River of Light – the much-loved, free light festival which every year transforms Liverpool’s iconic waterfront into an outdoor art gallery – gets under way on Friday 24 October.
This year, 10 large-scale artworks are being showcased until Sunday 2 November, celebrating the theme The Science of Light – with each of the installations inspired by an area of science, technology or nature.
Working alongside the city’s incredible science and innovation community – each of the artworks aim to capture the imagination of visitors in new ways as they explore the 3km trail along the waterfront, including the Royal Albert Dock, as well as around the Pier Head, Exchange Flags and Liverpool ONE.
Highlights from the programme include:
- Face Value by scientist Emma Brass, artist Venya Krutikov and the Invisible Wind Factory. This is a brand-new commission using AI and robotics to create an interactive light art game experience that foregrounds the capabilities of these technologies in a playful way.
- Dandelion by Australian artists Amigo and Amigo which is inspired by the Dandelion flower and its wind-blown petals which some cultures revere for their medicinal qualities.
- Within Water by New York design firm Yellow Studios – another new commission which explores the incredible natural phenomenon of marine bioluminescence.
The full list of artworks, their locations, opening times and handy FAQs can be found on the River of Light website and latest information can be found at @visitliverpool (X, Facebook and TikTok) or @visitliverpool_ (Instagram).
Due to the success of quiet hours at previous River of Light festivals which make the event even more accessible to visitors with additional needs, there will be two sessions taking place this year on Sunday 26 and Wednesday 29 October from 4-5pm. This will allow those with additional sensory needs to enjoy the artworks in a calmer environment.
River of Light will be open until 10pm on Saturday 1 November, to give families attending other events in the city including the Rugby League Ashes series game at the Hill Dickinson stadium and Gladiators Live at ACC Liverpool, the chance to see the installations.
A detailed plan is in place to manage the numbers of people expected at the event, but people are advised that it is expected to be extremely popular, particularly of a weekend, and to bear this in mind when planning their visit.
Cunard Building market
There will be a market in the arrivals hall at the Cunard Building on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October from 2.30pm until 8.30pm, with 35 stalls selling items such as Liverpool gifts, treats, art, craft and much more.
People can also book a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cunard Building at https://liverpool.gov.uk/leisure-and-wellbeing/markets/visit-our-markets/cunard-building-river-of-light-market-and-tours/. It give visitors the chance to explore the hidden history of the Grade II* listed building, including the luggage room, first-class safe, and original wood-panelled rooms. They proved popular when last held in September and sold out fast.
In 2024, River of Light welcomed record-breaking visitor numbers and boosted local businesses such as bars, restaurants and shops, by an estimated £18.9 million.
This year’s event has been organised by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team, and supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Global Streets, the Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, the AI for Chemistry Hub (AIchemy), the Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design at the University of Liverpool and Liverpool ONE.
Getting to River of Light
River of Light is a popular event and we encourage the use of public transport to ensure a smooth journey and to be more sustainable.
We are particularly advising people to plan their journeys carefully on Saturday 1 November due to the other events taking place around the city.
The nearest Merseyrail stations to River of Light are Moorfields (Wirral and Northern Line) and James Street (Wirral Line). For National Rail, Liverpool Lime St Station is approximately a 15 minute walk to Liverpool Waterfront, or visitors can utilise the Merseyrail underground service to Travel to James Street or Moorfields by rail.
Plan your journey in advance and refer to the Merseytravel website for the most up to date travel information.
Road closures
There will be no access to the Pier Head. There will no access via Brunswick St (exit only). Access for disabled parking, businesses, residents and workers is via St Nicholas Place from 6pm – 9pm.
There will be a road closure in place at the entrance to The Royal Albert Dock (Salthouse Quay) from 6pm – 9pm.
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.”
