GLOW Eindhoven, Netherlands

The GLOW Festival Eindhoven is an annual light art festival held in Eindhoven, Netherlands, transforming the city into a large open-air gallery of illuminated installations. The event usually takes place in mid-November, when days are short and darkness enhances the visual experience. The 2026 edition, themed CONNECT, runs from Saturday 7 to Saturday 14 November, every evening from 18:30 to 23:00.

GLOW takes place along a free walking route that changes each year but always runs through the heart of the city. In 2026 the route is about 5 km long and passes 18 Septemberplein, Victoriapark, Emmasingel, Stadhuisplein, the Catharinakerk, Smalle Haven and the Markt, with large projections on buildings and light artworks reflected in the water; earlier editions also reached creative districts such as Strijp-S. Visitors can join the route at several points near Eindhoven Centraal station and explore the installations on foot at their own pace. A full walk usually takes 2–3 hours, depending on pace and crowds, and weekend evenings are the busiest.

One of the highlights of GLOW is its combination of art, design, and innovation, reflecting Eindhoven’s identity as a technology and design hub. Many installations are interactive, allowing visitors to influence light patterns, sounds, or projections. In 2026 the festival also stages Eindhoven’s first drone show, at the Philips Stadion, which needs a ticket, and smaller GLOW routes in nearby towns such as Helmond, Best, Oirschot, Veldhoven and Lieshout.