The time has come, Light Night Leeds is about to transform the city into a dazzling array of illuminated artworks.
In case you've been living under a rock, Light Night Leeds is the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival that will return this Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 October 2025 from 6 – 10pm.
Celebrating its 21st year in the city, this year’s festival will welcome a mesmerising array of new creations as well as some popular artworks from previous years making a comeback.
With a colossal programme of artworks to view, we’ve highlighted ten of the best pieces covering all locations which you won’t want to miss out on.
Portals: The Machine of Worlds
Where: Leeds Civic Hall, Millennium Square
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 6.45 - 10pm
Image: Light Night Leeds
Portals: The Machine of Worlds is a visual and sensory journey through imaginary worlds. Led by a mysterious hot air balloon and incorporating fantastical imagery from books in the British Library’s collection by writers including HG Wells and Jules Verne, we are invited to enter universes of science, illusion and discovery.
Each portal reveals a new reality, from the discovery of stars or the invention of telescopes to spaceships, unknown planets and extraordinary creatures.
One Second Lovestory
Where: Queens Hotel, City Square
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 6.45 - 10pm
Image: Light Night Leeds
People rush past each other on the train station platform in the morning, moving closer then apart. Everyone has their eyes glued to their path to reach their destination on time.
The everyday routine of two people is suddenly interrupted when their eyes meet and time stops. Dirk Rauscher has adapted and extended his animated graphic novel especially for The Queens Hotel, adjacent to Leeds train station.
Spirograph Reimagined
Where: Brodrick Hall, Leeds City Museum
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 6 - 10pm
Image: Light Night Leeds
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Spirograph toy which was originally invented by Leeds engineer Denys Fisher. Many of us have fond childhood memories of creating satisfyingly perfect hand-drawn roulette curves.
In the magnificent circular hall of the City Museum, a visual animation unfolds with analogue patterns evolving into dynamic digital shapes which rotate, pulse, appear and disappear, eventually disintegrating before our eyes.
Beacon
Where: St John The Evangelist's Church, 23 New Briggate
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 6 - 10pm
Image: Light Night Leeds
Susie MacMurray often makes work that deals with binaries: internal/external, darkness/light, body/self, certainty/doubt. Her process tries to find balance within conflicting elements. Beacon is a site specific artwork for Leeds’ oldest church, St John’s, with glowing, bodily coils entwined around its central pillars.
You May Find Yourself in a Beautiful House
Where: Headrow House
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 4pm - 12am
The entrance to Headrow House houses a digital exhibition of their iconic rooftop neon signs from the last decade. It features song lyrics from the likes of Talking Heads, Whitney Houston, The Streets and more.
Additionally, on Wednesday only, you are invited to relax in Solas, an audio-visual listening space inspired by the Irish word for light, brightness and illumination. With live visuals and ambient DJs, Solas is an enchanting place to leave your worries behind and immerse yourself in a sanctuary of music and light.
Molecular Clouds
Where: Hyatt Hotel, Sovereign Square
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 6.45 - 10pm
Image: Light Night Leeds
This interactive projection explores themes of climate change through mesmerising imagery. It reveals greenhouse gases which are invisible to the naked eye and invites us to actively engage with the molecules as they float up into the atmosphere. The artwork evokes the natural world through exquisitely drawn images of the trees, accompanied by the sounds of nightingales.
Connection
Where: The Churchyard of Leeds Minster
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 6 - 10pm
Connection explores the deep, unseen bond between a tree and the earth from which it draws life. Delicate threads trace invisible flows of energy and water, weaving a luminous link between roots and branches. Crafted onsite amongst mature trees in the grounds of Leeds Minster, Ensing has created a space for quiet contemplation and harmony.
