Mons en Lumières turns the city into a luminous queer‑friendly wonderland

From 22 to 25 January 2026, Mons en Lumières is back to flood the historic city centre with colour, emotion and light. Over four nights, the Walloon city transforms into a 3 km open-air light trail, where heritage buildings, intimate courtyards and iconic squares become stages for luminous art.

In just two editions, Mons en Lumières has established itself as one of the region’s must‑see winter events, drawing over 260,000 visitors and boosting both tourism and local nightlife. Entirely free and open to everyone, the festival is a natural fit for LGBTQIA+ audiences looking for a safe, shared, after‑dark experience that is both cosy and spectacular.

A theme that speaks to queer lives: “Enter the light”

The 2026 edition revolves around a deeply poetic and resonant theme: “Enter the light. A need to enlighten the world.” It is an invitation to cross a threshold, step out of the shadows and rekindle an inner flame – a powerful metaphor for many queer journeys from invisibility to pride, from silence to visibility.

Born from a collaboration between the City of Mons, the University of Mons (UMons) and MUMONS around the exhibition “Électrique”, the festival reflects on light as more than a visual phenomenon. Here, light becomes energy, warmth, movement, knowledge and connection – everything that fuels community, chosen families and the desire to stand together in public space.

Art, science and a city that glows

Mons en Lumières 2026 offers 15 major light installations scattered along a 3 km route weaving through streets, squares and landmarks such as the Grand-Place, the Belfry, the Jardin du Mayeur, Sainte-Waudru and Maison Losseau. Nothing is simply repeated from previous editions: each work is conceived as a new encounter, a surprise or a suspended moment, inviting visitors to slow down, look up and reclaim the city together.

The festival also dialogues with another major cultural highlight: the closing weekend of “David Hockney. The Song of the Earth” at the CAP. The conversation between Hockney’s colour‑saturated, queer‑coded landscapes and the city’s light installations offers a layered experience where painting, light and emotion echo each other – perfect for culture‑hungry queer visitors planning a full weekend in Mons.

A queer‑friendly urban night out

For LGBTQIA+ people and allies, light festivals can be more than pretty backdrops for selfies. They create temporary, low‑threshold, open‑air “safe zones” where couples can hold hands in the crowd, groups of friends can wander late into the night, and families – chosen or biological – can share a gentle, collective experience. Mons en Lumières explicitly frames itself as accessible “to all”, and the festival’s ambition is to help revive the historic centre, support local bars, restaurants and venues, and encourage people to rediscover Mons after dark.

The route alternates between monumental shows and intimate pieces, between busy squares and quieter gardens. It’s an ideal setup for queer groups who want both the buzz of big public moments and quieter corners to catch their breath, talk and simply be visible together in the city.

A sustainable glow, not a power binge

The festival also commits to a more sustainable approach: low‑energy technologies, careful use of resources and an eco‑conscious organisation. In a context where many queer and allied communities are deeply engaged in climate justice and environmental questions, Mons en Lumières positions itself as a festival that takes its ecological footprint seriously while still delivering sensory impact.

Mons en Lumières extends to SPARKOH!

The journey doesn’t end in Mons. From 12 to 14 February 2026, the spirit of Mons en Lumières moves to SPARKOH! in Frameries, a former industrial site turned science and discovery centre. For a second weekend, the venue will be transformed into a more intimate, exploratory light experience, ideal for couples’ getaways around Valentine’s Day or a queer friends’ road trip mixing science, play and night‑time atmosphere.

At SPARKOH!, the connection between light, electricity and knowledge becomes even more explicit, echoing the “Électrique” exhibition and inviting visitors to think about how energy circulates through our bodies, cities and social networks – including queer communities that keep reinventing ways to be visible and connected.

Practical info & useful links

• Dates Mons en Lumières (Mons city centre): 22–25 January 2026
• Dates SPARKOH! (Frameries): 12–14 February 2026
• Location (Mons route): approx. 3 km through the historic centre – including Place Léopold, Grand‑Place, Belfry area, Jardin du Mayeur, Sainte‑Waudru, Maison Losseau
• Accessibility: Free, open to all, outdoor and pedestrian
• Theme: “Enter the light. A need to enlighten the world”