luminale

Luminale is a biennial light festival held in Frankfurt am Main and Mainz, Germany. It presents site-specific light art, architectural lighting, and urban interventions that transform public spaces after dusk. The festival runs over several days and typically coincides with the Light + Building trade fair in Frankfurt, though it remains a separate cultural event that engages residents and visitors.

The program includes outdoor installations on historic buildings, bridges, and museums, as well as indoor exhibitions in cultural venues. It also features guided tours, talks, workshops, and performances that focus on technology, design, and sustainability. Works are created by international artists, architects, designers, and researchers and may involve interactive or participatory elements.

Luminale is produced by a collaboration of municipal authorities, cultural institutions, and private partners. It emphasizes the relationship between light, architecture, and urban life, and highlights issues such as energy efficiency, light pollution, and social inclusion. The festival aims to stimulate discussion about how lighting affects perception, safety, and urban experience, and to showcase both experimental approaches and practical applications.

Most installations are publicly accessible at night, and many events are free or open to the general public, though some activities may require registration or tickets. The festival serves as a platform for cross-disciplinary exchange among professionals and the broader community.