Light Festival Amsterdam 2026/2027 – Dates, Tickets & Canal Cruise Guide
Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/2027
For its 15th birthday, the Amsterdam Light Festival fills the canals of the city centre with 20 light artworks. Glide past them on a canal cruise, or walk the route along the water. Every evening from 16:30.
Find your cruiseRoute & opening hoursFifteen years of light on the canals
Every winter, artists from the Netherlands and abroad turn Amsterdam’s canals into an open-air gallery. Their works hang above the water, float on it and glow on the bridges and facades along the way, and they look their best reflected in the dark canals. For the 15th edition there is no fixed theme: the artists were asked what they want to tell the city, which makes this anniversary edition more varied than ever.
You can see the light art in two ways. From the water, a canal cruise takes you past the artworks in about 75 minutes, with commentary along the way. On foot, you follow a walking route of around 4.5 kilometres through the city centre with the official festival app, which tells the story behind each artwork.
At a glance
- Dates
- 26 Nov 2026 – 17 Jan 2027 (15th edition)
- Opening hours
- Daily 16:30 – 23:00, 31 Dec until 21:00
- Artworks
- 20, along the canals of the city centre
- By boat
- Canal cruise of 75–90 minutes, from €22.30
- On foot
- Route of ±4.5 km (±1.5 hours) with the official app, €7.99
- Departure points
- Central Station, Leidseplein, Amsterdam-Noord, Amstel
Which Light Festival cruise suits you?
All cruises sail past the light artworks and take about 75 to 90 minutes. The biggest difference is the boat: warm behind glass, outside close to the art, with drinks on board, or a boat of your own. Choose what matters to you and pick a departure point.
Light Festival cruise from Central Station
Heated canal boat with a glass roof, a live guide and the official festival audio guide. Departs from Prins Hendrikkade, opposite Central Station. Tip: on the 19:00 and 21:00 departures you can choose an option with unlimited drinks.
Central Station
From €22.50per adult
Check datesLight Festival cruise from Leidseplein
Heated, covered canal boat with a live guide and a longer route of about 90 minutes. Departs from Stadhouderskade, near Leidseplein.
Leidseplein
From €25.00per adult
Check datesLight Festival cruise from A’DAM Tower (Noord)
Heated canal boat with a live guide in English and Dutch. Departs from the pier next to A’DAM Tower; free ferry from behind Central Station.
A’DAM Tower (Noord)
From €22.30per adult
Check datesLight Festival cruise from the Amstel with unlimited drinks option
Covered electric boat with a live guide in English and warm blankets. Choose the option with unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine and soft drinks plus a welcome snack. Departs from Amstel 178, near Rembrandtplein.
Amstel 178, near Rembrandtplein
From €27.50per adult
Check datesLight Festival cruise with snacks & unlimited drinks
Small boat with a live guide in English. Unlimited mulled wine, hot chocolate, wine, prosecco, beer and soft drinks, Dutch biscuits and warm blankets. Departs from Stationsplein 17.
Around Central Station
From €39.75per adult
Check datesSaloon-style boat cruise
A smaller, comfortable boat with a live guide. Add unlimited wine, mulled wine, beer and soft drinks if you like.
Oosterdokskade 8, 5 minutes from Central Station
From €29.75per adult
Check datesOpen-boat tour with mulled wine or hot chocolate
Sit outside under blankets with a live skipper, right up close to the artworks.
Damrak 13–15, near Central Station
From €22.75per adult
Check datesOpen-boat tour from Leidseplein
A longer route in an open boat with a live skipper, with drinks optional.
Stadhouderskade 501, opposite the Hard Rock Cafe
From €29.75per adult
Check datesPrivate Light Festival boat tour
Your own heated historic boat with a skipper. Ideal for families, friends and a special evening out.
Amstel 51, H’ART Museum
€375per boat (€37.50 p.p. with 10)
View private boatNo cruise matches this combination. Choose another departure point or type of boat.
