Nottingham is preparing to glow once again as its popular Light Night festival gets ready to launch for an impressive eighteenth consecutive year. The free, family-friendly event will bathe the city in colour and creativity after dark on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th February.
A City Transformed by Light and Theme
For two special evenings, the city's landmarks, streets, and hidden corners will become the canvas for more than thirty immersive and interactive installations, performances, and activities. This year's curated programme thoughtfully explores the concept of 'home', featuring works conceived by local talent and pieces that reflect on what home means to people everywhere.
One of the headline installations is 'Parallels' by Architecture Social Club, set to take over Old Market Square. This spectacular piece uses thousands of laser beams to construct vivid environments of light and sound, completely surrounding spectators. For the studio, this event marks a poignant homecoming, as Nottingham is where their fascination with performance and shared spatial experience first began.
Interactive Art and Legendary Roots
Over at Sneinton Market Square, visitors will encounter a giant, slumbering feline. 'The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years', created by Air Giants, is an enormous inflatable light sculpture that people are encouraged to stroke, feeling its deep, rumbling purr as if it were a pet dozing by a hearth.
Outside the historic Nottingham Castle, a different kind of magic will unfold. An intricate fibre-optic display titled 'Mycelium Network' will envelop the famous Robin Hood statue. Soft, glowing tendrils of light will spread from the statue's base, symbolising how the legend of the iconic outlaw took root and flourished in this very city.
Planning Your Light Night Adventure
Further commissioned works, including pieces by Nottingham-based artists at locations like St Mary’s Church and Sneinton Market Avenues, will be detailed in the full programme released soon. Attendees can easily plan their itinerary using the free It’s in Nottingham app, which will contain information on all installations. Printed guides will also be available from the Tourism Centre on Smithy Row and at key locations on the event days.
The event is produced and funded by Nottingham City Council and It’s in Nottingham, with support from cultural organisations across the city. Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said the festival's theme is especially meaningful as it showcases local creative talent and brings communities together. She highlighted its role in boosting the evening economy and reinforcing the city centre as a vibrant, welcoming space after dark.
Alex Flint, CEO of It’s in Nottingham, added that Light Night is a powerful celebration of the city's creativity, people, and community spirit. He noted that it not only creates unforgettable experiences but also delivers significant benefits for local businesses, strengthening Nottingham's reputation as a dynamic and culturally confident destination.
