Zaragoza Luce has quickly become one of the most prominent light art festivals of winter in Spain. Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural edition in 2025 (over 278,000 visitors), the second edition arrives with even greater ambition: from February 19 to 22, 2026, for four full nights (from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM, with the last day extending until 11:00 PM), the historic heart of the city transforms into an open-air gallery featuring 12 light interventions spread across squares, facades, and iconic spaces.
The festival combines contemporary art, interactive technology, and dialogue with Zaragoza’s heritage (Basilica del Pilar, Lonja, pedestrian streets, etc.). The 2026 program stands out for its strong international component —with some works making their debut in Spain— balanced with national talent and a special commitment to local artists.
Notable International Artists and Works
- Lateral Office + CS Design (Canada): Impulse — An interactive installation in the Plaza del Pilar. It invites the public to actively participate using sensors, movement, and real-time light. One of the most dynamic and family-friendly installations, it has already triumphed at other international festivals.
- Janet Echelman (United States): Earthtime 1.26 — An aerial sculpture of illuminated nets in the Plaza de San Juan de los Panetes. Serpentine and evocative, it reflects on globalization, natural phenomena, and the human-planet relationship. Hypnotic and highly photogenic.
- Cédric Le Borgne (France): Les Voyageurs — Large-scale luminous human figures that “walk” or are scattered throughout various points around the Plaza del Pilar and the Lonja. They create a poetic and ethereal effect that humanizes the urban space.
- Collectif Scale (France): Flux — An immersive audiovisual installation in the Plaza del Justicia. It combines projections, lights, and sound to envelop the viewer in a dynamic and sensory flow.
- Groupe LAPS (Canada): Keyframes Games Stories — On the facade of the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Aragón. Inspired by 80s arcade video games, it transforms the architecture into a retro-futuristic canvas with nostalgic pixels and luminous animations.
National and Local Proposals
- Jou Serra (Spain): Transitar — Projection on the facade of the CaixaBank building (Plaza de España). It visually reflects on collective movement, migrations, and human flows within the city.
- Maxi Gilbert (Spain): Antimateria — Explores spatial perception and light contrasts through optical illusions and intense effects that challenge the senses.
- Interferencias (local talent): Created by students from the School of Art of Zaragoza, alongside their teachers and Aragonese artist Néstor Lizalde. Located in the Plaza San Felipe (among other potential sites). It represents the educational commitment of the festival and completes the circle with creation from the educational base of Zaragoza.
The festival also includes educational activities such as masterclasses with international artists (at the Architects’ College) and roundtables featuring figures like Ricardo Morcillo, Sergio Sebastián, or Javier Peña.
Zaragoza Luce 2026 not only illuminates: it transforms the city into a living and accessible museum that is free and pedestrian-friendly. With 12 locations (Plaza del Pilar, Plaza San Felipe, Plaza de la Delegación del Gobierno, Calle del Cisne, Patio Diocesano del Museo Alma Mater, and more), it is ideal for exploring with family or friends during the holiday weekend.
If you are in Aragon or planning a cultural getaway this February, mark these dates. Zaragoza shines with its own light and top-tier art. See you under the lights of the Historic Center!
