PRESS RELEASE
Montreal Lights Up: LUMINO Presents 35 Works in the Quartier des Spectacles and Downtown
Montreal, December 3, 2025 — Until March 8 next year, LUMINO, an original and free urban winter experience, transforms the Quartier des Spectacles and downtown Montreal with participatory luminous installations, video projections and special events at more than 15 indoor and outdoor locations. With 1.5 million visitors last year, LUMINO is firmly established as an essential winter event for Montrealers, people from all over Quebec and visitors from around the world.
The 16th edition of LUMINO presents 35 works, including 19 original creations never previously presented in Montreal, and 23 installations by Quebec artists. LUMINO’s program will evolve throughout the winter in three main phases:
- November and December: LUMINO launches for the Holiday Season
- January: new major works unveiled
- March: special programming during March break
A wealth of moments to make the most of winter and discover all of the LUMINO installations in the Quartier des Spectacles and wider downtown core!
This spokesperson for the edition of LUMINO is actress Sophie Cadieux. She invites the public to come out and enjoy the works now on display: Anemonia and Shadow by TILT (Canadian premieres), three original video projections by local creators Iana Brezeky, Teo Leroo and Marie-Ève Drolet, Vulnérable, an interactive video projection by Michel Lemieux, Sagesse de foule, a participatory experience by Ottomata and Entre maintenant et l’infini, an original creation by Jeremy Shantz presented at the Centre Eaton de Montréal.
A Dream Sequence Spanning Many Hotels
In collaboration with Tourisme Montréal and the Association hôtelière du Grand Montréal, Les Voyageurs (Travellers) by Cédric Le Borgne features luminous figures floating over five downtown hotels: Hôtel HoneyRose Montréal, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, DoubleTree by Hilton Montréal, Montréal Marriott Château Champlain and Hyatt Place Montréal Centre-Ville.
In the inner courtyard of the Humaniti Hôtel Montréal, La Monarque by Lucion displays five petals symbolizing the beauty and fragility of nature. Luminous cocktails and mocktails are also available on the outdoor patios of the DoubleTree by Hilton Montréal, the Central and Montréal Marriott Château Champlain.
Spotlight on Creativity
At the Palais des congrès, the presentation of Celestia by Kleis is a Montreal premiere. On Sainte-Catherine St. W., facing Place des Arts, Sagesse de foule by Ottomata invites the public to interact with light.
The Quartier Latin is the canvas for UQAM students:
- Members of the graduating glass in immersive and interactive experiences present Synapse, a work in sound and light in the courtyard next to the UQAM steeple
- Students in the bachelor of design and visual experiences program present original video projections on the façades of the Grande Bibliothèque and UQAM’s Design building (January to March)
Also in the Quartier Latin, End over End by Studio Vertigo puts a gigantic Slinky on the Glissades Gamelin sliding runs, and Phosphorescence by Pauline Loctin illuminates Place Pasteur with an original suspended work.
Video Projections: An Essential Part of LUMINO
Three new works inspired by the colours of winter—Rêve retrouvé by Iana Brezeky, Le potentiel des épidermes entrelacés by Marie-Ève Drolet and Codex by Teo Leroo—come to life on four of the Quartier’s six projection surfaces.
On Esplanade Tranquille, the interactive video project Le coffre à jouets dégivré by Ottomata and Doki illuminates the rink starting January 15, presented in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal.
On the Place des Arts Esplanade:
- Well-known artist Michel Lemieux presents Vulnérable, an interactive installation that transforms itself as participants move, breathing life into avatars with multiform bodies
- Stargate, a sculptural creation by Chalk River Labs, uses video mapping to envelop the entire structure in captivating images and invites visitors to climb into the central ring to capture spectacular photos.
To Discover in January
A world premiere, Climat intérieur by Mirari, will appear on Émery St. in the Quartier Latin. A monumental luminous harp called ChronoHarp, by the Australian creators Amigo & Amigo, will attract crowds to the Promenade des Artistes, inviting them to play with the massive structure to generate a cascade of luminous animations. At Place Ville Marie’s Esplanade PVM, Horizon by Olivier Landreville comprises luminous cocoons and dreamy vistas. On Sainte-Catherine St. West, facing Place des Arts, Unicode Haïku Extension is a generative light installation by Fred Sapey-Triomphe colours the space. Finally, Parallèles is an installation by Studio Transversal whose interaction with the light structure will generate a video projection on the façade near the Saint-Laurent metro station.
A Distinct Luminous Signature and Activities for Families
Parc Hydro-Québec and Esplanade Tranquille are the heart of LUMINO and the perfect starting point for exploring the works located to the east and west in the Quartier and downtown. On Sainte-Catherine St. West, the scaffolding for the ongoing renovations at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal of Place des Arts hosts Lumipano (a participatory work resembling a giant Lite Brite toy)—everyone is invited to stop and let their creativity flow on the massive luminous panel.
Several family activities are planned:
- A lantern-making workshop at the MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises in collaboration with Montreal-Cambodian visual artist Ravy Puth
- Carnaval LUMINO, a walk of luminous fantasy creatures and a celebration of winter
- A Kermesse of light in Place Émilie-Gamelin, on the Glissades Gamelin site
Quotes
“LUMINO transforms the Quartier des Spectacles and downtown into an open-air art exhibition. With its creative, evolving program, the event uses our urban infrastructure as a canvas for presenting its digital art. The works, by local and international artists, create gathering places, and their reach extends far beyond the city,” said Chantal Rouleau, Minister Responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action, Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region and MNA for Pointe-aux-Trembles.
“By offering visitors a unique experience, LUMINO reaffirms the city’s reputation as a prime winter destination. The Government of Québec is pleased to support events that enhance our winter tourism offerings and contribute to the economic vitality of our regions,” said Amélie Dionne, Minister of Tourism and Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine Region.
“LUMINO truly embodies the spirit of Montreal: creative, festive and in touch with its public spaces—even in winter. This event energizes the downtown core and transforms it into a place where people get together to explore, be amazed and enjoy winter. We are proud to support this initiative, which gives a great boost to our downtown and shows off Montreal’s culture for Montrealers and the world,” said Soraya Martinez Ferrada, mayor of Montreal and of the borough of Ville-Marie.
“For more than 15 years, LUMINO has been an exceptional platform for creators of all stripes to present unique participatory experiences. The works transform citizens’ and visitors’ view of winter and the urban environment. This unique project, initiated by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, has become an international standard bearer for winter animation. It attracts growing numbers of visitors with its high-quality, daring programming. I want to thank the artists for their fantastic talent, and all of our partners, including the Ville de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation du Québec for their exceptional contributions,” said Monique Simard, chair of the boards of directors of the Quartier des Spectacles and of Quartier des Spectacles International.
“Tourisme Montréal is proud to support LUMINO, a marquee event that makes a powerful contribution to the downtown core’s vitality and our city’s international reputation. With some 20% of LUMINO attendees visiting from outside Quebec, the event is an integral part our strategy to boost Montreal’s attractiveness as a must-visit winter destination. Thank you, LUMINO, for brightening our nights!” said Yves Lalumière, CEO of Tourisme Montréal.
