River of Light 2025 installations and where to find them

The Liverpool waterfront comes alive with sound and colour over the next 10 days as the annual River of Light returns – this year with the theme the Science of Light.

Follow a trail of light sculptures and installations along the banks of the Mersey and through the city’s business district between tonight and November 2.

The installations will be lit up from 5-9pm each night, with two quiet hours on October 26 and October 29, from 4-5pm. 

Ten largescale artworks are on show in this eighth edition of the festival, all inspired by science, technology or nature.

The annual free festival is staged by the Liverpool City Council’s culture team and last year attracted around 140,000 visitors over its 10-day run.

Here’s what you can experience where:

Embrace by Beamhacker – Exchange Flags

First commissioned for Vivid Sydney 2024, Embrace is a circle of 15 life-sized illuminated silhouettes inspired by the nostalgic human paper chain. When people join hands between the figures, their bodies complete an electrical circuit, allowing a flow of energy that triggers ripples of light and sound.

As more people collaborate, the colours grow richer, the movements more dynamic, and the soundscape more intricate. When the full circle is joined, Embrace reaches a spectacular crescendo.

Music is by Peter McAvan.

Neuron by Juan Fuentes Studio – outside the Liver Building

Neuron draws inspiration from the fascinating world of neurons and brain connectivity.

The light installation simulates neural networks, bridging art and science by visually representing the functioning of the human brain and the connections that enable us to learn and perceive the world.

It reflects how neurons transmit information through electrical impulses, which are fundamental to human communication and creativity.

The installation transforms a fundamental scientific concept into a sensory experience, connecting audiences to the wonder of science through light.

Cycle by Serge Mahou – outside the Cunard Building

Created by Serge Maheu, Cycle is an interactive installation inspired by the revolutions of the sun and the moon, that illuminates open spaces.

Composed of a series of modules equipped with several light animation sequences, Cycle comes to life at the rhythm of bystanders’ interactions and the beat of its ambient music and has variations in intensity and colour, becoming a larger-than-life musical sequencer.

Pendulum by Amigo & Amigo – Pier Head

Pendulum is a giant interactive artwork that blends science, art, and play into an immersive experience. Inspired by the simple beauty of a gravity pendulum, this illuminated installation brings motion to life through dynamic waves of light and sound. Suspended above the audience, a glowing geometric structure appears to sway back and forth, mimicking the rhythm of a pendulum.

On either side, interactive light spheres invite people to engage - when pushed, they activate the artwork, sending energy across the space.

Within Water by Yellow Studio – South End canal basin Pier Head

Within Water is a site-specific installation inspired by the natural phenomenon of bioluminescence in marine life. Located within Liverpool’s Pier Head canal link, the piece explores the dynamic relationship between water, light, and human interaction.

Through a grid of programmable lights embedded beneath the water’s surface, the installation mimics the gentle glow and movement of bioluminescent algae, creating an illuminated current that shifts in colour and intensity.

The central sculptural element, a human hand, serves as a symbolic trigger, sparking a physical disturbance that activates the bioluminescent light in response to human touch.

Face Value by Emma Brass and Venya Krutikov – Mann Island

Face Value is an immersive experience where audience members unexpectedly become part of a fantasy gameshow, as an AI-powered robotic artist selects and transforms their images in real time.

The experience highlights themes of technology and control, prompting participants to wonder what ultimately happens to their digital selves.The installation combines novel technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics, to create a constantly evolving spectacle and invites reflection on how emerging technologies interact with our digital identities and shape our control over our own image.

Dandelion by Amigo & Amigo – Mann Island

Inspired by the wind-blown petals of the dandelion this installation reimagines a delicate natural form through engineering, optics, and motion. Revered for its medicinal properties and aerodynamic seed dispersal, the dandelion becomes a living sculpture that blends biology with technology.

Every five minutes, Dandelion transforms into a dynamic spectacle, combining programmed LED light animations with immersive sound design to mimic the fluid dynamics of wind and the natural rhythm of seed release.

SPICA by Juan Fuentes Studio – Hartley Quay

A star of lights that shines with the energy of the universe. This luminous installation, with moving LEDs, brings to life a fascinating scientific concept: why do stars shine? The answer lies in Einstein’s equation E=mc², which explains how nuclear fusion at the core of the Sun and other stars converts mass into an explosion of energy and light.

As a tribute to Einstein's theory of relativity this star transforms science into art, representing the constant flow of energy that lights up our universe.

Blueprint by Studio Vertigo - on the Strand by Salthouse Dock

Blueprint is a large-scale immersive artwork inspired by the form of a double helix, the physical structure of DNA. It is a parametric design comprising of 180 x 360º tube LEDs that follow an outer spiral and are brought together at a fixed central point with sweeping curves. This is highlighted with a sequence of high-resolution lighting effects, representing the four bases of DNA slowly flowing through the artwork.

The sculpture appears to be in a state of constant transformation, its free flow of curves are set within a functional and orderly working of lines.

The sonic component of the piece, by composer and sound artist Ed Carter, is informed by Professor Christian Hedrich’s work on childhood autoimmune diseases.

Optik by The Urban Conga – Thomas Steers Way

Optik reflects on our ability to play with our surroundings while giving the opportunity for new points of view on our daily environment. The essence of Optik lies in the phenomena of reflection and refraction, where light and sound becomes a medium of discovery and interaction, inviting users to manipulate it and playfully reimagine their world.

Optik aims to transport people away from their daily routine and into a state of play; it is no longer just a photogenic monument within a space and becomes a communal hub for social connection.

River of Light takes place from October 24 to November 2. More details HERE