Lyon Festival of Lights 2025: Discover the new drone show
A unique drone show at the Parc de la Tête d'Or,
at the heart of an exceptional edition of the Festival of Lights.
In short
- 4 days of magic in the heart of Lyon
- 500 drones for a luminous ballet above the lake
- Free show, accessible to all
- A major event of the 2025 edition
December is coming, and with it, the city of Lyon is preparing to experience a new edition of the Festival of Lights which will animate the heart of the city centre, from Friday 5 to Monday 8 December 2025. As every year for more than 10 years, this flagship event of the Lyon landscape brings together residents, visitors, families, curious and lovers of culture around luminous creations, projections, shows and surprises which transform the city into a giant festival.
But for this 2025 edition, a brand-new project marks a major turning point: the appearance of a drone showa new attraction at the Parc de la Tête d'Or: The Awakening of the Lights.
A look back at the essential information you need to know before taking part in this popular and unmissable event.
The event of the year: a unique drone show by Allumee
Allumee is participating in the Festival of Lights for the first time. This Lyon-based company, which has already produced several notable events in France, is offering a unique technological ballet for this edition: The Awakening of Lights.500 drones will take to the skiesfrom the park to tell, in pictures, the story of light in Lyon, but also in the universe.
The 2025 edition thus enters a new era, with a work that combines technical prowess, magic and ecology, while paying homage to the famous heart-shaped lights and the symbolic power of light in the city.
The dates and times of the show
From 7pm to 11pm
One session every 30 minutes.
Each show lasts approximately. 8 minutes.
From 6pm to 10pm
Early access, ideal for families.
Each show lasts approximately. 8 minutes.
From 7pm to 11pm
Last evening to discover the show.
Each show lasts approximately. 8 minutes.
The Parc de la Tête d'Or: an iconic location for a first
The Festival of Lights takes up residence in one of the most beautiful spaces in the city: the Tête d'Or park.
The park is the only venue in Lyon this year to host such an aerial installation, which combines the spirit of Lyon's iconic lights with the modernity of an innovative program. The 500 drones, piloted from the Île du Souvenir (Island of Remembrance), will bring to life a luminous ballet above the lake, a first in the history of the festival, to the delight of thousands of spectators. Up to 50,000 people are expected each evening!
Practical information:
Main access
Boulevard des Belges – Porte Tête d'Or
Accessible to people with reduced mobility
Children's Gate of the Rhône
TCL Transport
Metro A (Massena), Bus C4 & 38
The Awakening of Lights: magic, prowess and innovation in the Lyon sky
The 2025 Festival of Lights is offering a groundbreaking project this year. Never before has a ballet of drones illuminated the festival.
The technical prowess of Allumee is combined with the poetry of a staging inspired by the history of light, from its cosmic origins. A nod to Lyon's heritage with its famous lumignons (small candles) and a highlighting of the Fourvière Basilica will be part of the program.
A first in France, 500 drones will take off every 30 minutes to offer an 8-minute show each evening from December 5th to 8th. A total of 9 performances are planned per night!
The shorter duration of each show ensures safety, quick drone recharging, and smooth audience flow. The schedule, with a session every 30 minutes, allows everyone to attend the performance without (too much) waiting, while also facilitating visitor management within the park.
Festival program: 23 works to illuminate Lyon
In addition to the Parc de la Tête d'Or, the city of Lyon and its metropolitan area will resonate with 23 luminous artworks, projected onto streets, squares, buildings, or through interactive installations. Among the must-see locations:
Place des Terreaux
A monumental projection inspired by Lyon's gastronomy: "Monday is ravioli day!"«
Place Louis-Pradel
Urban culture and skateboarding with "HDV - 40 years of skateboarding in Lyon".
Saint John's Cathedral
A fascinating virtual immersion with "Lumina".
Saône riverbanks
A luminous tale with oriental overtones: "The Persian Trunks".
The popular event takes place both in the city center and in the neighborhoods, from the République district to the Place de la Bourse, from the Saint-Jean district to the heart of the Presqu'île, from the Parc de la Tête d'Or to the Place Bellecour (where this year there will be a street food court, replacing the traditional restaurants).
