Canary Wharf’s highly anticipated Winter Lights festival will return to London this January, exhibiting 11 extraordinary temporary installations from global artists, as well as showcasing the ever-popular permanent light artworks.
The enlightening trail is now an annual tradition for many Londoners, with the free-to-attend festival set to transform Canary Wharf into a luminous landscape for its ninth edition.
The attraction brings together some of the world’s most creative and celebrated artists, who explore the transformative and otherworldly qualities of art and light. Amongst the temporary line-up are brand new commissions as well as pieces never before seen in the UK.
Combining the real with the surreal, the line-up will take visitors from a towering stack of bathtubs, pulsing with light and sound, created by Benedikt Tolar, through to Cabot Square where the fountain will be transformed into a sparkling pool by Atelier Sisu’s Evanescent Droplets. Other works include a UK-first illuminated bird in flight created by Luminariste – Benjamin Nesma & Marc Sicard, and a larger-than-life Portal in Wood Wharf by Lucid Creates.
Visitors are invited to explore London’s largest free light display as it opens for 12 nights from Tuesday 21st January to Saturday 1st February between 5-10pm.
Those looking to spend a day out visiting the festival can also experience London’s longest running ice skating rink, based in Canada Square Park, remaining open until Sunday 23rd February. Whilst taking a break from exploring the installations, visitors can enjoy a bite to eat at one of the 80+ cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from at Canary Wharf, including newly opened Marceline, plant-based restaurant mallow or Kricket for dishes inspired by the flavours of India.
Pippa Dale Senior Arts & Events Manager at Canary Wharf Group comments: “Our Winter Lights festival will be lighting up London’s skies once again in 2025 as it transforms the neighbourhood into a large-scale art exhibition, bringing light to those dark January evenings. We’re excited to be able to invite pioneering light creators from across the globe to exhibit in the extraordinary environment of Canary Wharf, bringing our customers and communities together, in what we hope will be our most dynamic show yet.”
Art enthusiasts visiting the installations can download the Winter Lights map from Canary Wharf’s free app to help them navigate the exhibition.
