Durham, long celebrated for its world-class university and Norman cathedral, will shine even brighter this autumn when Lumiere returns from 13 to 15 November. The festival, whose name comes from the French word for ‘light’, has become synonymous with creative brilliance and civic pride.
Often described as the spiritual capital of the north, Durham’s cobbled streets, bridges, and riverside will be transformed into an illuminated citywide art gallery. For the first time, the festival will also shine the spotlight on Shildon.
Curated by the London-based art and events company Artichoke, Lumiere 2025 promises to be both spectacular and intimate. Dozens of installations by world-renowned and emerging artists will dazzle the city, from the cathedral’s nave to the banks of the River Wear, over three evenings from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Helen Marriage, Artichoke’s artistic director, describes the programme as “a love letter in light – a glowing tribute to the wonderful City and County of Durham”.
A festival highlight since its inception, Durham Cathedral will host two specially commissioned works. ‘EVERYONE EVER’ will transform the cathedral’s nave into a poetic confrontation of stone and light, while ‘Solace’ will fill its cloister with thousands of handmade lanterns, inviting reflection and suggesting resilience. Visitors to the cathedral will be greeted by a riot of colour in the form of the ‘Elysium Garden’, which is inspired by two-metre-tall blooms that evoke the gardens of paradise.
The elemental nature side of the programme features ‘Glittering Grove’, which transforms trees in Wharton Park into shimmering pillars of colour. In ‘As Water Falls’, visitors can step beneath a digital waterfall of light and sound whose patterns respond to their presence, blending technology and wonder poetically.
Along the Milburngate Riverside, ‘Run Beyond’ will fill the night sky with luminous human figures in motion. This piece is a meditation on courage and freedom, and our urge to transcend boundaries.
New commissions in this year’s programme include ‘LOVE IS’, which reflects Durham Street life through photography, and ‘A Light Still Shines’, which offers a space for reflection on the city’s inequalities. ‘Vault of Echoes’ blends Islamic geometry with the city’s brutalist architecture.
The festival also marks the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first to use steam locomotives, with three installations honouring Durham’s industrial legacy. Durham University, a key partner since the inception of Lumiere, will again open its historic buildings to the public.
Since its debut in 2009, Lumiere has attracted over 1.3 million visitors, generating around £43 million for the regional economy. Its success has inspired similar festivals across the country, turning a local experiment into a model of cultural regeneration. To date, over 14,000 people, including schoolchildren, have participated in its workshops and community projects.
However, one shadow looms this year: rising energy costs have forced organisers to cut the festival by a day. “Lumiere 2025 will take place over three nights to balance the challenge of rising costs while maintaining its reputation as a vibrant, world-class event for Durham”, a spokesperson explained.
Tickets for the central ‘controlled zone’ went on sale on 1 October. Locals can register for free and pay only a £1.50 booking fee, while visitors are advised to book early as several slots have already sold out by the time of publication. Many installations outside the ticketed area will remain open to all free of charge.
