Amsterdam Light Festival 2025/2026: dates, cruises, tickets

Which Amsterdam Light festival cruises are the best? Amsterdam Light Festival is a famous winter festival of art, light and water in Amsterdam. Historical buildings, bridges and sculptures in the center of Amsterdam will be illuminated with colour in the dark. This year Amsterdam will host the 14th edition of the Light Festival from 27 November 2025 to 18 January 2026.

Key facts about the Amsterdam Light Festival 2025/2026

What: An exhibition of 27 light artworks in the shape of sculptures, projections and installations presented by the international team of modern artists.

When: from 27 November 2025 to 18 January 2026.

Amsterdam Light Festival tickets: for the 2025/2026 season are already for sale. Order tickets with an early-bird discount.

Which Amsterdam Light Festival cruise to choose?

Yes, I know the variety of choice can be overwhelming! Personally I recommend the light festival cruise with unlimited drinks, organized by Starboard boats. We went on a SAIL Amsterdam cruise with them, and it was fantastic!

Light Festival opening hours

During the winter festival the lights are on:

from Sunday to Tuesday – from 17:00 to 22:00
from Wednesday to Saturday – from 17:00 to 23:00.

Please note: there are two exceptions. During the Christmas Break (23 December until 7 January 2026) the lights are on from 17:00 to 23:00. On 31 December 2025 the lights will be off.

Tip! You can still take a day canal cruise in Amsterdam both on 31 December 2025 (last departure at 15:15) and on 1 January 2026 (first departure on 10:00). Book tickets online in advance.

Where: in the center of Amsterdam. The walking festival route will be available in the official festival app.

Things to do:

The festival artworks are located alongside two different routes – a festival canal cruise and a walking route. Each of them has an own theme and exposition of artworks.

1. Take an Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise (from € 26,50)

From the waters of Amsterdam you will have the best views of the light artworks. In a heated canal boat you’ll listen to the audio guide and from an open boat you can experience the artworks form up-close. Book your festival cruise tickets in advance.

A light festival canal cruise takes approximately 75 minutes. Most cruises depart every 30 minutes, between 17:00 and 21:30.

2. Take the Light Festival 6,5 km walking route

It is not mandatory to purchase tickets to see the artworks. But you can also download an app with a digital map, containing all the locations and descriptions of the light artworks. The Amsterdam Light festival map, with the route, locations and descriptions of the artworks can purchased in the official festival app for €7,99.

Types of Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises

Canal boat cruise

This is the most classical Light Festival canal cruise in Amsterdam. You will sail in a large heated canal boat with glass windows and roof. On board you will hear the information about artworks via speakers or headsets. On most boats the audio guide is available in English and Dutch.

There are several departure locations of these types of cruises. In our opinion, the most convenient is Prins Hendrikkade 25, Amsterdam (the Lovers Canal Cruises dock), just across the Central station.

Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises including drinks

What can be better than enjoying the evening light show and warm drinks at the same time? Our favourite canal cruises with drinks are:

Amsterdam Light Festival: Cruise with unlimited drinks & bites with an open bar with beer, wine, soda, mulled wine, coffee and tea (departure point: Amstel 178, Amsterdam).

Amsterdam Light Festival: Canal cruise with glühwein (departure location: Stationplein 18, Amsterdam).

Open boat cruise

Open boats are big open sloops. You will be accompanied by the skipper (sometimes also a live guide) who will tell you all about the festival artworks. Open festival boats have blankets to keep you warm.

Please note: canal cruise departure locations differ per boat company. Please check the departure locations in the ticket shop or in your ticket if you already have one.

Private or small group canal tours

There are different boat companies in Amsterdam who offer private or small group Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises in more special boats.

Your own boat

If you have an own boat, you can buy the official Amsterdam Light Festival App (available from 25 November 2024), which contains the route, artwork descriptions and the nautical rules. Please note: a part of the festival canal route is forbidden for unmotorized vehicles.

Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise route

Amsterdam Light Festival route consists of 27 unique artworks, which you will pass by or sail underneath. You also have spectacular views of the Amsterdam canals by night.

Festival cruises opening hours and departure times

Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises will sail from 27 November 2025 to 18 January 2026. Most cruises depart every 30 minutes, between 16:45 and 21:30.

Choose a hotel for your winter stay in Amsterdam

We recommend:

Ambassade hotel
Hotel Estheréa
Andaz Prinsengracht
Banks Mansion – all inclusive boutique hotel
Pulitzer hotel

Enjoy the winter light festival! in Amsterdam!

Amsterdam Light Festival official website: https://www.amsterdamlightfestival.com/en/