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Just when you thought summer in New York was winding down, along comes a festival that’s about to light up your September nights—literally. Illumination NYC, the city’s annual ode to all things luminous, is back for its fourth year, and this time it’s taking over the freshly reopened Wagner Park in Battery Park City.
From Thursday, September 25, through Saturday, September 27, the 3.5-acre waterfront greenspace will be transformed into a glowing playground, complete with more than 20 large-scale light installations, dazzling projection mapping across the park’s new architecture and the kind of harbor views that would make Lady Liberty herself stop and stare.
The festival has popped up in some dramatic spots before—the World Trade Center Oculus, Belvedere Plaza, even beneath the Kosciuszko Bridge—but 2025 marks the first time Illumination NYC lands at Wagner Park. “Wagner Park’s reopening is a milestone moment for New York City…We are thrilled to mark it with a festival that unites art, creativity, and community wonder on a scale only possible in this city,” said Ron Dov, the executive director and founder of Illumination NYC.
The three-night affair is billed as the festival’s “most ambitious to date,” and the lineup proves it. Expect massive mushrooms glowing in the dark, architectural light projections that seem to reshape the skyline and interactive works that invite you to literally step inside the art. It’s not just about standing back and staring; Illumination NYC is designed to be touched, explored and Instagrammed within an inch of its life.
Alongside the art, there will be food trucks serving up late-night bites, a soundtrack of live DJs and performances and, for those who like to end things on a high note, a silent disco on September 27 hosted by QuietEvents. Headphones are free with ID, and the dance floor will be right on the river, with the Statue of Liberty as your disco ball.
“Partnering with Illumination NYC allows us to welcome the public back in the most spectacular way possible,” said Maril Ortiz, Director of Parks Programming at BPCA. “We are proud to see this beloved park transformed into a glowing canvas for creativity.”
The best part is that admission is free. Just RSVP online, grab your brightest outfit—or pick something up at the on-site Light Shop—and prepare to glow with thousands of other New Yorkers.