Liverpool’s waterfront will once again be transformed into a breathtaking outdoor art gallery
River of Light returns for 2025 with a brand new theme. This year, ten large-scale artworks will take over the waterfront between Friday 24 October to Sunday 2 November, all themed around The Science of Light - each installation having its own tie to science, technology or nature.
Working alongside the city's science and innovation community, each of the artworks aim to capture the imagination of visitors in new ways as they explore the 3km trail across Royal Albert Dock, Pier Head, Exchange Flags and Liverpool ONE.
Highlights 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.
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.
This latest instalment follows on from the huge success of 2024, when River of Light welcomed record-breaking visitor numbers and brought in a massive £18.9 million to the local economy.
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.
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!”
Additional information, including the full list of artworks, their locations and artist information, can be found on the River of Light website.
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