Göttingen shines: thousands celebrate the night of colorful lights!

Göttingen shines: thousands celebrate the night of colorful lights!

Last Friday, November 10th, 2025, the city center of Göttingen shone with bright colors and imaginative light installations at the premiere of the “Göttingen Night of Lights”. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., the streets were transformed into a magical scene that attracted thousands of visitors who marveled at the spectacle and enjoyed the animated supporting program. According to [HNA], the light installations and performances were spread throughout the city, with the old auditorium at Weender Tor and the Old Town Hall on the market square being particularly notable.

An impressive 3D video mapping show captured the attention of those in attendance as the historic facade of the Old Town Hall was bathed in vibrant colors. In addition, glowing stilt walkers from “Hochkant” from Hildesheim, who wandered around among the curious spectators, thrilled the audience. For smaller art enthusiasts, there was the opportunity to make black light masks in St. John's Church, while a mobile planetarium dome offered a fascinating 30-minute show.

A colorful and varied program

The diverse program included free flashlight tours, which were offered at the tourist information center and were immediately fully booked. Special highlights were also the light and fire show at the weekly market and the four-church laser, which made the old town churches shine in an impressive shade of purple. The university auditorium on Wilhelmsplatz was also transformed into a spectacular light landscape that captivated the audience. Visitors were enthusiastic about the illuminated works of art on the wall between the German Theater and the Auditorium as well as the opportunity to experience the old town under a new light. Feedback from the event was mixed – many were positive, while others made suggestions for improvement. Events of a similar nature have already taken place in the past, such as the Bella Skyway Festival in 2018 or “Lights and More” in 2011, as [Göttingen.de] noted.

Another highlight was the laser show at Forum Wissen at 6 p.m., which captivated the audience with impressive light effects. Local businesses that offered special candlelight concerts provided the culinary delights. The catering offered visitors a welcome opportunity to fortify themselves between the program items and enjoy the evening to the fullest.

A complete success for Göttingen Marketing

The event was organized by Göttingen Marketing GmbH and received support from Forum Wissen and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization. It is interesting that the event was co-financed as part of the “Resilient city centers in Lower Saxony” funding program in order to increase the attractiveness of the city center and promote regional tourism. The target group was clearly defined: citizens and guests from the region should be addressed equally. The full program was made available in a digital event on the [Göttingen Tourismus] website.

With the Göttingen Night of Lights, the city has once again proven that it has a good knack for exceptional events that not only illuminate the cityscape, but also bring the community together and create a feeling of togetherness. It remains to be seen how the event will be further developed next year and what new lighting accents will be set.