Popular Birmingham Light Festival back for a second year

Birmingham’s city centre will once again be transformed into a spectacular gallery of illuminated artworks, as Birmingham Light Festival returns for a second year.  

Following the success of the inaugural Birmingham Light Festival earlier this year, which saw 11 artworks and a full programme of events illuminate the city and generate over 64,000 visits, all five city-centre BIDs are collaborating once more to deliver the second year of celebrations. 

The festival will run from 12 15 February 2026.

Led by city curator Alex Nicholson-Evans, Colmore BID, Central BID, Southside BID, Westside BID and The Jewellery Quarter BID will work together to brighten up February’s dark nights, with Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS) reappointed as festival producers.

The 2025 festival also saw 48 United by 2022 volunteers bring the illuminated gallery to life each night and the organisation is set to support once again.

Even more streets, squares, and public spaces will be re-imagined with light this February, with Bullring and Edgbaston Village also joining the city-wide collaboration.

This year, local artists and creatives will have the chance to design a new permanent installation.

Applications for artists are open now, via the Birmingham Light Festival website. 

An open call has also been issued to businesses based within the festival footprint -giving them the opportunity to host official festival events, which last year included a Culinary Trail, the Paws of Light group dog walk, crafts and textiles sessions and a nighttime kayak tour.

Alex Nicholson-Evans said: “We were overwhelmed at the response to the first festival earlier this year and the visitor figures and feedback proved that some light relief is exactly what the people of Birmingham and beyond needed during those dark winter evenings- 99 per cent of that audience said they wanted the festival to return so we’ve worked incredibly hard with some really dedicated and passionate organisations to make that happen! I

“It’s been fantastic to have all five BIDs continue their commitment to Birmingham Light Festival, and we’re thrilled to welcome back fantastic partners like The Mailbox too.”

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