Lyon Festival of Lights 2025: Discover the New Drone Show
A one-of-a-kind drone show at Parc de la Tête d’Or—
—at the heart of an exceptional edition of the Festival of Lights.
In a nutshell
- 4 days of magic in the heart of Lyon
- 500 drones for a light show over the lake
- Free show, open to everyone
- A major event of the 2025 edition
December is here, and with it, the city of Lyon is getting ready to host another edition of the Festival of Lights, which will bring the heart of downtown to life from Friday, December 5, through Monday, December 8, 2025. As it has every year for more than a decade, this flagship event on Lyon’s cultural scene brings together residents, visitors, families, curious onlookers, and culture lovers to enjoy light installations, projections, performances, and surprises that transform the city into a giant festival.
But for the 2025 edition, a brand-new project marks a major turning point: the debut of a brand-new drone showat Tête d’Or Park: L’Éveil des Lumières.
Here’s a recap of the essential information you need to know before taking part in this must-attend, popular event.
The Event of the Year: A One-of-a-Kind 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 high-profile events in France, is presenting a unique technological spectacle for this year’s festival: *L’Éveil des Lumières*. 500 drones will fill the sky above thepark to tell, through images, the story of light in Lyon—and throughout the universe.
The 2025 edition thus ushers in a new era, with a work that combines technical prowess, magic, and environmental awareness, while paying tribute to the famous “lumignons du cœur” and the symbolic power of light in the city.
Show Dates and Times
From 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
One session every 30 minutes.
Each show lasts about 8 minutes.
From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Early admission, perfect for families.
Each show lasts about 8 minutes.
From 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Last chance to see the show.
Each show lasts about 8 minutes.
Tête d’Or Park: An Iconic Venue for a Premiere
The Festival of Lights takes place in one of the city’s most beautiful settings: Tête d’Or Park.
The park is the only venue in Lyon to host such an aerial installation this year, combining the spirit of Lyon’s Festival of Lights with the modernity of a program focused on innovation. The 500 drones, controlled from Île du Souvenir, will bring to life a light show above the lake unlike anything seen before in the festival’s history, as thousands of people look on in awe. Up to 50,000 people are expected each night!
Practical Information:
Main Entrance
Boulevard des Belges – Porte Tête d’Or
Access for People with Disabilities
Gate of the Children of the Rhône
TCL Transit
Metro Line A (Massena), Buses C4 & 38
The Awakening of the Lights: Magic, Feats, and Innovation in the Skies Above Lyon
This year’s Festival of Lights 2025 features a landmark project. Never before has a drone ballet illuminated the festival.
Allumee’s technical prowess is combined with the poetry of a production inspired by the history of light, dating back to its cosmic origins. The program will include a nod to Lyon’s heritage—featuring its famous “lumignons”—and a spotlight on the Basilica of Fourvière.
In a first for France, 500 drones will take off every 30 minutes to put on an 8-minute show every evening from December 5 through 8. A total of 9 performances are scheduled each evening!
The shorter duration of each show helps ensure safety, allows for quick recharging of the drones, and keeps the crowd moving smoothly. The schedule—one session every 30 minutes—gives everyone the chance to see the show without (too much) waiting, while also making it easier to manage visitor flow in the park.
Festival Program: 23 Artworks to Light Up Lyon
In addition to the Tête d’Or Park, the city of Lyon and its metropolitan area will come alive with 23 light installations, projected onto streets, squares, and buildings, or featured in interactive installations. Among the must-see locations:
Place des Terreaux
A monumental projection inspired by Lyon’s cuisine: “Mondays are for ravioli!”
Louis-Pradel Square
Urban Culture and Skateboarding with “HDV – 40 Years of Skateboarding in Lyon.”
St. John's Cathedral
A Fascinating Virtual Immersion Experience with “Lumina.”
Saône River Embankments
A luminous tale with Eastern flair: “The Persian Trunks.”
The popular event takes place both in the city center and in the neighborhoods, from the République neighborhood to Place de la Bourse, from the Saint-Jean neighborhood to the heart of the Presqu’île, and from Tête d’Or Park to Place Bellecour (where this year there will be a street food court, replacing the traditional restaurants).
Practical Information: Access, Transportation, Safety
For this year’s Festival Lumière, several measures are being taken:
- TCL Transit: Servicehas been increased, and metro and tram stations may be open or closed depending on crowd levels. Visit the TCL website for the latest news, schedules, routes, and any restrictions.
