Liverpool’s much-loved River of Light festival makes its dazzling return on Friday 24 October, transforming the city’s iconic waterfront into a spectacular outdoor gallery of light and imagination.

Running until Sunday 2 November, this year’s free event features ten large-scale light artworks, each exploring the theme “The Science of Light.” The installations draw inspiration from science, technology and the natural world, created in collaboration with Liverpool’s thriving community of innovators and researchers.

Visitors can enjoy a 3km trail of artworks stretching along the waterfront, from the Royal Albert Dock and Pier Head to Exchange Flags and Liverpool ONE, each piece designed to surprise and inspire in equal measure.

Highlights from this year’s trail include:

• Face Value – A brand-new commission by scientist Emma Brass, artist Venya Krutikov and the Invisible Wind Factory. Using AI and robotics, it creates an interactive light-art gaming experience that playfully showcases the power and creativity of new technologies.
• Dandelion – From Australian duo Amigo & Amigo, this beautiful installation takes inspiration from the dandelion flower, whose delicate wind-blown seeds are seen in many cultures as symbols of healing and hope.
• Within Water – A striking new work from New York-based Yellow Studios, inspired by the magical natural glow of marine bioluminescence.

Full details of all ten artworks, including locations, opening times and visitor FAQs, can be found on the River of Light website. You can also follow the latest updates on social media @visitliverpool (X, Facebook, TikTok) and @visitliverpool_ (Instagram).

Accessible experiences

Following the success of previous quiet hours, two special sessions will take place this year on Sunday 26 and Wednesday 29 October (4–5pm), allowing visitors with additional sensory needs to enjoy the trail in a more relaxed, low-stimulation setting.

Extended opening hours

To coincide with major city events including the Rugby League Ashes Series at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and Gladiators Live at ACC Liverpool, River of Light will stay open until 10pm on Saturday 1 November, giving families extra time to take in the artworks.

Cunard Building Market

As part of the celebrations, the Cunard Building’s arrivals hall will host a vibrant market on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October (2.30pm–8.30pm). Expect 35 independent stalls selling Liverpool-themed gifts, local art, crafts, and delicious treats.

Visitors can also book a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Grade II* listed Cunard Building — exploring hidden spaces such as the original luggage room, first-class safe and wood-panelled offices. These tours proved hugely popular when they last ran in September, so early booking is advised here.

Economic impact

Last year, River of Light attracted record-breaking visitor numbers, boosting the local economy by an estimated £18.9 million, benefitting bars, restaurants and shops across the city centre.

This year’s event is delivered by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team, with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Global Streets, the Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, AI for Chemistry Hub (AIchemy), Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design at the University of Liverpool, and Liverpool ONE.

Travel advice

River of Light is one of Liverpool’s busiest events, so visitors are strongly encouraged to use public transport. The nearest Merseyrail stations are Moorfields (Wirral and Northern Lines) and James Street (Wirral Line). Liverpool Lime Street Station is a 15-minute walk from the waterfront, or visitors can connect to the underground service.

Plan your journey in advance and check the latest information on the Merseytravel website.

Road closures

• No access to Pier Head (exit only via Brunswick Street).
• Disabled parking, resident and business access will be maintained via St Nicholas Place between 6pm–9pm.
• A road closure will also be in place at the entrance to Royal Albert Dock (Salthouse Quay) during the same hours.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:

“River of Light is one of the stand-out moments every year in the city and is an event that has a real, positive impact on the local economy.  

“It has become a real, staple festival in people’s diaries and its reputation for high-quality, free art that is accessible and enjoyable for all ages has really spread, and last year we found that it attracted more visitors than ever from outside the City Region.

“For us to handover the streets of Liverpool to artists – and this year scientists as well – is such a joyful experience and I can’t wait to see locals and visitors enjoying this extraordinary art show again.

“As part of our new-look markets offer, we are also hosting stalls at Cunard Building and giving people the chance to book a behind-the-scenes tour of the building.

“We have planned the locations of the installations carefully with a view to ensuring people can plan their route and take their time. Naturally we expect it to be most popular on a Friday and Saturday, so people should bear that in mind when deciding when to visit. However, people should be reassured that we do have robust plans in place to deal with visitor numbers.” 

Emma Brass, the scientist/artist behind Face Value, said: 

“It’s a real pleasure to have the chance to bring the robotics research I’ve been developing over the past three years at the University of Liverpool to a public event of this scale.

This idea has been evolving for over 12 months. The piece has really grown through the combination of my robotics work with Venya Krutikov’s creative technology skills, alongside input from the Invisible Wind Factory team. Together we’ve created an interactive installation that brings art and science into conversation in an engaging way.”

Royal Albert Dock Estate Manager, Sean Morrison, said: 

“River of Light has become a true highlight of Liverpool’s autumn calendar, and we’re delighted to be part of its continued success. 

“The festival not only showcases world-class art, but also brings together communities to celebrate our shared heritage in a truly special way. We’re excited to see the 2025 theme of The Science of Light come to life, and play our part in hopefully making this another record-breaking year for the city.”

Colin Sinclair, CEO of Sciontec and Knowledge Quarter Liverpool said:  

“I am thrilled that science is the theme for River of Light this year. 

“Culture and innovation are two of the most important exports Liverpool and the wider region have to offer, and so being able to – literally – shine a spotlight on them is a great way of helping the wider public appreciate just how important our science community here in the city is on a global scale.” 

Featured Image: Artwork Dandelion will be coming to River of Light 2025 ©Amigo and Amigo

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