Fête des Lumières in Lyon 2026: dates, programme and tips

Every December, Lyon lights up. Monumental façades, squares, parks and the alleys of Vieux Lyon become the setting for light artworks, while residents place lumignons on their window sills. The Fête des Lumières draws visitors from around the world every year, and entry is completely free.

In 2026 it runs from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December. Here is what you need to know to enjoy it: dates, origins, routes, tips for avoiding the crowds and campsites open in winter where you can stay at a low price on the outskirts of Lyon.

The Fête des Lumières at a glance

A Lyon tradition since 1852

The festival was born on 8 December 1852, the day the golden Virgin statue was inaugurated on the bell tower of the Fourvière chapel. Ceremonies having been disrupted by bad weather, the people of Lyon spontaneously lit lampions at their windows. The tradition of lumignons, small candles set in coloured glasses, has continued every 8 December since.

Since the late 1990s, the city has added an artistic programme to this popular event: French and international creators light up monuments, squares and gardens. The festival now spans four evenings.

What you will see during the festival

Each edition offers a new programme, but some sites return almost every year:

• the Place des Terreaux and the façade of the town hall, often the stage for the most anticipated show;
• the Saint-Jean cathedral and the alleyways of Vieux Lyon;
• the Basilica of Fourvière, illuminated on its hill;
• the Place Bellecour and the streets of the Presqu’île;
• the Parc de la Tête d’Or, with light trails in the open air;
• the Lumignons du Cœur, a participatory, community-spirited work created with the public.

The 2025 edition was marked by the first drone show in the festival’s history. The detailed programme and route map for 2026 are published a few weeks before the event on the official website.

Our tips for the festival

• Come on a weekday if you can: Saturday evening is by far the busiest.
• Start early, as soon as the installations switch on, to see the most popular sites before the big crowds arrive.
• Leave the car behind: the centre is closed to traffic in the evening, and metro, tram and bus services are boosted. Some stations may be closed to manage crowds.
• Follow a route rather than trying to see everything: walking distances are long and pedestrian flows are sometimes one-way.
• Dress warmly: you will be outside for several hours in the middle of December.
• Keep an eye on your belongings and agree on a meeting point in case you get separated.

What to do in Lyon during the day in December?

The festival is only experienced in the evening, so use the daytime to explore the city. Take the funicular up to Fourvière, wander through the traboules of Vieux Lyon, visit the Musée des Confluences or the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and stop for a meal in a bouchon lyonnais. The Christmas market on Place Carnot, a stone’s throw from Perrache station, rounds off the stay nicely.

Where to stay at a campsite during the Fête des Lumières?

Hotels in the centre fill up very early and prices soar during the festival. A campsite open all year round, with a mobile home or a heated chalet, is an economical alternative, provided you book well ahead.

Our selection includes several campsites open all year round in the Rhône. The Camping de Lyon, in Dardilly, is open 365 days a year to the west of the conurbation, with a bus stop for the centre just a few metres away. To the south-west, the camping des Barolles, in Saint-Genis-Laval, is linked to Place Bellecour by a direct bus. Further north, the Kanopée Village de Trévoux, on the banks of the Saône, offers its chalets all year round, about thirty kilometres from Lyon.

Our verdict

The Fête des Lumières is one of France’s most beautiful free events, but you have to earn it: dense crowds, cold and overstretched transport. Choose a weekday evening, plan your route, leave the car at the campsite and take the bus or metro. And book your accommodation now: in Lyon, things fill up quickly in early December.