Festival svjetla, Zagreb, Croatia

Festival of Lights Zagreb (Festival svjetla Zagreb) is one of the most impressive spring events in Croatia. Every March it turns the Croatian capital into a large open-air exhibition of contemporary light art. The 2026 edition ran from March 18 to March 22; the next one is expected in mid-March 2027 (dates not yet announced). During five evenings the historic center of the city becomes a walking route filled with illuminated installations, projections and interactive artworks created by international and Croatian artists.

Each evening the installations are lit from 18:30 until 23:00, allowing visitors to explore the city after sunset and experience Zagreb’s architecture in a completely different atmosphere. The festival is free to attend and designed as a pedestrian route through the central districts of the city.

The installations are spread across more than 20 locations in the historic Upper Town (Gornji Grad) and Lower Town (Donji Grad). These areas include some of Zagreb’s most iconic landmarks, squares, parks and streets. The 2026 edition featured 26 light installations across 21 locations, 11 in the Upper Town and 10 in the Lower Town, transforming the city center into a glowing gallery of art and technology.

Some of the most popular locations where light installations usually appear include:

• Ban Jelačić Square – the main square and starting point for many visitors.
• Lotrščak Tower (Tomićeva Street) – often used for large projection mapping shows on the historic tower.
• Opatovina Park – a small park below Kaptol filled with neon installations.
• Strossmayer Promenade – scenic viewpoints with artistic light displays along the historic walls.
• Zrinjevac Park – interactive installations and illuminated sculptures among the trees.
• Mažuranić Square and Tuškanac Park – playful installations visitors can interact with, plus a laser show at the Tuškanac summer stage.

Each location hosts a different artistic concept. Some installations use 3D projection mapping on historic buildings, while others create interactive experiences such as glowing swings, illuminated gardens, or digital animations projected onto city facades. The artworks often combine light, sound, and motion to explore themes such as nature, technology, and human connection.