The Relic of Mirchwood Forest
Where: Churchyard of St John The Evangelist's Church
When: Wednesday and Thursday, 6 - 10pm
Image: Light Night Leeds
Here reside the last living ferns of Mirchwood, an ancient mythical forest driven to extinction purely by being forgotten. As its stories stopped being told, its trees vanished one by one. Now all that remains is protected in an enchanted terrarium, a living shrine to the primordial wisdom of plant life.
Living Lamp Posts
Where: Roaming between Albion Place and King Edward Street
When: Wednesday and Thursday 6.30–7pm, 7.45–8.15pm, 9–9.30pm
Image: Leeds Light Night
Standing at over ten feet tall, these noble and elegant Victorian lamp posts shine a quirky light on Leeds. Need a light? They can help with that. Trouble seeing in the dark? Let them be your guide.
To find out more, take a look at the Light Night website for all the installations across the city.
Leeds' famous Santa Dash is returning for 2026, and it's set to be 'bigger and better' than ever.
Back by popular demand with the festive season around the corner, The Trinity Leeds Santa Dash has confirmed its return for 2026 this December, with thousands of Santas set to hit the streets of the city centre with festive fun, Christmas cheer, and an unforgettable atmosphere.
No matter whether you're taking part with your family, friends, colleagues, or little ones, organisers say it's the 'perfect way' to kick-start your festive season.
This iconic event welcomes everyone to take part - you can either jog, walk, or wheel your way around the 5K route, soaking up the sights and sounds of the city as you celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, and prams are also welcome too, making it a fantastic festive day out for all ages and abilities.
And this year, it's set to be bigger and better than ever, as there's an exciting new city centre route.
All Santa suits are provided (except for those under three) with your race entry, and you'll also get an exclusive Trinity Leeds Santa Dash finisher medal once you make it over the line, as well as a festive chocolate treat to nibble on.
So, gather your fellow Santas, embrace the Christmas magic, and get ready to join one of Leeds' most joyful festive traditions.
The Trinity Leeds Santa Dash returns for 2026 on Sunday 6 December, and you can find out more and enter to take part in the race online here.
Featured Image - Run For All
Leeds
Jane McDonald at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
West Yorkshire's very own Jane McDonald is coming to First Direct Arena in Leeds for a hometown show that's set to be spellbinding.
Making her British TV screen debut nearly 30 years ago on The Cruise, before joining the Loose Women panel and going on to present a whole host of travel shows including Cruising with Jane McDonald, now this Wakefield legend returns to First Direct Arena.
This latest tour titled after her 2026 LP Living The Dream, will see Jane singing hits from both past and present including a couple covers too.
Earlier this year, Jane's Mighty Hoopla performance went viral online after she commanded the stage in a red leather jacket, donning a singular rainbow hair extension while belting out RAYE's 'Where Is My Husband!'
Audio North even got the opportunity to interview this legendary lady when she visited her hometown HMV store in Wakefield for an exclusive album signing - Oh look, it's me!
The Wakefield wonder-woman's latest album Living The Dream was released in March and considering the tour is named after this impressive LP, we're sure fans can expect to hear quite a few tracks from this album.
Living The Dream
I'll Not Be Beaten
You Don't Know What You Got
Don't Mind If I Do
The Hand That Leads Me
Ain't Gonna Beg
I Will Always Love You
Islands in the Stream
Jolene
9 to 5
You're My World
Where Is My Husband!
Let the Light In
Cake by the Ocean
Jai Ho!
APT.
Right Where I Belong
How Do I Move On
Beautiful Soul
All By Myself
You Still Lead Me
Of course, Jane also loves to cover a tune or two, and we'll never forget her renditions of 'Cake By The Ocean', 'Jai Ho' or 'APT.'.
What are the stage times for Jane McDonald in Leeds?
The doors for Jane McDonald's Living The Dream Tour in Leeds are set for 6pm with the event set to start at 7.30pm.
First Direct Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning you have enough time to dash home and eat 'Cake by the (Sofa)' before ringing in the new day.
How to get to First Direct Arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
Clementine Hall -
21st October 2025 
