Who says winter nights need to be dark and depressing? Because that’s certainly not the case at Canary Wharf! The area’s stunning Winter Lights festival has returned to blow away the cobwebs, light up the night, and provide just the necessary balm for our January blues.
Running from January 20 – 31, the Winter Lights festival sees the area taken over by “16 spectacular light installations by acclaimed artists from around the world.” It’s a stunning showcase of neon, LED, and all things illuminated, showing what an unbridled imagination (and state-of-the-art light technology) can do.
As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also completely FREE to visit! Just head on down between 5-10pm, and wander around the area to marvel at the lights. (Obviously, it has to take place when it’s dark, and you can appreciate the lights at their best… There’s no point turning them on when the sun is out!)
Have a look at what you can expect to see here:
Canary Wharf Winter Lights
In recent years, the festival has become hugely popular with Londoners and tourists alike. It’s no wonder, given how stunning the area looks as it becomes suffused with lights, colours, and interactive pieces. (Plus, it makes for a pretty damn good photo opportunity!) With this year’s festival being the 10th edition, it’s just as dazzling and awe-inspiring as years gone by.
For 2026, they’re inviting Londoners to escape their surroundings, with light displays and artworks that draw from this year’s theme: DREAMSCAPE. You can expect to see glowing pieces that transport you away from the city into a world of imagination and creativity.
The pieces on display include returning favourites from past years, permanent pieces, and all-new installations. They range from glowing planets and moons to interactive artworks, mesmerising light shows, and more.
Don’t miss these artworks
You’ll have to do some exploring to see them all. That’s because they’re literally scattered all around the area. The Canary Wharf group estimates it would take between 2 and 3 hours to find and see everything, depending on crowds. And bear in mind, it gets extremely busy on the weekends – so try to visit on a weekday if you can!
But what if you don’t have time to see them all? These are our picks for the can’t-miss pieces:
- The interactive Lacto-Reacto-Light by Jack Wimperis
- The planetary display, Sol by Artistic Latvia/ Janis Petersons
- The vast and atmospheric Sanctuary by Ithaca Studio
- The enchanting audio-visual piece, Manifestation by Marcus Lyall
Head here to find out more about the Canary Wharf Winter Lights. Download a map of the lights here.
📍 The Canary Wharf Winter Lights run from January 20-31, between 5-10pm each day.
