During Höstljus, local artists and community organizations light up the November darkness with light installations and artworks throughout Umeå city center.

Höstljus 2025 takes place from October 31 to November 23.

Höstljus 2025

 

Höstljus rådhustorget ocg Regnbågsbron

 

This Year´s Theme: Roots

Höstljus is back with vibrant light installations and thought-provoking light artworks.
This year’s theme is Roots, shedding light on Västerbotten’s history, heritage, and diverse expressions.
From coast to inland, forest to mountain, traditions, languages, and stories converge in the shaping of light.

On October 25 at 5 pm at Rådhustorget, the light festival begins with a fire show by Aurora Eldshow. After that, all of the 40 light installations in the center of Umeå are lit and the light walk is open and ready to be enjoyed. Don't miss that this year you can go on a literature walk in parallel with the light walk created by authors from Västerbotten who interpreted this year's edition of Höstljus. You can find it through the regional library's app Härlitt.
You can download the app here.

Höstljus run until November 15 and November 22 at at 5.30 pm, there will be thousands of lighted lanterns in Vänortsparken created by Umeå's school children.
 

Costume Parade

Before the grand opening, Visit Umeå invites all children to a colorful costume parade through the city center. Come dressed up—as a princess, knight, witch, superhero, or anything you like—and help spread light and joy in the autumn darkness.

The parade will take a short route from Renmarkstorget through the city center before we all gather at Rådhustorget to fill the square with lights and a festive atmosphere ahead of the Höstljus opening.

All children and families are welcome – participation is free!

Meeting point: Renmarkstorget, October 31 at 4:15 PM
Parade starts: 4:30 PM

Light Installations 2025

The light installations marked with a red pin are created by students from the Umeå Academy of Fine Arts at Umeå University, as well as by artists commissioned by the Museum and Art Department of Umeå Municipality.

Karta över Höstljus

 

pin 1 The Timber Floater’s Everyday Life
Light artwork by artist Albin Borg.
“In my painting, I carry no personal memories of the timber floaters along the river, but in the evenings their presence emerges in the stories I’ve been told.”

pin 2 The Rainbow Bridge
A color combination symbolizing diversity and tolerance on a bridge that connects Umeå’s northern and southern parts.

Pin 3 The Wishing Tree
A tree filled with wishes inside the linden grove in Broparken. 

Pin 4 The Non-Spectral Cube
The greenhouse in Broparken.

Pin 5 Midwinter Wreath
Our bodies remember the summer light, a spell against darkness wraps itself around birches and this too shall pass, soon the light will return.
Light artwork by artist Ida Boman in Broparken.

Pin 6 The Fairytale Tree
Step into a magical world of light and listen to a story from the summers of childhood.
Light artwork by artists Caroline Långström and Emma Bergman in Broparken. 

Pin 7 Glowing Bulb Garland in the Lindens
Smörasken, Västra Esplanaden.

Pin 8 Burning Sunset
Colors move like the pulsating rays of a sunset at Sparken.

pin 9 Behind the Façade
Behind this façade lies more than powerful technology and advanced systems. Here are people—unique individuals who ensure that the residents of Umeå enjoy a smoothly functioning everyday life. With expertise, dedication, and creativity, they shape Umeå for you—and for generations to come.

 

pin 10 Art Academy 
Järnvägstorget – Rådhusesplanaden

pin 10 Art Academy
Västra Esplanaden.

pin 10 Art Academy
Under Tegsbron Bridge.

Pin 11 Stairway of Love
Hearts decorate the stairway linking Tegsbron and Strandgatan.

Pin 12 Traffic
Projected road signs for pedestrians and cyclists at Kungsgatan and Brogatan. Created by the traffic planners at Gator & Parker

Pin 13 Video Projection x2

1. I den varsamt lugna horisonten står vi inför historiens lagrade närhet i mitt arv (2024) - Peter Stridsberg
This work explores the forces of the sea and a personal landscape history along Scotland’s west coast, where the memory of shipwrecks is interwoven with body and time in motion.

2. Running up that hill - Alice Ryne
A video-loop about endless attempts and stubborn hope.

Pin 14 Tunnel Hearts
Hearts along the tunnel fence at Nygatstunneln.

Pin 15 Pink Reflections
Like reflections in the river, the lighting from nearby large buildings is mirrored in the promenade’s bollards.

Pin 16 Globes in Overflow
Light spheres over the pond in Rådhusparken.

Pin 17 Illuminated Promenade
Transitions from yellow to pink throughout Rådhusparken down to the river.

Pin 18 Quo vadis? Eurasian Curlew
Västerbotten’s provincial bird, the Eurasian Curlew, has landed in the fountain at Rådhusparken.

 

Pin 19 Bust of Gustav II Adolf
Over 400 years ago, on November 6, 1622, Sweden lost its then-king Gustav II Adolf—also the founder of Umeå—at the Battle of Lützen. The Gustav Adolf pastry was created to honor his memory.

Pin 20 I Heart Umeå
Lighting of the Umeå 2014 symbol at Rådhustorget. This square is the city’s heart, with the pedestrian streets as its vibrant pulse.

Pin 21 Meta-Metoo
In 2018, the #MeToo movement shone a spotlight on one of society’s darker sides. Umeå Scenteknik highlights this once again by illuminating Camilla Akraka’s #MeToo monument Listen at Rådhustorget.

Pin 22 Crystal Booth
Inside a dilapidated little shed, a royal hall in the style of the Palace of Versailles can be found. Light installation by artist Henrik Jonsson at Rådhustorget.

Pin 23Starry Sky
The stars have never felt so close as they do along our very own Rådhusesplanaden.

Pin 24 Maple Glow
Red glowing spheres at Vänortsparken.

Pin 25 Courage to See
In Upab’s parking garage Järnvägsallén, you’ll encounter a calm light installation to drive, cycle, or walk through – a reminder that civil courage begins with three simple steps: See. Dare. Act.

Pin 26 November 22: Thousands of Lanterns
Children’s eyes sparkle like the countless stars above. Thousands of lanterns made by Umeå’s preschool children once again illuminate Vänortsparken—giving children a shared voice in the public space.