
Llum BCN: an immersive experience in public space
The 14th edition of Barcelona’s light arts festival transforms the streets and squares in the district of Sant Martí into a vibrant scene of creation and innovation from 7 to 9 February. With 15 pieces by national and international artists and students from 17 design and architecture schools in the city offering university degrees, Llum BCN 2025 is the most multidisciplinary edition to date and promises a festive and participative atmosphere with more open-air projects and longer opening times.

Llum BCN, a leading European light arts festival and one of the most eagerly awaited cultural events in the city, reaches its 14th edition from 7 to 9 February, coinciding with the weekend of the festivities for Santa Eulàlia. The festival programme turns urban space into a new stage, combining art, light and technology to give new meanings to public space using light.
After receiving 240,000 visitors last time around, this edition of the festival is extending its opening times: Friday and Saturday, from 7 pm to 1am, and Sunday, from 7 pm to 11 pm, and adding to public space with mainly open-air installations allowing members of the public to visit openly and for free in a festive and participatory atmosphere. Of this year’s 30 plus installations, only four are in indoor spaces.
With Maria Güell as its art director and Martin Pošta as its international curator, Llum BCN 2025 offers pieces by 15 national and international artists and students from 17 design and architecture schools in the city offering university degrees, plus 11 installations by local artists living in Poblenou and various projects in cultural and commercial facilities.
The most multidisciplinary edition ever, this year’s event transcends the limits of architecture to add scenography, dance, visual arts and photography and explore light as a cross-cutting resource and how it can redefine people’s relationship with the city, with a programme featuring outstanding figures such as the photographer and digital artist Joan Fontcuberta, the film director and scriptwriter Isaki Lacuesta and the scenographer and lighting artist Laura Clos ‘Closca’. The festival will also be presenting the creations of Mouwad + Laurier, Daniel Rossa, Lateral Office i CS Design, Anna Rierola, Rosa Tharrats and others.
The city’s emerging talent is also on display with the participation of local students, who will be presenting works they have developed with the advice and support of the festival team. During the event, an expert committee will be visiting the installations and awarding three Young Talent Prizes in the categories of City, Atmosphere and Risk, plus two special mentions.
Besides the official projects, Llum BCN will also have two +Llum installations: NexusVision, at the Yamaha Light Meeting Point and Constel·lacions, created by the Goula Figuera Studio to mark the tenth anniversary of the Disseny Hub Barcelona.
Another eleven installations will form part of the Off Llum section organised by the Poblenou Urban District, while Llum BCN Pro offers a meeting space for professionals in light arts and related disciplines on 7 and 8 February.
The festival suggests four different itineraries to help visitors see everything, favouring sustainable mobility and the accessibility of public transport: the routes can be found here.