Everything you need to know for the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026-2027

(Artwork in the header image: All The Light You See by Alicia Eggert (Amsterdam Light Festival 2025 - 2026, edition 14)

Experience the 15th Edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival

This year marks the fifteenth edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival. Along Amsterdam’s canals, stunning light artworks in which light plays a central role will be on display. They bring the dark winter nights to life and are definitely worth admiring up close. Curious to know what to expect? Discover everything you need to know about the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026 - 2027 in this blog! 

Facts about the Amsterdam Light Festival

• 2026 - 2027: the 15th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival
• No set theme, but plenty of scope for artists to showcase Amsterdam from different perspectives.
• The lights are on every evening, from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027
• This year, there are 20 light artworks on display
• The official route starts at Amsterdam Central Station and runs along Amsterdam’s canals

History of the Amsterdam Light Festival

Since 2012, Amsterdam’s winters have been illuminated by the bright lights of the Amsterdam Light Festival, alongside the annual festive decorations. The Amsterdam Light Festival is dedicated to light art, installed on and above Amsterdam’s canals. Over the past fourteen years, various themes have enabled artists to create works that have highlighted contemporary issues, surprised audiences, told stories and transformed the urban environment around the artwork.

Run Beyond by Angelo Bonello (Amsterdam Light Festival 2016 - 2017, edition 4)

Every year, the Amsterdam Light Festival adorns the canals of Amsterdam and the River Amstel. It began as a Christmas parade but has since grown far beyond that. It is now a celebration of art that explores more universal themes, with a new focus each year, and is intended to brighten up the dark days in its own right. The scale of the Amsterdam Light Festival has grown over the years and the route changes from time to time, but it has become an annual spectacle where thousands of visitors come to admire the unique artworks

Amsterdam Light Festival 2026 - 2027

For the 2026 - 2027 edition, there is no set theme, and artists are free to decide for themselves how they will bring the city to life with their light artworks. Local, national and international artists will showcase what they wish to share with Amsterdam. No fixed narrative, but a dialogue with the city from a variety of perspectives. Each artist presents a different perspective on Amsterdam in their own way. From different shapes and sizes to unique ideas, every artwork tells its own story.

The twenty artworks are all situated in special locations and complement Amsterdam’s beautiful architecture. You’ll find artworks on medieval bridges, atop buildings or even projected onto the enormous NEMO Science Museum. The festival is also a tribute to Amsterdam and its architecture, and most of the artworks have been specially created to foster an interaction between the artwork and its setting, which makes them all the more spectacular.

Swans by Jon Voss (Amsterdam Light Festival 2025 - 2026, edition 14)

Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise

There are two ways to enjoy the Amsterdam Light Festival. You can follow the route on foot, or you can take a canal cruise. All the artworks can be seen from street level, so walking or cycling through the city is the most flexible way to explore the festival. Put on your wellies, pop an umbrella in your bag just in case, and set off!

But to get as close as possible to the artworks, it’s much better to travel along the canals. LOVERS’ canal boats sail past all the artworks and offer you the best views of the entire festival during a comfortable cruise. The heated boats have windows all round, so you can see the art on both sides of the canal. The Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises feature an audio guide in English, German and Dutch, which tells you all about the various artworks and the artists.

Together with LOVERS Canal Cruises, Tours & Tickets offers the best canal cruises for enjoying the Amsterdam Light Festival. Come aboard at LOVERS, right opposite Amsterdam Central Station, and discover the Amsterdam Light Festival on a boat tour with an audio guide. 

Fancy something special? LOVERS Canal Cruises also offers an Amsterdam Light Festival special: a cruise including free drinks. This follows the same route but features an open bar, so you can enjoy the stunning art with a nice glass of wine or a refreshing soft drink. It’s the most comfortable way to enjoy the festival, sheltered from the rain and wind, with friends on board and a drink in hand.

Admire the light artworks of the Amsterdam Light Festival

Discover the city like never before during the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026 - 2027. Admire the unique light artworks, enjoy the atmospherically lit canals and be surprised by the different perspectives on the city. Step aboard with LOVERS and enjoy all the beautiful artworks from the water. An unforgettable winter experience you won’t want to miss!