- Pedestrian Zone: The downtown areais reserved for pedestrians in the evening; please be aware of streets closed to traffic.
- Parking: Choose parking lots on the outskirts; traffic can be difficult or even impossible during certain times of the day.
- Accessibility: Dedicated entrance for people with limited mobility (the “Enfants du Rhône” gate to the park); see the official map on the city’s website.
- Weather conditions: The drone show may be canceled in case of rain or strong winds.
- Security: Significant presence of municipal law enforcement; bag checks at the entrance; large or dangerous items are strictly prohibited.
One last tip: Follow the signs, the official app, the illuminated signs, and the Festival of Lights Instagram account for any last-minute changes.
A family-friendly festival, open to everyone
The Festival of Lights remains a festive, friendly, and family-friendly event, designed to delight young and old alike. The activities, screenings, and installations are free and open to the public without a reservation (with a few exceptions for certain workshops, lectures, or guided tours). The festival spans four evenings, so everyone can enjoy it at their own pace.
The complete program—including schedules, locations, directions, specific information, temporary restrictions, and interactive maps—is available online on the city’s official website, in local media, and on social media. The tourist office also offers printed guides and personalized advice to help you make the most of this unique experience.
An event you won't want to miss
Whether you’re a resident of Lyon, a passing visitor, a lover of light, or simply curious to experience an event unlike any other in France, the 2025 Festival of Lights promises to surprise you. Allumee and its drone ballet are the big new attractions, but every neighborhood, every venue, and every evening holds its own share of discoveries, wonder, and encounters. December is the month—the festival promises to be a memorable, joyful, and unifying experience for the entire city.
Make your plans, get ready for your visit, and keep your eyes wide open: this 2025 edition is already shaping up to be unforgettable for everyone who makes the trip to the City of Lights.
Additional Funding for the 2025 Lyon Festival of Lights
For this year’s Festival Lumière, several measures are being taken:
What are the ticket prices for the Festival of Lights in Lyon?
The Festival of Lights in Lyon is both a free event and a wild plunge into truly colorful worlds. Free, yes—and that’s no myth. Anyone—from the dreamy onlooker to the hurried passerby—can let themselves be carried away by the 30 monumental works, installations, and light projections. Lyon is transformed, magic cuts through the night, and the city comes alive—without having to reach into your pocket, nothing to pay, nothing to calculate, just enjoy. Looking for a ticket office? Forget it. The experience—entirely free—belongs to anyone who dares to venture out at night.
What is the Festival of Lights?
This 26th edition features four evenings in Lyon that celebrate creativity, tradition, and solidarity, set against a backdrop of light displays that know neither rest nor boundaries—like a moment of magic that illuminates December. Imagination takes over the facades, monumental works spring to life, and suddenly, every street and every square tells its own illuminated story. All of Lyon dances in the light, from the first night to the last, as tradition embraces modernity in a simple and magical way.
When is the Festival of Lights in Lyon?
Once again this year, Lyon lights up from December 5 to 8. The Festival of Lights is that eagerly anticipated event, that nod to history, that dose of unexpected innovation. Straddling the past and the future, Lyon is enveloped in color, poetry, and surprises. Four evenings. The lights surge forth, the city pulses with life, and everything seems more joyful, more unifying. Unmissable, almost visceral—even for those who shy away from crowds. Here is the city, at the crossroads of collective emotion and personal journeys, magically illuminated for the 2025 edition.
When is the best time to visit the Festival of Lights?
The schedule is simple, and the event never disappoints: the Festival of Lights in Lyon, from Friday, December 5, to Monday, December 8, 2025. The schedule is straightforward: Friday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., and each evening unfolds its colorful worlds and monumental creations. As the hours pass, the crowd flows, the atmosphere shifts, everything evolves—and yet… it’s all there, every moment, every turn, the small squares, and the immense facades. You might prefer the calm of the early evening, or slip in late, when the city shines in the dead of night, entirely devoted to the celebration.
A dazzling event you won't want to miss
The drone show conceived by Allumee for the 2025 Festival of Lights marks an important milestone in the evolution of light art. Blending visual poetry, technological innovation, and environmental stewardship, this production promises an unforgettable experience for the people of Lyon and visitors from around the world.
