AN ambitious festival that lit up Leicester city centre with extraordinary artworks over four nights earlier this year has won a major national award.
Held in March 2025, Light Up Leicester welcomed an estimated 100,000 visitors to the city centre over four dazzling nights, transforming Leicester with a trail of large-scale interactive light artworks, pop-up performances, and community parades.
The successful festival has now taken top prize for place making in the annual National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) awards.
The NOEA is the UK’s leading trade association representing and progressing the outdoor events sector.
Light Up Leicester was presented by Leicester City Council, BID Leicester, Leicester Cathedral and Art Reach, with additional backing from headline sponsors Highcross Leicester and PPL PRS and funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
It’s the second award that the city-wide light festival has picked up this year, having won the ‘Best Culture and Arts Scheme’ at the prestigious Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) Awards in July.
Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster, who leads on leisure and culture, said: “Thousands of people enjoyed the stunning installations that Light Up Leicester brought to the city earlier this year, so I’m very proud that this hugely successful event has been recognised with another award.
“The festival was a fantastic example of what can happen when local organisations work in partnership to deliver ambitious and innovative events with the local community at their heart. The spectacular four nights of illuminations brought people together to experience culture right in the heart of the city and provided a welcome boost to the city’s nighttime economy.”
Simon Jenner, director of Leicester’s Business Improvement District, said: “BID Leicester is incredibly proud that Light Up Leicester has been recognised with a second national award. From the outset, our ambition was to create something truly special for Leicester, a vibrant, free event that would bring people together, support local businesses, and showcase the city at its best.
“Winning this award for place making is especially meaningful because it recognises the positive impact Light Up Leicester had on our city centre, driving footfall, creating memorable moments, and highlighting the power of partnership working. We’re delighted to have played a leading role in making it happen and to see Leicester shine.”
Michelle Menezes, Centre Director at Highcross Leicester, added: “Light Up Leicester once again demonstrated the incredible creativity and community spirit that defines our city. Seeing thousands of visitors enjoying the installations around Highcross, and the wider city centre, was a real highlight of my year, and to hear it’s now received further national recognition is truly fantastic. Well done to all involved!”
Shreya Vadnerkar, associate director of Nupur Arts, added: "This is a well-deserved award, recognising the synergy, culture and sheer talent of Leicester and it's organisations. Leicester is a melting pot of creativity and culture, and we had a chance to shine at Light Up Leicester. Nupur Arts are proud to have been part of this festival – from creating choreography and costumes for the opening parade, preparing dances that used over 50kg of powdered colour and playing Holi and dancing in the rain with such supportive and curious audiences.
“It feels special to have our artists, communities and organisations celebrated nationally for their authenticity and innovation"
The four-day Light Up Leicester festival featured collaborations between local and international creatives, with highlights including a projection piece by local artists MBD, The Roots of Our Tree procession with local schools led by Inspirate, a vibrant Holi celebration by Nupur Arts and powerful community engagement projects including the My Leicester: Future Stories Trail. Leicester-based organisations brought distinctive, community-focused work to the city’s streets, while internationally renowned artists contributed large-scale installations seen around the globe.
The blend of local talent and global creativity helped make Light Up Leicester a uniquely powerful celebration of Leicester’s cultural vibrancy and creative ambition.