Hotels near Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights runs from Friday 9 October to Sunday 18 October 2026, its 22nd edition, under the motto Colours of Love. Landmarks across the city become projection surfaces: the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, Bebelplatz, Potsdamer Platz and the TV Tower are the usual anchors, with video mapping and 3D light art running nightly from 7pm to 11pm. The whole thing is free and needs no ticket. The festival site publishes the final location map shortly before it opens.

It has run since 2005 and now draws crowds in the millions across the ten evenings. Separately ticketed events take place inside Berlin Cathedral during the run, combining 3D projection with live DJ sets and ambient music, and those do sell out. The core walking route between Alexanderplatz and Potsdamer Platz sits entirely within the AB fare zone and takes about two hours at a slow pace.

Pro Tip: Start around 7.30pm rather than at the 7pm switch-on, and walk east to west from Alexanderplatz. You miss the first crush, the light has settled, and you finish at Potsdamer Platz with the U-Bahn underneath you rather than a long walk back.