend of light and sound that responds to every movement of the audience. As participation in the installation grows, so does its soundscape and reactive illuminations, immersing crowds in a playful environment that puts them in control of their experience. Its appearance at Bristol Light Festival will be the installation's South West debut. 

Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo
Bristol Light Festival 2025 will host the South West premiere of visual spectacle, Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo, a multidisciplinary design and fabrication studio led by artists Lucy McDonnell and Stephen Newby. Symbolising togetherness, shared love and the multifaceted aspects of the human experience, the piece comprises a giant discoball composed of more than 11,000 mirrored tiles. 

C-Scales by Bruce Munro
A screen made up of 1,849 CDs and DVDs, in its simplest form it tells the story of light. Initially designed for Sydney Harbour, the artwork serves as an exploration of how water absorbs and reflects light, creating something as abstract as it is beautiful. The audio track accompanying the artwork is inspired by Barangaroo in central Sydney, reflecting the shoreline sounds of the plant life, people, trade, shipping, commerce, buildings and day to day life of the Antipodean region.

Swing Song by Bristol Light Festival
A Bristol Light Festival favourite, Swing Song is back for more immersive musical play and this edition it’s set to be bigger and better than ever. Due to popular demand, the Bristol Light Festival team have been busy fabricating two new sets of swings for audiences to enjoy which will be unveiled at their home festival before embarking on a tour. Swing Song uses tracks that were produced especially for the festival, with each swing controlling a different musical element. 

Travel by bus to Bristol Light Festival

Plan your trip to Bristol Light Festival with First Bus - services stop just minutes away from each attraction, giving you more time to enjoy all Bristol Light Festival has to offer.

Travelling with friends or family? Our West of England FirstDay Group ticket is now £10, allowing up to 5 people of any age unlimited travel all day (only available on the First Bus App). Travelling solo? Hop on and off buses in the Bristol Zone all day for just £6 with a Bristol FirstDay Adult ticket. Singles are still just £2!

View a map of the nearest bus stops to the Light Festival locations 

Bristol Light Festival is founded by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), presented in partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID and curated by the festival’s creative director Katherine Jewkes.