Amsterdam Light Festival · 26 November 2026 – 17 January 2027
Every winter, light artists from around the world hang their work over Amsterdam’s canals. And for the fifteenth anniversary edition, the festival draws an entirely new route through the city. Walk it, cycle it, or glide past by boat, then thaw out somewhere warm.
Why winter is the secret season
The dark months are when the city is at its most photogenic and least crowded: low light on the water, quiet museums by day, glowing art by night. The Light Festival is the excuse, the winter city break is the reward.
01 — By boat
A guided evening cruise floats you past the artworks with commentary. The warmest and most popular way to see the route. Cruise and walk tickets for edition 15 go on sale 1 October via amsterdamlightfestival.com; peak evenings around Christmas sell out first.
Tickets from 1 Oct · book early for Dec
02 — On foot or by bike
The artworks are freely visible from the streets and bridges, no ticket needed to wander the route. Bundle up, start around dusk (lights on from ~16:30), and build in a stop for hot chocolate or a borrel halfway.
Free from the street · lights until ~23:00
03 — The edition
Edition 15 marks fifteen years of light art in Amsterdam with a brand-new route, commissioned works from Dutch and international artists, and free side programming along the way. The full route and artwork list follow closer to opening. Another reason to keep dates flexible.
New route · details via the festival
04 — The winter trip
Museums without queues by day, the light route by night, and the festive season layered on top through December. It’s Amsterdam’s best-value season, and the one locals quietly prefer.
Low season · high atmosphere
Where to stay
The route for edition 15 is new, but Light Festival routes centre on the canal belt. Here’s how each hotel connects. On cold evenings, the tram in and taxi back is the veteran move.
Good to know: the exact edition 15 route is published closer to opening — check amsterdamlightfestival.com before you set out, and note the lights stay off on New Year’s Eve. Live transport times via the 9292 or GVB app.
| Your XO hotel | Area | To the canal ring | By taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| XO Hotels City Centre | Centrum | Step outside — the canal belt starts a 10–15 min walk away. | on foot |
| Hotel Van Gogh | Museum Quarter | Canal ring ~15 min on foot through the Museum Quarter. | ~10 min |
| XO Hotel Inner | Zuid / Museum Quarter | ~20 min on foot or a short tram hop no change | ~12 min |
| XO Hotels Park West | West | Tram 19 toward the centre no change | ~15 min |
| XO Hotels Blue Tower | West | Bus 80 toward the centre, then walk in no change | ~18 min |
| XO Hotels Couture | West | Tram 2 straight toward the centre no change | ~20 min |
| XO Hotels Blue Square | Nieuw-West | Bus 80 toward the centre, then walk in no change | ~22 min |
| XO Hotels Infinity | Nieuw-West | Bus 80 toward the centre, then walk in no change | ~21 min |
| Hotel Artemis | Nieuw-West | Tram or metro toward the centre, then walk in 1 change | ~23 min |
| Hotel Levell | Zuidoost | Metro 54 direct to Amsterdam Centraal, then walk into the ring no change | ~25 min |
Before you go
Edition 15 runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027 — 53 winter evenings, with the lights on from around 16:30 until roughly 23:00. On New Year’s Eve the lights stay off.
Seeing the artworks from the streets and bridges is completely free. Guided canal cruises, walk experiences and bike tours are ticketed. Sales open 1 October 2026 via amsterdamlightfestival.com.
It marks fifteen years of light art in Amsterdam, with a brand-new route through the city, newly commissioned works by Dutch and international artists, and free side programming along the way.
First visit: take an evening cruise for the full route with commentary. Repeat visit: walk or cycle a section for free and linger at the works you love. Either way, book December evenings early, they sell out first.
Stay with XO
Ten hotels a walk, tram or metro from the glow — at winter rates that leave room for the cruise. Book direct for the best rate, 10% off and free late check-out.
