The city is getting ready to shine as Light Up Lancaster returns this week for three nights of spectacular light art, live performance and family-friendly experiences.

Taking place from Thursday November 5 to Saturday November 7 2026, the free festival will transform locations across Lancaster with spectacular light installations, interactive artworks and unexpected creative experiences.

This year’s theme, No Boundaries, invites audiences to discover new connections, cross borders and celebrate the things that bring us together.

Among this year’s highlights is Sandcastle at Lancaster Castle, a playful projection imagining the historic landmark as one enormous sandcastle, while festival favourites imitating the dog, with James Hamilton, bring the new projection work Dear Earthling... to Lancaster Priory.

Pig Farm by Artshifters. ©joanamagalhaes_prisma_dia

placeholder image — Pig Farm by Artshifters. ©joanamagalhaes_prisma_dia

Audiences can also step into the interactive Puddles in the Storey Gardens, where footsteps send waves of light across the artwork.

At The Storey, visitors can experience Zero Knowledge, one of two original artworks supported by CyberFocus, which brings artists and cyber researchers together to explore our increasingly digital world in new and unexpected ways.

There’s a mystery to solve too. Hidden somewhere in Lancaster is a secret installation in a garden, waiting for festival-goers to track it down.

Light Up Lancaster is made possible by the generous support and collaboration of organisations from across Lancaster and beyond. This year’s Delivery Partners are imitating the dog, Lancaster BID, Lancaster University, Mirador, The Dukes and The Gregson.

Damselflies by Tracey Graham Rubbish Artist.

The festival’s Funding Partners are Arts Council England, Lancaster City Council, Lancaster University Impact Acceleration Account Programme, CyberFocus, UK Research and Innovation - Arts and Humanities Research Council, Our Future Coast, Creative Lancashire, Lancaster University Confucius Institute, The Duchy of Lancaster, Preston City Mela and Lancashire County Council.

Light Up Lancaster is also delighted to have the support of its Festival Champions, Hotfoot and English Lakes Hotels, alongside UKBathroomstore, which is supporting the festival as a sponsor.

Together with involvement from other local, regional and national organisations, their support helps make it possible for Light Up Lancaster to remain a free festival, bringing artists, audiences and communities together and filling some of the city’s best-known and more unexpected spaces with light and creativity.

Light Up Lancaster takes place Thursday November 5 to Saturday November 7 from 5pm to 10pm.

For full programme details, visit https://www.lightuplancaster.co.uk/