The City of Pécs welcomes visitors to its most radiant event of the summer, the 9th Zsolnay Light Festival, which runs from July 3 to 7 2025. The festival presents a lineup of light‑mapping installations, architectural illuminations, and interactive experiences that collectively showcase the city’s culture, creativity, and community spirit. Whether you are an art enthusiast, a traveller, or a student looking for inspiration, the festival offers meaningful ways to explore Pécs’s heritage through the prism of light.
Why Pécs Is a Natural Canvas for Light Art
Pécs’s blend of medieval, Renaissance, and modern architecture provides a ready‑made stage for dynamic illumination. Historic structures—such as the Pécs Cathedral, the old city walls, and the Art Tower—serve as backdrops for large‑scale projections and video mapping, while contemporary spaces like the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter offer flexible venues for experimental displays. The city’s cultural policy places a strong emphasis on public art, so a festival that turns streets, plazas, and monuments into interactive canvases aligns closely with local goals and attracts international attention.
Key Architectural Highlights
- Pécs Cathedral — The cathedral’s façade receives a yearly light‑art mapping that transforms its stonework into a moving narrative aligned with the festival’s theme.
- Theatre Square — A shipping container is converted into a luminous lightbox by Swiss-based Encor Studio, drawing crowds for an immersive experience.
- Széchenyi Square — The Fényszórók collective delivers a panoramic light show that blends music, motion, and illumination across the square’s façade.
Festival Themes and Highlights for 2025
This year’s edition continues the tradition of “no//body,” a concept that interrogates how bodies, presence, and identity are represented in public space. Works by international artists including an Italian video‑mapping artist, a Spanish geometric projection creator, and a French light installation designer weave together a narrative that encourages reflective engagement.
Must‑See Installations
Stardust by Filip Roca and Žarko Komar runs all evening on a colossal LED screen, creating a celestial map that can be viewed from day to night. At the Zsolnay Quarter, students from the University of Pécs’s Faculty of Music and Visual Arts contribute original light installations that echo the festival’s thematic concerns and offer a fresh narrative arc outside the traditional city‑center loop.
Light Carpet returns in a smaller format, inviting visitors to physically walk through a path of woven light. At the Kodály Centre, immersive performances such as Vince Varga’s “The Torches Are Already Burning” blend mythic storytelling with light prisms and fabric forests, providing an emotional journey that connects to Béla Bartók’s legacy.
Live Performances and Cultural Extras
- “Mama Octopus” – A playful comedy that tackles motherhood in a light‑infused setting.
- Brincadeira Percussion Group – High‑energy rhythms illuminate the Square in front of the Mosque for two evenings.
- Fire juggling and acrobatics at Barbakán act as a dynamic closing spectacle.
Plan Your Visit Efficiently
Visitors anticipate more than 100,000 attendees, so strategic planning is essential to maximize the experience. The following steps help you navigate the festival with ease.
1. Create a Personal Itinerary
Download the official festival schedule and map available on the Zsolnay Light Festival website. Mark the installations that resonate most with your interests, and allocate evenings for the major displays such as the cathedral light‑mapping and the Stardust installation.
2. Secure Your Entrance Pass
Open‑air installations along the Path of Light are free; however, indoor exhibitions—collectively known as the Path of Light Extra—require a wristband. Early‑bird tickets are still available; purchase them through the festival portal to avoid long queues.
3. Manage Transportation and Parking
Parking near the festival sites is limited. Use the parking management app to reserve spots near the ÁRKÁD Pécs Shopping Center, which hosts a primary parking hub on the festival day.
4. Book Accommodation Early
Hotel rooms and Airbnb rentals can book up fast during festival week. Consider staying in districts like Bácssárta or near the University of Pécs, which offer convenient access to both the city center and the Zsolnay Quarter.
Engage with Pécs’s Cultural Community
The festival is more than a visual showcase; it is a platform for dialogue between local artists, foreign creators, and tourists. Use the following opportunities to deepen your engagement.
1. Attend Artist Q&A Sessions
Many installations host live discussions where artists explain their processes, influences, and the story behind their lighting designs. Check the festival guide for schedules and join for an insightful behind‑the‑scenes look.
2. Visit the Light Art Residency Program
The Zsolnay Quarter hosts the Light Art Residency, featuring student works from the University of Pécs and the Moholy‑Nagy University of Art and Design. The residency offers workshops on projection mapping and collaborative light installations.
3. Leverage Social Media for Real‑Time Updates
Follow @ZsolnayLightFest and @zsolnylefest to receive live announcements, artist spotlights, and interactive polls. Use the festival hashtag #ZsolnayLight2025 to share your own photos and connect with fellow attendees.
Maximize the Educational Value of the Festival
Artists and educators use light to convey complex thematic strands. Students of visual arts, design, and media studies can gain hands‑on experience through the festival’s workshops and collaborative projects. The following suggestions help maximise learning during the event.
1. Identify Complementary Study Programs
The University of Pécs’s Faculty of Music and Visual Arts offers courses in light imaging, projection mapping, and interactive media. The festival’s light installations serve as real‑world case studies for these subjects.
2. Participate in the Light Mapping Competition
Every year, the competition encourages participants to reinterpret the city’s urban fabric using light. Entries are judged by professional artists and community members, offering visibility and constructive feedback.
3. Document Your Observations
Keep a visual journal during the festival; record angles, color palettes, timing, and audience reactions. After the festival, compile your observations into a portfolio that showcases your analytical and creative skills.
Concluding Recommendations
The Zsolnay Light Festival offers a unique convergence of historical heritage, creative expression, and community engagement. By arriving prepared, staying active in festival programming, and connecting with local artistic initiatives, visitors can fully appreciate how light transforms a city’s skyline and consciousness.
Interested in visiting next year or exploring how light can augment university projects? Visit the University of Pécs International Office for program details, partnership opportunities, and travel assistance for students and researchers. For a tailored itinerary that includes festival events, accommodation, and cultural hotspots, download our free guide or share your questions in the comments below.
Share your experience and join the conversation: Post your favorite installation photos on Instagram using #ZsolnayLight2025 and tag @ZsolnayLightFest to join a growing community of visual storytellers.
