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Festival of Lights
All the information about this unmissable event of Lyon!
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Last updated date : 27/11/2025
When Lyon is dressed in lights, everybody comes down into the streets to take in the sights. The facades of the city’s most beautiful buildings spring to life under the lights of projectors and the people of Lyon take part by placing ‘lumignons’ (small lanterns) on their windowsills and balconies on the 8th of December. Lyon’s greatest celebration awaits you from 5 to 8 December 2025!
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Presentation of the Festival of Lights
4 evenings to shine!
From the tradional lumignons (small candles) which locals place on their balconies, to the various visual and interactive shows that are put on around the city, the Festival of Lights is an absolute must for anybody looking to discover Lyon.
Immerse yourself in this major celebration that is free and open to all!
Looking for practical infos ?
The must-sees and new arrivals at the 2025 Festival of Lights
In 2025, the Festival of Lights is celebrating the soul of Lyon through iconic emblems such as gastronomy, openness to the world and even skateboarding... A variety of diverse inspirations that offer an eclectic programme for everyone to behold and enjoy.
As you may have guessed, the 8th of December is THE day of the Festival of Lights this year. If you want to experience the event the traditional way, follow the ‘montée aux flambeaux’, a torch-lit procession beginning each year at around 6:30 pm, from the square in front of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière on the eponymous hill.
The Place des Terreaux and the illuminations on the façades of the Hôtel de Ville and the Musée des Beaux Arts are of course among the must-sees. Here, we’re celebrating gastronomy in a pop art universe reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s style. The work entitled “Le lundi c’est raviolis” dishes up a mouthwatering projection!
Fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things should head to Place Sathonay for a nod to the series. Stranger lights – La dernière aventure could well tie up the story...
Place Louis Pradel offers a tribute to skateboarding and its star athletes! With the HDV – 40 ans de skate installation, the history of this sport is told through acrobatic tricks and a 90s soundtrack.
Before heading to the square in front of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral, be sure to stop by the right banks of the river Saône to admire the Les malles persanes show. Here we find ourselves straddling the line between tradition and new technologies: it’s a real gem! Each image was first drawn by hand before being digitised. The end result is an oriental tale that unfolds before the spectators’ eyes.
In the Saint-Jean district, Lumina reveals the heart of the Cathedral. This dive into the charms of the building’s exterior and interior architecture transforms the cathedral and brings it to life. Expect clean lines, a monochrome effect and bursts of colour with this spectacular work!
At the Tête d’Or park, the magic all takes place in the sky. L’éveil des lumières is a work that revolves around 500 synchronised drones celebrating light and its history. This ballet is a true technological feat!
The Festival of Lights shop
Want to take home a typical souvenir from the Festival of Lights or buy your small lanterns known as ‘lumignons’ for 2025? Visit the official Festival of Lights shop in Place Bellecour from the 3rd to 20th of December (open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm; and from 11 am to 10 pm during the four days of the Festival of Lights).
Merchandise from the Festival of Lights is available for sale at shop.lyon.fr (website in French only) as well as in several shops around the city.
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Around the Festival of Lights
Practical questions
If you come by car: car parks and traffic during the Festival of Lights
Parking in the centre of Lyon is limited. We advise you to park your car on the outskirts and use public transport to get to the festivities.
You can park in the car and motorbike parks:
- 23 TCL park-and-ride sites open to users of the TCL network, More information
- Lyon Parc Auto (LPA) car parks: Roziers, Cordeliers (exits via Place des Cordeliers to Quai Jean Moulin), Bourse (access blocked, exits possible), Confluence, Antonin Poncet (access blocked, exits possible), Gros Caillou, Croix Rousse, Saint Just, St Georges (access blocked, exits via rue St Georges),
- Indigo car parks: Tolozan.
Please note! Vehicle exits will be authorised 1h30 after the end of the illuminations when traffic reopens. If you wish to pick up your vehicle after the shows, please park outside the perimeter.
