All About Copenhagen Light Festival 2025

Planning to visit Copenhagen in winter? You’re in for a treat with the Copenhagen Light Festival! Every February, the city comes alive with stunning light installations illuminating the streets, canals, and historic buildings with creative and colorful displays.

I go to the Copenhagen Light Festival every year, and I’ll definitely be there this year too. What keeps drawing me back? It’s the fact that the light installations are set up differently every single year to keep things fresh and exciting. These festivals get me to bundle up and venture out during the winter months.

Let’s dive into where you’ll find the best light displays throughout the city.

Get ready to see Copenhagen from a fresh perspective!

What is the Copenhagen Light Festival?

The Copenhagen Light Festival is an annual festival that happens in February.

It’s a magical experience that brightens up Copenhagen’s dark winter nights with a vibrant display of illuminated art installations.

These light exhibits pop up in various spots across the city – from old buildings and iconic architectural squares to canals, bridges, and other public spaces. It’s like seeing familiar places in Copenhagen come alive in a new unique way.

I love that the festival brings artists, designers, students, and even organizations to create these stunning light installations. They blend art, technology, and architecture in the most captivating and interactive ways.

Music is also played where the arts are installed. The festival draws in both locals and international visitors, and it’s truly for all ages.

When is the Copenhagen Light Festival Celebrated?

The light festival in Copenhagen is celebrated for three weeks in February. In 2025, it is happening from the 31st of January to the 23rd of February.

The festival’s lighting installations are turned on every night between 17:00 and 22.00. Some installations have slightly longer or shorter display times, which will also appear on their official website and the app – Appstore and Playstore.

Copenhagen Light Festival Map

The Copenhagen Light Festival map is released in January every year. During the festival, both digital and printed maps are available, and the map includes routes for walking and cycling.

How to Explore the Light Installations?

Each year, the 35 light installations at the Copenhagen Light Festival are spread across the city, mainly in the city center, stretching from Nordhavn to Ørestad (anywhere between 2 to 12 km).

Each piece has its own story, and I love reading the little signs next to each lightwork to understand better what the artist or designer intended. It adds so much to the experience!

You can explore the festival however you like! You can walk, cycle, take a canal boat, go on a Segway tour, drive, or even hop on a bus, there’s no “wrong” way to experience it.

However, the best way to explore is by walking or cycling. If you are driving a car, you can see it only from a distance. Getting a parking space at every spot is also challenging. 

You can start from any convenient spot and just wander around.

Official guided tours are definitely worth checking out if you want a more in-depth experience.

Copenhagen Light Festival Canal Tours

Stromma offers special canal tours to experience the light festival from the waters. The 45-minute tour that starts at 18:00 and 19:15 is a favorite among both tourists and locals!

Boats are covered and heated, so you’re cozy and protected from the wind and rain.

The tour is live-guided in both Danish and English, focusing on the artwork and the artists behind them. Departing from Nyhavn, all you need to do is sit back, relax, and let our guide take you through the stories of the artworks, the artists, and the inspirations behind each piece.

Copenhagen Light Festival Tickets

There is no entry fee to see the Festival of Lights in Copenhagen. You can see it free of cost and no ticket must be purchased.

Energy Consumption for the Light Festival

All the LED lights used in the light festival are based on green wind energy, sponsored by Ørsted.

The energy consumed by the illuminated lights in the light festival corresponds to 225 kWh per day or 4,725 kWh for the entire period of 3 weeks. The Festival’s energy consumption is equivalent to three fully charged electric cars.

How to Dress for the Copenhagen Light Festival?

The Copenhagen Light Festival happens during the peak winter season in February. The sun sets in early at around 15:00 and the temperature might drop up to -5℃ at night. With the winds, you might feel even colder.

So, put on your layers as you will be exploring outdoors for hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Copenhagen Light Festival

If you’re in Copenhagen this February, make sure to add the light festival to your itinerary. It’s a beautiful blend of art, technology, and winter magic that you won’t want to miss.

The Copenhagen Light Festival is right up my alley as an art enthusiast. So what are waiting for? Grab your warm coat, walk through the city, and let the lights guide you on an unforgettable journey!