Thousands Attend Light Night Leeds Cultural Event

City centre illuminated with artworks celebrating landmarks

Light Night Leeds returned on Wednesday evening, drawing thousands of visitors to the city centre to experience a range of illuminated artworks. The annual event, now in its 2025 edition, featured a variety of light installations and projections across Leeds, focusing on the theme of Landmarks.

Artworks highlight historic and modern architecture

Several of Leeds’ most recognisable buildings and public spaces were transformed by artistic light displays created by international and local artists. The installations aimed to celebrate the city’s historic civic buildings, modern architecture, and public spaces, while inviting attendees to reflect on places that hold personal significance.

• City Square: A projection titled One Second Lovestory by German artist Dirk Rauscher was displayed on the Queens Hotel. The artwork commemorated 200 years of the modern railway, depicting a fleeting romantic moment at a train station.
• Leeds Civic Hall: Portuguese artists Ocubo presented Portals: The Machine of Worlds, a projection co-produced with the British Library. The piece used imagery from the library’s collection to explore themes of science, illusion, and discovery.
• Leeds City Museum: An animated display inspired by the children’s toy Spirograph was created by artists Lesley Halliwell and William Card.
• Wellington Place: A Matter of the Heart featured illuminated lightboxes that pulsed in time with the heartbeats of local residents.
• Briggate: Ten-foot-tall Living Lamp Posts moved among the crowd, adding an interactive element to the event.
• Trinity Leeds: The Spark Drummers performed, continuing their popular appearances at the festival.
• Aire Park: French artists LumInartiste displayed Bird Passing By, a 32-metre sculpture capturing the movements of a flying bird.
• Assembly Street: The video installation Perpetuum projected the movements of Leeds residents in an immersive experience.

Event details and support

The festival continued on Thursday, 23 October, running from 6pm to 10pm. It is organised and supported by Leeds City Council, with funding from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grant and sponsorship from local businesses.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, commented on the event’s impact, noting its ability to bring people together and showcase the city’s creativity and community spirit.

For more information on Light Night Leeds, visit www.lightnightleeds.co.uk.