Festival of Lights 2026 kicks off across Berlin landmarks

Berlin's 22nd Festival of Lights opened on 9 October 2026 and dominated culture pages on 10 October, with Tagesspiegel publishing a guide to the best viewing route through the illuminated city. Running until 18 October under the motto 'Colours of Love', the festival projects more than 80 artworks onto over 40 locations, including the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, the Victory Column, the TV Tower, Museum Island, Gendarmenmarkt and Potsdamer Platz. Illuminations run nightly from around 7 pm to 11 pm, and entry to the public installations is free. From 13 to 17 October, international DJs such as Alle Farben, Klangkarussell and Westbam will transform Berlin Cathedral into a combined light and ambient-sound event. Organisers hoped to top the three million visitors recorded over eight evenings in 2025, boosted this year by the full ten-night programme. The festival is one of autumn's biggest crowd-pullers and a major economic driver for hotels and restaurants in the city centre.