Birmingham Light Festival has revealed its full programme for 2026, including many with a love theme.
An open-air gallery of spectacular, illuminated artworks from internationally renowned and local artists will dazzle visitors across central Birmingham from February 12 to 15 during Valentines Day weekend for free.
There are also events to enjoy including a new performance at Bullring produced by Birmingham Hippodrome.
Central BID is one of the sponsors of Birmingham Light Festival, and the full map of where installations will be is shown below. This year it includes:
My Heart Belongs in Birmingham, by NeonCow, brings illuminated neon hearts to Lower Temple Street – a love note to the city that will be perfect for selfies.
At 1000 Trades Square in front of Birmingham New Street Station, there is Reunion, by Kumquat Lab, where sweeping luminous arches outside New Street Station will create a magical setting. This colourful artwork is in partnership with Network Rail and Birmingham City University.
Bullring presents FORGED, produced by Birmingham Hippodrome – a high-energy live experience transforming the shopping centre with fire performances. Set to a live soundtrack of spoken word and original music from one the city’s most exciting metal bands, Insurgent, FORGED is inspired by the sparks, steel and relentless rhythm that shaped Birmingham.
Birmingham Light Festival map for 2026
Between performances, the spotlight turns to the public as visitors are invited to quite literally play with fire and step up to a spectacular fire-breathing organ, a bold, interactive installation which triggers bursts of flame against the night sky.
Back by popular demand and building on the theme of love, Our Beating Heart, by Studio Vertigo, will be taking up residence at Mailbox. Expect disco music beside the rotating, heart-shaped mirror ball.
High above Victoria Square, there will be giant eye looking down for The Look of Love: All Eyes on Town Hall by Designs in Air.
Voted the favourite installation from the inaugural Birmingham Light Festival, the silent disco is back at Victoria Square. This year taking the form of a classic party game, The Silly Statues x Silent Disco by festival producers, Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS), will become a giant game of musical statues with disco host Madame Freeze rewarding the silliest frozen poses.
Over in the Jewellery Quarter, Firefly Field by Studio Toer will bring a delicate glow to the green space of St. Paul’s Churchyard, inspired by the subtle movements of fireflies.
FORGED wiill be at Bullring as part of Birmingham Light Festival 2026
Along the canal path, in Oozells Square at Brindleyplace, The Heartbeat of Brindleyplace, by idontloveyouanymore, will see a collection of softly glowing boxes of light arrive, each one connected to, and powered by, live Brummie hearts. The installation will share the stories of real people from Birmingham,
connecting them to their light boxes by monitors, which will pulse along with each heartbeat.
In Edgbaston, a powerful installation invites festival goers into the stunning setting of Birmingham Botanical Gardens as Tipping Point, by international artist Luke Jerram.
It will create a thought-provoking simulated forest fire in collaboration with award-winning composers Dan Jones and Simon Birch, the outdoor artwork includes an immersive soundtrack, evocative audio effects and interviews with people about their experience of forest fires, bringing the reality of deforestation to life.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens will also be hosting Climate Conversations, creating a space to reflect and initiate discussions around climate change and a free ticket can be booked on the Birmingham Light Festival website.
A new installation, Where the Trees Begin, by Birmingham-based mural artist Richard O’Gorman, will see Edgbaston Village creatively illuminated with an artwork inspired by the ancient forests that once shaped Birmingham’s landscape. Richard’s piece was chosen by a panel after local creators and artists were asked to submit proposals for a new legacy piece and will remain in place after the festival ends.
Legacy pieces from last year’s festival remain of Alright Bab! at Colmore Square, Ideas Happen Here at Newhall Square and Roof of Stars in Thorp
Street, with support of Birmingham City Council, using funds from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Over 50 events will be taking place across the weekend, including everything from Run the Lights, a group run starting from The Goodsyard taking in all the installations, and Paws of Light, a dog walk that makes sure furry friends don’t miss out on the action.
Edgbaston Village Night Market will give visitors the chance to explore Greenfield Crescent and discover new independent makers, while the CBSO and Canal and River Trust will be bringing back their Bringing the Light Lantern Procession after last year’s success.
Bars across the city including Hotel du Vin, Chapter, The Alchemist, Everyman Cinema, Flight Club and Bazar at Harvey Nichols will also be serving up specially curated, light themed cocktails over the festival weekend, creating perfect pit-stops while taking in the installations.
Led by City Curator Alex Nicholson-Evans and festival producers OPUS, founding partners Colmore BID, Central BID, Southside District, Westside BID and The Jewellery Quarter BID have come together with Bullring, Edgbaston Village, Mailbox, Network Rail, Birmingham City University and Brindleyplace to brighten up February’s dark nights with Birmingham Light Festival for the second time.
A full list of special events and offers is available on the Birmingham Light Festival website.