Fête des Lumières in Lyon: dates, evenings and the two tours built around it
4 min read
The answer first
In 2026 the Fête des Lumières runs from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December, four evenings. You can go on your own: the installations are in the streets and squares, and the programme and map are on the official festival site. If you would rather have a guide and some tastings along the way, the Festival of Lights guided walk (€89, 4.1/5 from 28 reviews) runs on exactly those four evenings.
Dates and hours
The official site gives these hours for the 2026 edition, unless a work states otherwise:
- Saturday 5 December: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday 6 December: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Parc de la Tête d’Or has different hours because access there is restricted; the official site links to a separate page. The tourist office counts 27 works this year. Paper programmes are available from the ONLYLyon Rectangle on Place Bellecour and from labelled tourist-office points from late November, and the programme is also online. 8 December is the traditional evening when Lyon residents light candles in their windows, according to the tourist office.
Neither the official festival site nor the tourist office says which evening is quietest. What follows from the hours is practical: each evening is only four or five hours long, so decide your route before you set out.
Two ways to book it
- Festival of Lights guided walking tour with tasting (€89). Three hours from Place Bellecour (20 Place Bellecour), through Vieux Lyon to Place des Terreaux, in French or English, with no more than 15 people per guide. The page lists four tasting stops outdoors (cheese, charcuterie, warm soup, sweets, wine, depending on availability and the day’s selection) and asks you to tell the organiser about allergies in advance. It is sold only from 5 to 8 December. People with mobility impairments are listed as not suitable.
- Apéritif boat cruise during the Festival of Lights (€45). 90 minutes on the Saône aboard L’OFFICIEL, boarding at 5:45 p.m. at 15 Quai Rambaud, departure at 6 p.m. A platter of Lyon charcuterie and cheese (or a vegetarian one) and a glass of wine or a soft drink are listed. The lounge is heated, blankets are provided, and there is no commentary. The page says plainly that the cruise does not guarantee a view of the festival, which depends on the official programme. In case of flooding the cruise can be cancelled or moved to the quay. The booking page has no reviews yet.
Side by side
| Tour | Duration | Departs | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided walk with tasting | 3 hours | Place Bellecour | on foot, guide, outdoor tastings |
| Apéritif cruise | 1.5 hours | Quai Rambaud, 6 p.m. | on the water, no commentary, heated lounge |
Who should not book
- Anyone who wants to see the light shows from the boat: the page says it cannot promise that. Take the walk, or go on foot after the cruise.
- Anyone with mobility impairments: the walk lists them as not suitable, and the festival itself is a long evening on your feet.
- Anyone who wants a full dinner: both tours are tastings or a platter, not a meal.
Our recommendation
For most visitors, walk the festival yourself with the official map and add the guided walk on one evening if you want the story and the tastings. Use the apéritif cruise as a warm, seated start to the evening rather than as a way to see the lights. For other boat choices, read Boat trip in Lyon: sightseeing cruise, lunch boat or dinner boat; for food on foot, Lyon food tours compared. More walks: walking tours in Lyon.
