The popular 'Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights' festival is shifting from its traditional December slot to a New Year run, Dublin City Council has confirmed.

The 2027 edition will begin in mid-January and wrap up over the St Brigid's/Imbolc public holiday weekend, which traditionally marks the start of spring and the return of longer days.

Billed as Ireland's leading light festival, the programme will celebrate national and international themes through inventive projections, lighting displays and interactive artworks by both Irish and international artists. Installations will illuminate city-centre landmarks, buildings, parks and locations along the River Liffey.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daryl Barron, said, "Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights Festival is a wintertime favourite for both locals and visitors. It will be fantastic to see the Festival brighten up Dublin city-centre as, for the first time ever, people will be able to enjoy seeing the city in all its sparkling glory in January and into Brigid's public holiday weekend. We anticipate this being a new successful departure for the festival and illuminating the city at that time of year will be of huge benefit to our citizens, workers, visitors and everyone else who uses the city!" Despite the move, the Council will continue to light up Dublin at Christmas with seasonal lighting and projections. Further details will follow, but visitors can expect the return of TwinkleTown and the Dublin City Council Twinkle Trail, plus new activities and surprises designed to 'Feel Dublin City Twinkle this Christmas'.

Tony Smithers, from Dublin City Council's Events section said, "The 2027 festival will transform Dublin city-centre with fantastic locations, festival favourites and great interactive experiences. The move to January and into Brigid's weekend will give the festival its own place in the city's events calendar. It will illuminate Dublin City in the shoulder season between Christmas and St. Patrick's Festival, bringing much needed light, activity and artistry to the city. We're committed to achieving a low carbon footprint with use of LEDs, projections with low power requirements, battery storage for power, and hydrotreated vegetable oil as a fuel source and the 2027 festival will look to improve these elements wherever possible once again."

The free event draws more than 250,000 people of all ages into the city-centre. The full programme and locations will be announced in December.

The 'Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights' festival is fully funded by Dublin City Council and will feature in Failte Ireland's 'Winter in Dublin' campaign in 2027.