Festival of Lights: Berlin lit up in October, dates, route and tips

Updated on October 9, 2026

Every October, for ten days, the Festival of Lights turns around a hundred monuments, squares and facades in Berlin into works of light: video projections, animations and installations by artists from around the world. The 2026 edition, the 22nd, runs from 9 to 18 October under the theme "Colours of Love". Access to the illuminations is free; they can generally be seen every evening from 7pm to 11pm. The festival lights up about 80 sites, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Cathedral, Charlottenburg Palace and the facades of Potsdamer Platz. The 2027 dates had not yet been announced in early October 2026: the festival is held every autumn, so check the official site. For the rest of the month, see what to do in Berlin in October and the calendar of festivals.

Highlights

The Brandenburg Gate

Berlin's most famous monument serves as a giant screen: the projections, seen from Pariser Platz, change from year to year. Come after dark, preferably on a weekday when the crowd is thinner, and stand back to take in the whole facade.

The Berlin Cathedral

The dome and facade of the cathedral get one of the festival's most spectacular light mappings. From 13 to 17 October 2026 the cathedral also hosts "Festival of Lights in Concert", a ticketed show of 3D video and music with DJs such as Alle Farben, Klangkarussell and Westbam, from €58. The outdoor projections on the facade remain free.

The TV Tower and Alexanderplatz

The TV Tower and its surroundings are among the festival's lit backdrops, seen from afar as in this photo of the 2024 edition. The programme changes from year to year: consult the official map of sites.

Other sites and guided tours

The programme also includes "LightSeeing" tours (by bus or boat, ticketed) linking the main sites, and a photo contest. For an evening on foot, pick a compact area: Unter den Linden, Museum Island and the cathedral, or Potsdamer Platz.

Practical info

Tips

The festival is free, except for the concerts and guided tours, which should be booked ahead. Check the official programme before you go out: it lists each year's sites and projection times. Dress warmly: October evenings are cool. For a route, allow two to three evenings if you want to see several areas, or one evening with a single district. For photographers: a light tripod and a small fast lens help; follow the safety instructions around the sites. Sites are very busy at weekends: beware of pickpockets in the crowd (see scams to avoid in Berlin). To get back, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn run late (see getting around Berlin). Hotels fill up during the festival: book early.

How to get there

The festival takes place at many sites across the city. Brandenburg Gate: S-Bahn or U-Bahn Brandenburger Tor, or bus 100. Berlin Cathedral (Am Lustgarten): bus 100 to Lustgarten, or S-Bahn Hackescher Markt, then about 10 minutes on foot. Potsdamer Platz: S-Bahn and U-Bahn (U2) Potsdamer Platz. For other sites, consult the official map.