Frequently Asked Questions

The artworks for Lux Helsinki 2026 are situated in the heart of Helsinki, extending from Kansalaistori (Citizens’ Square) to Narinkkatori, Hietalahdentori (Hietalahti Market Square), Vanha Kirkkopuisto (Old Church Park), and the Esplanade Stage. Additionally, artworks can be found in locations such as Erottaja Square, Citycenter, and Kanneltalo Cultural Centre. The collection of works can be experienced in any order of your choosing. This year, Lux Helsinki also expands into a record ten art galleries in the central area.

The artworks are open from January 6–11, 2026, from 5 PM to 10 PM.

Some of the works can also be experienced in the morning on January 8–9, 2026, from 7 AM to 9 AM. Discover the Lux Morning works here »

The event is free of charge.

Learn more about the artworks here:
luxhelsinki.fi »

The artworks can be experienced in any order of your choosing. We recommend moving between the artworks by walking or using public transport. Kanneltalo Cultural Centre is easily accessible from the city center via the P train.

Check detailed routes and timetables on the Journey Planner »

On Thursday, January 8th, from 7:45 AM to 9:00 AM, there is an opportunity to experience the light art works on a guided run. The Lux Morning Run circles selected artworks, pausing briefly for presentations—the run culminates at the City Hall restaurant, where morning porridge will be served. Registration opens in December. More information about the registration time will be available on our website and by following our social media channels.

This year, you can also get acquainted with the artworks and their artists through guided tours on January 7th–9th. The paid tours, implemented in cooperation with Happy Tours Helsinki, depart from Kansalaistori (Citizens’ Square) and are organized in Finnish, Swedish, and English. The tour price is €10/person, and tickets can be purchased here.

Kanneltalo Cultural Centre hosts the “Light and Joy” art workshop, where all ages can create their own artworks using overhead projectors and project them onto the lobby wall. The non-stop workshop is open on Tuesday, January 6th, and Saturday–Sunday, January 10th–11th, from 5 PM to 8 PM, and it is free of charge. Additionally, separate workshops for schools and kindergartens will be held on Wednesday–Friday, January 7th–9th, from 9 AM to 12 PM. The workshop instructors are visual artist Chloé Mahy-Hulkko, art educator Aino Malinen, and writer Venla Niinistö, and the working languages are Finnish, English, and French.

Annantalo transforms into an oasis of pause and tranquility during Lux. Pop inside to enjoy Lux-themed workshops designed for children and families with children, as well as spaces that tantalize different senses. Annantalo’s own café, Napero, is also open during the events.

Program activities are offered from Wednesday to Friday from 5 PM to 9 PM. More detailed descriptions of the content will be updated on Annantalo’s website.

The artworks are accessible. However, weather conditions might affect how easy mobility is, although the areas where the works are located will be cleared of snow each day before the event starts if weather conditions require.

Safety is a priority for Lux Helsinki and the entire event has been planned with safety professionals and the authorities.

The Lux collections of artwork are spread out around the city and so will mean people can enjoy them at their own pace. Most of the works can be viewed from a wide area.

Particular attention will be given to the hygiene and cleaning of the public WC facilities.

In the event of any crowding, our event people will be on hand to guide movement in the area.

Lux Helsinki is an event free of discrimination, and we require all staff, artists, event partners, subcontractors, and event visitors to commit to the principles of equality, fairness, and non-discrimination. If inappropriate behaviour is observed at the event, please report it immediately to the security personnel, who can intervene if necessary, or to the Helsinki Events Foundation via either:

The email is read by CEO Stuba Nikula, and the forms are handled by Head of administration Piia Lääveri.

During the festival, you can inquire about lost and found items at info@eventshelsinki.fi.

The light festival has taken responsibility into account. Helsinki Events Foundation has been awarded an EcoCompass certificate and also the environmental impacts of Lux are assessed each year. We focus on keeping the environmental impact of energy, procurements, materials and logistics to a minimum. We also require our partners and subcontractors to be responsible.

We aim to minimise emissions from energy consumption at the event and choose 100% renewable, green energy wherever possible. The artworks in Lux Helsinki use energy-efficient LED technology and electricity consumption decreases when people leave their homes to come and see the artworks. During the festival, we switch off the lights in the festival area to reduce light pollution in the area and offset the energy used by the artworks themselves.

We avoid single-use procurements and aim to minimise the amount of mixed waste originating from the event. The printed materials at the event locations are mostly carbon neutral.

We aim for efficient logistics during the event and to reduce the environmental impacts with regard to mobility. We also encourage the public to use public transport, walk or cycle to move between the different artworks around the city. 

Read more about responsibility at Lux Helsinki »

We don’t recommend bringing a dog with you because of the huge crowds. In crowded places, a pet may get under someone’s feet and flashes of light and loud sounds in some of the artworks might also scare the animal. However, if you do decide to take your pet with you on an evening walk, we recommend doing so when the artworks are likely to be less crowded.

You are allowed and we hope you will take photos of the festival and the artworks for your own, non-commercial use. You can share photos on social media using #luxhelsinki.

Drone photography is prohibited without the appropriate permit. Security stewards at the festival will intervene in the event of any unauthorised flying of drones in the area.

Lux Helsinki is not an exhibition but a light festival that brightens up the city. The important thing about Lux Helsinki is the festival-like, community atmosphere created by the people who fill the city centre. The current length of the festival means that we can acquire the present number of works each year, as, for example, a relatively small part of the budget is spent on guarding the works.

For 2026, the duration of Lux Helsinki has been extended to six days due to public demand, and in the future, Lux will be extended even further.

In 2025, Lux Helsinki and the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division initiated a collaboration in which the City of Helsinki annually acquires 1–2 light artworks to be placed in the city for a longer period for the enjoyment of residents. The work that will remain to delight city residents for a longer time in 2026 is the French artist Sébastien Lefèvre’s piece, Soleil Nuit, located at Hietalahdentori (Hietalahti Market Square). The work, which symbolizes the sun and night, features thousands of small coloured mirrors that create shimmering reflections powered by the wind and light.

The artworks are selected in cooperation with the festival’s Artistic Director and the City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division. Selection criteria are influenced by factors such as weather resistance.

Lux Helsinki is carried out together with its partners, which makes the event possible at its current scale. Annually, almost half of Lux Helsinki’s funding comes from our partners.

The main partners of Lux Helsinki 2026 are Helsinki Shipyard, Iittala, Hietalahden Kauppahalli, Citycenter, Pågå, and Bauer Media Outdoor. The partners include Kamppi Helsinki, Musiikkitalo, Kanneltalo, Annantalo, Institut Français de Finlande, and Espan Lava.

All artworks are curated and selected by the Lux Helsinki artistic team: the festival’s Artistic Director, Juha Rouhikoski, and the curator team, Jyrki Sinisalo, Mia Kivinen, Elisa Hillgen, and Katja Muttilainen.

The festival is organised and produced by Helsinki Events Foundation. Lux Helsinki’s artistic director is Juha Rouhikoski, whose curator team also includes Jyrki Sinisalo, Mia Kivinen, Elisa Hillgen, and Katja Muttilainen.

The festival usually attracts about 300,000–400,000 visitors per year.

Because the event is free and takes place in the city space, it is impossible to count the exact number of visitors. However, the number of festival visitors has been estimated using the same method since 2013 and is comparable to figures for international city events. Each evening, the security stewards estimate the viewer numbers at each work once an hour and the total number of visitors is based on this. The security stewards use hand counters to estimate visitor numbers.