Car park reserved for people with reduced mobility:
- Bellecour district: rue Biennier for the Bellecour district (2nd arrondissement),
- Parc de la Tête d'Or district, Lyon 6th arrondissement: rue Vendôme, between rue Commandant Faurax and avenue de Grande Bretagne
Car parks for tourist coaches during the Fête des Lumières
Car parks provided on : Quai Augagneur, Quai Sarrail, with additional parking possible on Quai Rambaud (on 10 and 11 December)
Along the Saône, between cours Bayard and Rue Dugas-Montbel.
There is no dedicated motorhome parking available in the city centre. We recommend that you park your vehicle on the outskirts of Lyon and use public transport to get to the Festival.
How to get around on the TCL public transport network
First and foremost, to get around town, leave your car at home and use public transport!
During the event The metro, tram and certain bus lines run more frequently.
https://www.tcl.fr/en
December 8: Travel free after 4 p.m in zones 1 and 2.
December 5 to 7, unlimited travel with:
- the "Pass TCL en Fête" day travelcard (€3.70)
- the “Pass Tribu” group day travelcard
You can pay for your ticket and validate it directly with a contactless credit card.
Lyon City Card : Unlimited access to public transport: metro, tram, bus and funicular included in the Lyon City Card
Getting Around on Foot
The Festival of Lights takes place mostly in the city center within a pedestrianized area. This area is closed to vehicles every evening during the Festival, starting 2 hours before the event opens and lasting until 1.5 hours after the installations close. About forty entrances are distributed approximately every 100 meters.
Within this area, it is strictly forbidden to travel by car, motorcycle, scooter, bicycle, or electric scooter.
Please note, the entrances and exits to both public and private parking lots are prohibited. Therefore, vehicles parked inside the perimeter will not be able to exit during the closure hours.
Municipal decrees govern the parking prohibitions. Signs will be displayed at various locations.
The Presqu’île is open to pedestrians through access points every day throughout the duration of the Festival.
Only the following footbridges will be closed on December 5, 6, and 8 from 5 PM to midnight, and on December 7 from 4 PM to 11 PM:
- Palais de Justice footbridge
- Homme de la Roche footbridge
- Saint Vincent footbridge
- Paul Couturier footbridge (also called St Georges footbridge)
Throughout the entire perimeter and on all four evenings of the Festival, bicycle and scooter traffic is prohibited. Pets are not allowed in the parks within this perimeter.
Where to find the programme?
You can consult the Festival of Lights programme on the festival’s website.
Also, you can pick up a paper version at the Lyon Tourist Office, at the information kiosks that are set up in the city centre during the event, as well as at ONLYLYON-certified receptions and members of the organisation My Presqu'île.
Opening hours of the Place Bellecour Tourist Office during the Festival: 5 to 8 December, 9am to 8pm
Information huts:
- Place Louis Pradel (Lyon 1st)
- Place de la République (Lyon 2nd)
- Place Edouard Commette (Lyon 5th)
What are the dates and times of the Festival of Lights?
The Festival of Lights runs from Friday 5th to Monday 8th December from 6pm to 10pm.
Parc Tête d'Or: open all 4 evenings, doors close at 10pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 9pm on Sunday (the illuminations will end at 11pm and 10pm respectively). Please note that access to Parc Blandan and Parc de la Tête d'Or is closed 30 minutes before the end of each evening. The Parc de la Tête d'Or is evacuated 2 hours before the start of the evening.
Please note that access to Parc Blandan and Parc de la Tête d'Or is closed 30 minutes before the end of each evening.
How can disabled people enjoy the festival?
For People with disabilities, you can find all the information you need on the Handi-Accueil page of the Festival of Lights’ website.
Where to take a gourmet break?
Remember to book a restaurant especially if you're a gourmet and want to dine at the time of your choice, and in your favourite restaurant!
This year, refreshment areas are being provided where you will find quality snacks: Place Bellecour and Parc Blandan
Where are the public toilets?
You can look up the location of public toilets in Lyon on the interactive map of the city.
Toilets adapted to people with a disability are located:
• Place Louis Pradel (1st district): underground Hôtel de Ville de Lyon (Lyon City hall) car park
• Place Rambaud (1st district)
I go by alternative transportation
Public transit
24 park-and-ride facilities to get to the city centre; 4 metro lines.
Metro A or D stop Bellecour to be at the heart of the party.
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