The Festival of Lights Enchants the Nikolaiviertel Once Again
Every year, as fall arrives in Berlin, the capital transforms into a grand stage for international light art. Through October 18, 2026, the Festival of Lights invites visitors to discover well-known buildings, squares, and streets from a whole new perspective. Under this year’s motto “Colours of Love,” vibrant colors and creative light installations symbolize love, connection, and respectful coexistence. The Nikolaiviertel is once again part of the festival, showcasing just how impressively Berlin’s oldest neighborhood can be highlighted.
Every day from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., visitors can experience light art in public spaces. Anyone who wants to enjoy the festival in a particularly relaxed atmosphere should take the time to stroll through the alleys of the Nikolaiviertel. It is here, in particular, that the interplay of historic buildings—such as St. Nicholas Church—illuminated trees, and surprising works of art creates a very special charm.
A highlight awaits visitors right at the corner of Spandauer Straße and Rathausstraße. A video installation featuring scenes from the TV series “Babylon Berlin” is being shown on the building’s facade there. Visitors can also see impressive images from the 1920s of the former Israel department store and Alexanderplatz.
Angel Wings and a Ballerina at Nikolaikirchplatz
In front of St. Nicholas Church, the “Angels of Love” are a real eye-catcher. The glowing angel wings invite visitors to become part of the installation themselves and take a souvenir photo against the atmospherically lit backdrop. The motif fits perfectly with this year’s festival theme and combines light art with a playful invitation to the audience. Just a few steps away, at the Wappenbrunnen, the “Ballerina” installation awaits. Together with the colorful lighting on the trees, it creates a particularly atmospheric ensemble.
Light Art in the Alleys
From Nikolaikirchplatz, it’s worth taking a little detour down Propststraße. The illuminated trees and the brightly colored arches give the street a fairy-tale atmosphere, and there’s plenty to discover on Poststraße as well. The façade of the Gerichtslaube is illuminated with colorful projections, and right next door, at the “Fischer & Lustig” restaurant, there’s another installation “Angel of Love.”
As you walk down Am Nußbaum, colorful lights add a touch of variety and invite you to explore and take photos. It’s precisely these smaller details that make the festival in the Nikolaiviertel so charming: It’s not just individual large-scale projections, but entire streets that become an experience of light and color. And if you’d like to take a break along the way, you’ll find plenty of delicious options in the restaurants and cafés throughout the neighborhood to round out your evening with some great food.
Explore the Festival of Lights Beyond the Nikolaiviertel
If you’d like to experience even more light art after the walking tour, you can continue your evening in the historic city center. From the Nikolaiviertel, other well-known landmarks are within easy walking distance. In just a few minutes, you can reach Berlin Cathedral, whose impressive architecture is also highlighted during the festival. The TV Tower at Alexanderplatz and the Brandenburg Gate are also among the Festival of Lights’ most famous attractions.
You can find the exact locations and more information about all the light displays in the festival’s official program:
https://festival-of-lights.de/de/programm-2026/
Our tip: The Nikolaiviertel is a particularly relaxing place to experience the Festival of Lights. Public transportation is the best way to get to the Nikolaiviertel. The U5 subway line takes visitors to the “Rotes Rathaus” station; the entrance to the neighborhood is directly across the street.