Around 38,000 visitors: LOV spotLIGHT 2026

Around 38,000 visitors: LOV spotLIGHT 2026 remains a highlight of the events calendar even after the European Capital of Culture year

  • A vacant conference hotel playfully brought into the spotlight
  • Light installations in the city centre make eyes light up too
  • A follow-up planned for 2027

Even in the year following the Capital of Culture, the light art festival „Light our Vision” remains a highlight of the calendar. A total of around 38,000 visitors were captivated by the light installations over the three days of the event. The conference hotel, which had stood empty for months, playfully took centre stage at the event. In many parts of the city centre, too, the people of Chemnitz and their guests witnessed how light can transform buildings and squares into places that can be experienced in a completely new way. The organisers from Baukultur für Chemnitz e.V., the City of Chemnitz and C3 Chemnitzer Veranstaltungszentren GmbH are already considering a fifth edition for 2027.

When the lights of this year’s ‘Light our Vision’ light art festival went out on Saturday evening following the rave party on Düsseldorfer Platz in Chemnitz city centre, the organisers had counted a total of around 38,000 visitors up to that point. Following last year’s record attendance, they were therefore able to draw a generally positive conclusion. One of the two curators, Lotte Claudia Fischer, is delighted with the response:

„The fact that so many people from Chemnitz have visited ‘Light our Vision’ again this year shows just how important the festival has become for our city. The fact that we can use light art to highlight problematic spaces – and this year, a building of this kind in particular – and thereby draw attention to them is a sign that the concept works.”

But it wasn’t just the derelict congress hotel that proved a magnet for visitors. From Düsseldorfer Platz via Jakobikirchplatz, past the Altes Rathaus to the Alte Post and the Cubus on Johannisplatz, various light installations by international artists from Japan, Hungary and the Czech Republic were on display.

Dagmar Ruscheinsky, Councillor for Culture:

„For the past four years, ‘Light our Vision’ has been a real asset to the city of Chemnitz, attracting thousands of visitors to the city centre every year. So, through light art, we can highlight the city’s creative side whilst at the same time not shying away from showcasing and addressing its problem areas in order to further develop Chemnitz. Furthermore, the artists from across Europe strengthen the festival’s European profile, very much in keeping with the spirit of the Capital of Culture, and consolidate our ties with our European neighbours.“

Festival director Annekathrin Haufe of C3 Chemnitzer Veranstaltungszentren GmbH also gives a positive assessment from an organisational perspective:

„The fact that everything ran almost seamlessly over all three days with so many guests is also a great success. Especially as this was our first time taking part.“

In 2026, the festival was a collaboration between Baukultur für Chemnitz e.V., the City of Chemnitz and C3 Chemnitzer Veranstaltungszentren GmbH.

The initiators would like to thank all the partners whose generosity has made it possible for Chemnitz to shine in 2026.

For further information, please see the full press release, attached in PDF format below.

Press contact:
Arndt Hecker
Mobil: +49 172 566 936 6
Mail: hecker@text-in-form.de

About Baukultur für Chemnitz e. V.

Founded in March 2022 by members of the Saxony Chamber of Architects and people who share its vision, the association is the key organiser behind the “Light our Vision” Festival of Light Art. Chaired by Lotte Claudia Fischer, it aims to implement projects and ideas, including those developed by the working groups of the Saxony Chamber of Architects, in Chemnitz using donations and public funds. Further information at www.baukultur-chemnitz.de

About the Architektenkammer Sachsen (Saxony Chamber of Architects)

The Saxony Chamber of Architects (AKS) is a chamber of liberal professions, a public corporation, professional association and self-administration body for over 3,200 architects, interior designers, landscape architects and urban planners in Saxony.
Its primary task is to cultivate, promote and effectively support the building industry, in particular the built environment, architecture, urban planning and landscape design sectors. In July 2021, a new “Chemnitz – Capital of Culture 2025” working group was formed under the Saxony Chamber of Architects umbrella, focusing on the impact of Chemnitz being named the European Capital of Culture. A small team of architects from Chemnitz, led by Lotte Claudia Fischer, is collecting ideas and planning exciting projects for the city’s year as the European Capital of Culture in 2025. The “Light our Vision” Chemnitz Festival of Light Art is one of them. Further information at www.aksachsen.org and www.lightourvision.de