Practical information: access, transport, security
For this edition of the light festival, several measures are being taken:
- TCL transport:Increased service, metro and tram stations open or closed depending on crowd levels. Check the TCL website for the latest news, timetables, routes and any restrictions.
- Pedestrian zone:City centre reserved for pedestrians in the evening, beware of streets closed to traffic.
- Parking: Opt for parking lots on the outskirts, as vehicle traffic is complicated or even impossible at certain times.
- Accessibility: Specific entrance for people with reduced mobility (Enfants du Rhône gate in the park), official map to be consulted on the city's website.
- Weather conditions: The drone show may be cancelled in case of rain or strong winds.
- Security : Significant presence of municipal forces, bag checks at the entrance, bulky or dangerous items strictly prohibited.
Final piece of advice: Follow the signs, the official app, the illuminated signs, and the Festival of Lights Instagram account for any last-minute changes.
A family festival, open to all audiences
The Festival of Lights remains a festive, friendly, and family-oriented event, designed to delight young and old alike. The activities, screenings, and installations are free and accessible without reservation (with a few exceptions for certain workshops, conferences, or guided tours). The festival spans four evenings, allowing everyone to enjoy it at their own pace.
The complete program, including schedules, locations, access, specific information, temporary restrictions, and interactive maps, can be found online on the city's official website, in local media, and via social networks. The tourist office also offers printed guides and personalized advice to help you make the most of this unique experience.
An event not to be missed
Whether you're a Lyon resident, a visitor, a light enthusiast, or simply curious to discover a unique event in France, the 2025 Festival of Lights promises to surprise you. Allumee and its drone ballet are the major new addition, but each neighborhood, each venue, each evening offers its own share of discoveries, wonder, and encounters. December is the date, and the festival promises a powerful, joyful, and unifying experience for the entire city.
Make your arrangements, prepare your visit, open your eyes wide: this 2025 edition is already shaping up to be unforgettable for all those who will make the trip to the capital of lights.
Additional support for the Lyon 2025 Festival of Lights
For this edition of the light festival, several measures are being taken:
What are the prices for the Festival of Lights in Lyon?
The Festival of Lights in Lyon is both a free event and a dazzling plunge into truly colorful worlds. Free, yes, and that's no exaggeration. Everyone, from the dreamy passerby to the hurried stroller, can let themselves be carried away by the 30 monumental artworks, installations, and projections. Lyon is transformed, magic pierces the night, and the city pulsates with energy, all without a single ticket to pay, nothing to calculate, just enjoy. Looking for a ticket office? Forget it. The experience, entirely free, belongs to those who dare to venture out into the night.
What is the Festival of Lights?
This 26th edition is four evenings in Lyon celebrating creativity, tradition, and solidarity, bathed in a dazzling display of light that knows no rest or boundaries, like a parenthesis illuminating December. Imagination takes hold of the facades, monumental artworks spring forth, and suddenly, each street, each square tells its own illuminated story. All of Lyon dances in the light, from the first night to the last, and tradition embraces modernity, simple and magical.
When does the Festival of Lights take place in Lyon?
Lyon lights up again this year, from December 5th to 8th. The Festival of Lights is that eagerly awaited event, that nod to history, that dose of unexpected innovation. Between past and future, Lyon is enveloped in color, poetry, and surprises. Four evenings. The lights cascade, the city pulsates, everything seems more joyful, more unifying. Unmissable, almost visceral, even for those who avoid crowds. This is the city, at the crossroads of collective emotion and personal journeys, magically illuminated for this 2025 edition.
When to go to the Festival of Lights?
The schedule is simple, the date never disappoints: the Festival of Lights in Lyon, from Friday, December 5th to Monday, December 8th, 2025. The hours are straightforward, from 7 pm to 11 pm on Fridays, and each evening unfolds its colorful worlds and monumental creations. As the hours pass, the crowds sway, the atmosphere shifts, everything evolves, and yet… everything is there, every moment, every turn, the small squares or the immense facades. You might prefer the calm of the early evening, or slip in late, when the city shines in the deep night, entirely devoted to the celebration.
A bright event not to be missed
The drone show conceived by Allumee for the 2025 Festival of Lights marks a significant milestone in the evolution of light art. Blending visual poetry, technological innovation, and environmental responsibility, this creation promises an unforgettable experience for the people of Lyon and visitors from around the world.
