From December 5th to 8th, the capital of Gaul hosts a new edition of its famous Festival of Lights. Between drones, gastronomic tributes, immersive installations and reinforced security measures, the city offers a program that is as inventive as it is moving.
A 2025 edition full of color and symbolism
Lyon's Festival of Lights officially began this Friday, December 5th, with 23 installations spread across the Presqu'île, the Parc de la Tête d'Or, and other iconic locations. Among the most anticipated installations is "L'Éveil des Lumières" (The Awakening of Lights), a ballet of 500 drones in the park's sky, conceived by the Allumée collective. The show retraces the history of light through spectacular figures, from the Basilica of Fourvière to the globe, including the traditional votive candles.
In the park's walkways, Philippe Geluck's famous Cat statues also benefit from special lighting, which the Belgian artist came to admire for his very first participation in the event.
On the Presqu'île, several squares offer original creations: On Mondays, it's ravioli day in Place des Terreaux, a humorous and visually striking take on Lyonnaise cuisine with light mapping. In Place Louis-Pradel, HDV – 40 Years of Skateboarding in Lyon pays tribute to skateboarding, while the Opera House hosts the Row installation, composed of ten holographic screens. In Place Sathonay, the world of Stranger Things inspires an immersive experience in the Upside Down, funded by Netflix, the event's new sponsor.
A popular festival combining tradition, security, and patronage
Beyond its artistic dimension, this festival remains deeply rooted in Lyon's culture. On December 8th, the key date of the event, residents will, as every year, light candles in their windows in homage to the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the city. For the occasion, the SINGA Lyon association is being honored through "Les Lumignons du Cœur" (Candles of the Heart), a charitable initiative whose proceeds will be donated to them.
Despite a reduced budget compared to 2024 (2,1 million euros excluding payroll for the city), the programming was designed to be "joyful and energizing", according to artistic director Julien Pavillard, quoted by Europe 1. The support of patrons like Netflix made it possible to maintain a diversity of installations.
Two million visitors are expected over the four days, and the prefecture has deployed a significant security operation. A total of 68 checkpoints are manned by 415 private security agents, in addition to 200 municipal police officers and 500 national police officers, as specified by Antoine Guérin, the prefect's delegate for security.
Despite the constraints, the Festival of Lights 2025 retains its festive and unifying spirit, faithful to a tradition over 150 years old.
