Night view over the Saone river to the Fourvière cathedral, in the city of Lyon.
The Lyon Festival of Lights is one of the most eagerly-awaited festive season events in France. Every year, the fabulous city of Lyon sees 1.8 million visitors arrive from all over the world for the four-day festival. The urban landscape is lit up by all sorts of different creations: lighting, video and graphic artists, designers, architects and street performance troupes all play their part.
These artists offer new and surprising installations and animations every year, creating a festive, magical, urban atmosphere. The beautiful city becomes a shining showcase for their ephemeral works.
Watch an overview of previous years’ installations here:
When is the Lyon Festival of Lights 2022?
The Lyon Festival of Lights takes place from Thursday 8 December to Sunday 11 December 2022. On the 8th, 9th and 10th of December, it is from 8pm to midnight, and on the 11th of December, from 6pm to 10pm.
What to expect
Over the four nights, various artists will illuminate:
- The “presqu’île”
- The old city
- The rivers
- Lyon’s largest parks
A magical atmosphere will pervade throughout the city. As soon as night falls, you will be able to set out to discover around thirty installations, that will amaze you!
In addition, for this 2022 edition, Lyon offers you the opportunity to explore 6 different thematic universes:
- Tribute to nature
- At the level of children
- Lyon’s creations
- Views from elsewhere
- Great shows
- Bushwalking
Here is some information about two of the main installations:
1 – AGORYTHM at the Parc de la Tête d’Or:
“Here, we are invited to discover the environmental reality of Lyon through the singular and artistic translation of data collected on air, water, pollution, soft mobility. The artists of Onionlab have worked to adjust this ambitious creation to Lyon, which will be created in Barcelona in 2021.” fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr
2 – LES LUMIGNONS DU CŒUR at the Parc de la Tête d’Or:
“Our eyes light up at the sight of 12,000 flames, echoes of hope and fragility. The public is of course invited to participate in this evolving scenography, animated by numerous volunteers. This year, tradition and poetry will be used to promote solidarity and better living. The Salvation Army Foundation will be the beneficiary of the proceeds from the sale of luminous lights (2 euros each)”. fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr
We can assure you that Lyon’s Festival of Lights is well worth it! Whether it’s your first visit or not, you’ll be charmed by the city and its installations. However, as mentioned above, the installations are only visible after dark, so if you also want to discover Lyon, you’ll have the whole day to do it.
Take the opportunity to discover Lyon
Take advantage of your visit to discover the best of Lyon!
You could stay at Camping de Lyon, in an old-style wooden caravan, cabin, glamping tent or pitch for your campervan, or at Camping des Barolles, with modern mobile homes and pitches. Both are less than 10km from the city centre.
Read our article on the unmissable things to do in Lyon: discover the city’s culture, nature and fresh air in the best possible way!
For young and old alike
This is really an event not to be missed! Both adults and children will be amazed by the light shows. Make sure to hit one of the Lyon tourist offices to ask for a festival playbook when you arrive. It will suggest tours and give lots of information about the different installations. This will make the event even more fun.
However, as is the case during many festivals, the city experiences an influx of millions of visitors during the four days of the Lyon Festival of Lights. This means that the streets of Lyon and its transport system will be packed and you can expect to see a lot of people during your visit. So, make sure to always keep an eye on any little ones, keeping them close by. Also, don’t forget to bring good shoes and something comfortable and warm to wear, as you will be walking the streets of Lyon all day and evening.
We hope that all this information will be useful to you and that it will allow you to enjoy Lyon, and the Fête des Lumières, as much as possible. Don’t forget to follow us on social networks and tag us on your photos (@campsited) if you go!
A quick recap on what you need to know:
When is the Lyon Festival of Lights 2022?
The Lyon Festival of Lights takes place from Thursday 8 December to Sunday 11 December 2022.
What are the times of the Lyon Festival of Lights?
Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 December 2022: from 8pm to midnight
Sunday 11 December 2022: from 6pm to 10pm
How do I get to Lyon for the Festival of Lights?
You can get there by car, by bus such as Flixbus or BlaBlaCar Bus (mainly from major cities), by train (to Perrache, Part Dieu, Saint Exupéry stations) or by plane to Lyon Saint Exupéry airport.
Is there much to see at the Lyon Festival of Lights?
There is a lot to see at the Lyon Festival of Lights! – about thirty installations, shows and other forms of entertainment, spread across several areas around the city.
Is the Festival of Lights suitable for children?
Yes, both children and adults will love a visit to Lyon during the Festival of Lights. In particular if you’re there with kids, go to one of the Lyon tourist offices when you arrive and ask for a “playbook”. This includes tours and information about the different installations, especially aimed at families. Using it as a guide will make the event even more fun for your children.
Is the Lyon Festival of Lights free?
Yes, you can enjoy the light installations and animations for free.
