River of Light – the much-loved, free light festival which every year transforms Liverpool’s iconic waterfront into an outdoor art gallery – has announced its 2025 line-up with a brand new theme.
This year, ten large-scale artworks will be showcased from Friday 24 October to Sunday 2 November, the 8th edition of the event 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 new-look 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.
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!”
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.”
