Light Night returns for 2026 - bigger and better

Light Night returns for 2026 - bigger and better

Light Night Wigan is back for 2026 with three nights of illuminations across Wigan town centre and Mesnes Park, and tickets are available now.

This free, family-friendly festival will see beautiful, illuminated artworks at venues including The Old Courts, Royal Court Theatre, Makinson Arcade, Wigan Museum and Sir Billy Boston Square, alongside the traditional trail in Mesnes Park.

Jude Jagger, one of the curators of Light Night Wigan from Things That Go On Things, said: “Light Night Wigan has become so popular that our free tickets for Mesnes Park fly out within a few days, so to keep up with demand we have introduced a town centre trail that you don’t need a ticket for. The artworks are still free to see and are really rooted in celebrating the town itself.”

Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet portfolio holder for communities, said: “I’m so proud that this free, accessible, and much anticipated event in our cultural year is back in Wigan this November.

“I am especially pleased that the Royal Court Theatre is part of this year’s line-up. There have been real steps forward this year to safeguard the theatre’s future, and it is fantastic to see it be part of such an iconic local event.

“Light Night Wigan is back bigger and better than ever and more people will be able to enjoy this fabulous experience.

“The event is one of the most talked about events bringing residents from every corner of the borough and cost of living is high on everyone's agenda, so this free event is welcomed. 

“It’s also a fantastic way to bring together families, artists, and communities in celebration of creativity and heritage and to encourage more people to visit our town centre and local park.

“The range of installations on display this year is very impressive and we can’t wait to welcome so many incredible artists, alongside work inspired by local people.”

The Wigan Council-backed event, now in its sixth year, will run from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd November, 5pm to 9:30pm.

This year, the installations in Mesnes Park will include an ethereal trail of beautiful, illuminated artworks by artists Jony Easterby, Kathy Hinde and Lou Chapelle all celebrating our natural world. The trail will also feature an awe-inspiring artwork in the pond from Finnish artist, Niko Tiainen and visitors will be able to actively get involved with a large-scale work by Manchester artists I Don’t Love You Anymore.

In Wigan town centre, five years after Luke Jerram premiered Floating Earth at Pennington Flash in Leigh, his work, Gaia, will be presented in The Old Courts. This six-metre diameter earth is created using real NASA satellite imagery and is a spectacle worth seeing. The artwork is 2.1 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 21km of the Earth’s surface. 

 Other town centre exhibits will include:

• Latvian artists Those Guys Lighting will fill The Royal Court Theatre with a spectacular laser show
• Horace Lindezey of Venture Arts presents his own take on the commemorative Blue Plaque inspired by Wigan’s heritage
• A trail of neon artworks created by students from Atherton High School with artist Anna FC Smith will be found around Wallgate Station
• The Dancing Fountain returns! This time this piece will be found in Sir Billy Boston Square - along with a new Light Night Wigan shop in CIVIC, storytelling by the inimitable Ian Douglas and the Magic Lantern, and food and drink options
• Pif Paf’s And… Breathe, outside Wigan Life Centre South, which will encourage everyone to take a moment of reflection
• Zhiyan Cai’s Portal: Another Path, at Wigan Museum, along with Data Mining by Heinrich & Palmer

The town centre will also welcome back the special Wigan Borough Icons with the light installations inspired by ideas from winners of the annual competition for local residents.

Free tickets are required for the Mesnes Park part of Light Night Wigan, but tickets are not required for the town centre trail.

Light Night Wigan is supported by Wigan Council, Arts Council England, UK Government and The Granada Foundation. 

For more information and for tickets please visit the Light Night Wigan website (external link).