Between dreams, birds made from colourful materials, street performers and countless lights, Cascais is ready to claim the title of Portugal’s capital of light with LUMINA – Festival of Light. After a six-year hiatus, the free, all-ages event returns for its eighth edition from 12 to 14 September. Over three nights, streets, squares and gardens will transform into living canvases, illuminated by more than twenty national and international works, ranging from sculptures and immersive installations to interactive creations, live performances and video mapping projections.
With the theme “Dreams & Stories: A Luminous Journey Through the Subconscious”, the 2025 edition invites visitors to step into a world where reality and imagination merge, in locations such as Rotunda da Estação, Rua Direita, Largo da Cidade de Vitória, Largo do Cais and Praia da Ribeira.
“I organise many light festivals around the world, but nowhere is like Cascais”, says LUMINA founder Carole Purnelle, who has lived in Portugal for 25 years. “It’s the perfect size for this kind of event: not too large, so we can embrace the whole town. We can include every aspect of the village, from the modern to the traditional, the bay, the Cidadela, the narrow streets… It allows us to express ourselves in so many different ways.”
Confirmed artists include Amanda Parer, known for her large-scale sculptures, Rui MiraGaia, Ant Dickinson, H.E.M., Nele Fack, Anne Fie Salverda, Pronorm, Julia Dantonnet, Hugo Vrijdag and Loomaland. Collectives such as Iluminados will offer choreographed light performances, while Alebrije brings the energy of Mexican folk dance to Cascais.
One of the focus points of this edition is showcasing how technology has evolved and its creative possibilities. “LUMINA has matured a lot and is making better use of technological advances. This edition will be very different from the last time we were here. Some works will incorporate artificial intelligence, others will engage visitors interactively, and now that we know the town better, we can make much fuller use of the spaces.”
Among the installations, one that stands out is REM. Making its world premiere, this immersive piece by OCUBO is inspired by the most intense phase of sleep. Occupying Praça das Armas, 200 LED tubes are arranged radially alongside 360-degree lasers, accompanied by ambient sounds and music that evoke dreams. The installation simulates brain activity during REM sleep, inviting visitors to watch a luminous choreography and imagine the workings of the mind in this stage.
A public-chosen prize
A new feature of this edition is the Portugal Agenda New Lights Award, a collaboration between Portugal Agenda and LUMINA. The initiative highlights emerging digital artists through an international video mapping competition, with finalist works projected onto the Centro Cultural de Cascais façade. Visitors can vote online until 21 September to choose the winner, who will receive a €1,000 prize.
Keep an eye out for roaming performers – dressed as black devilfish-like mimes, reminiscent of the Pixar movie Finding Nemo – who interact with the public in itinerant acts. At Cascais Marina, art students will display light birds made from colourful, recycled materials, which come to life under the night sky.
For one of the most intense experiences, head to the Fosso da Cidadela. Alongside stunning video projections, the installation includes live music, with visuals synchronised to sound. Performances run at 21.00, 22.00 and 23.00, featuring soprano Sílvia Sequeira and baritone Viktor Aksentijević from Cascais Ópera, accompanied by DJ Thimo.
The installations are open simultaneously from 20:00 to midnight. Visitors can explore the various nodes at a leisurely pace, discovering monumental sculptures, illuminated gardens, façade projections and interactive creations for all ages.
Practical information
During the festival, the main road from the train station to the bay will be closed to traffic; public transport and peripheral parking are recommended. Between 19.30 and midnight, full closures will affect Rua Júlio Pereira e Melo, Rua Latino Coelho, Rua Conde Ferreira, Largo Prior, Travessa dos Navegantes, Rua dos Navegantes, Rua Afonso Sanches, Travessa do Poço Novo, Rua Luís Xavier Palmeirim, Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália (from Marina car park exit), Rua Fernandes Thomás, Avenida Valbom, Avenida Papa Francisco, and the section between Rotunda Papa João Paulo II and Avenida D. Carlos to Rotunda Filipe Nobre de Figueiredo.
Other areas will have partial access for residents, emergency vehicles, and those heading to specific car parks. During the festival, vehicles cannot exit the Marina underground car park via Rotunda João Paulo II; alternative routes allow two-way access.
The full LUMINA route
Start at Largo da Estação de Cascais to see Oculucis by Hermes H.E.M., and follow a circular route finishing at Avenida Valbom, where Hugo Vrijdag’s Sunflowers will be displayed. In total, there are 25 luminous stops to explore.
1. "Oculucis" Hermes H.E.M - Estação de Cascais
2. "Light Gardens" - Rua Direita
3. "XOXO", Chezbulb - Largo Cidade de Vitória
A. Laser mapping - Hotel Baía,
4. LUMINA - Bay
5. "Dynamic Light Stripes", OLAB - Cascais City Council
6. "ILUMINADOS", RADAR 360º - Avenida D. Carlos I
7. "MorphAi", OLAB - Muralha do Forte da Cidadela
C - Light Tattos, Damage Inkorporation - Largo da Estátua Guerra Cascais
8. "REM", OCUBO - Praça das Armas
9. "Thank You Wall", OCUBO - Muralha da Marina de Cascais
10. "Gazouillis", Bibi - Marina de Cascais
11. "Visual Piano", Laurenz Theinert & Cascais Ópera & Deejay Thimo - Fosso da Cidadela
12. Portugal Agenda "New Lights" Award, vários artistas - Centro Cultural de Cascais
13. Desenho de luz no Parque, Nuno Maya - Parque Marechal Carmona
14. Geometric Dreams, OCUBO - Fonte do Parque Marechal Carmona
15. "Meadow of Dreams", Iza Karaszewska - Prado do Parque Marechal Carmona
16. "Cygnus", Loomaland - Lago dos Patos do Parque Marechal Carmona
17. "The Garden", Ant Dickinson - Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
18. "Beeldenstil", Nele Fack - Museu do Mar
19. "MAN", Amanda Parer - Jardim da Parada
20. "Draw for the Future", Anne Fie Salverda & LUNA Collective - Casa Sommer
21. "Mexican Dreams", Embaixada do México & Gobierno de Guadalajara - Igreja Nossa Senhora da Assunção
22. Mexican Lights, Alebrije & Embaixada do México - Rua Latino Coelho e Conde Ferreira e Largo do Prior
23. "Source", Julia Dantonnet - Igreja Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes
24. "Butterflies", Pronorm - Travessa dos Navegantes
25. "Sunflowers", Hugo Vrijgag/ Portugal Agenda - Avenida Valbom
Cascais. 12-14 Out (Fri-Sun). 20.00-00.00. Free entry