Compare the boats at a glance
Not sure which type to choose? These are the main differences.
| Type of boat | Best for | Warmth & comfort | View & photos | Group size | Price per adult |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covered canal boat | Families, cold or rainy evenings | Heated, glass roof, toilet on board | Good, but windows can steam up | Up to 60–80 | €22.30–29.75 |
| Boat with drinks | Couples and friends, a cosy evening out | Heated or partly open | Good | Small groups | €22.75–32.50 |
| Open boat | Photographers, close-up views of the art | Blankets, dress warmly | Best: nothing between you and the art | 12–50 | €22.75–29.75 |
| Private boat | Groups, families, special occasions | Heated, your own space | Very good | Up to 10 | €375 per boat |
Prefer your own boat, a bike or a walk?
The light art is just as impressive from the quay. These are the alternatives to a regular cruise.
Private boat
A heated historic boat for up to 10 people, 75 minutes from the H’ART Museum on the Amstel.
€375 per boat
View private boat
Guided bike tour
1.5 hours past the artworks with a local guide, hot chocolate and a stroopwafel included.
€21.90 p.p.
View bike tour
Walking tour or app
Two hours with a live guide, or walk the route at your own pace with the official app (€7.99).
Guided from €29 p.p.
View walking optionsRoute and map
The 20 artworks are spread along the canals of the city centre. On foot, the full route is about 4.5 kilometres and takes around 1.5 hours at a relaxed pace. The artworks are in public space, but there are no signs along the way: the official festival app guides you along the route and tells the story behind each artwork.
- Start: the festival suggests starting at Amstel 1 or Waterlooplein, where you will also find the information point.
- Official app (€7.99): the Light Walk in the festival app shows the route past all 20 artworks and tells their stories. The route map is available from 24 November.
- With a guide: prefer company? Join a guided walking tour or bike tour past the artworks.
Opening hours
| Light artworks | Every day 16:30 – 23:00 |
| New Year’s Eve (31 Dec) | 16:30 – 21:00 |
| Cruise departures | About every 30 minutes, 16:30 – 21:30 |
| Information point | Amstel 1 / Waterlooplein: Thu–Sun 16:30 – 21:00, daily 19 Dec – 3 Jan |
© OpenStreetMapOn the winter map
Light Festival departure points on the map
All cruise departure points, with the Christmas markets, ice rinks and hotels nearby.
Tips for the best Light Festival evening
- Book ahead for weekends and the Christmas holidays. Cruises between 18:00 and 19:30 sell out first; earlier or later slots are quieter.
- Choose open for photos, covered for comfort. On covered boats, windows can steam up on cold evenings.
- Combine it with the Christmas market or ice skating. Start with the Christmas Market on Museumplein or the ice rink, then catch a cruise in the evening.
- Stay close to the route. Hotels in the city centre and the canal belt put you within walking distance of the artworks. Find hotels in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/2027?
The 15th edition runs from Thursday 26 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027. The light artworks are on every evening from 16:30 to 23:00; on New Year’s Eve they switch off at 21:00.
Do you need a ticket for the Amsterdam Light Festival?
The artworks are in public space, so you can see them without a ticket. To follow the 4.5-kilometre route and hear the stories behind the artworks, most visitors use the official festival app (€7.99), or book a canal cruise, guided walk or bike tour.
How long does a Light Festival cruise take?
Most cruises take about 75 minutes. Boats that depart further from the route, for example from Leidseplein, take up to 90 minutes.
Which Light Festival cruise is the best?
That depends on what you are looking for. A covered, heated canal boat is the most comfortable choice for families and cold evenings. An open boat brings you closest to the art and is best for photos. A cruise with drinks makes it an evening out, and a private boat is ideal for groups of up to 10.
Where do the Light Festival cruises depart?
Most cruises depart around Central Station (Damrak, Prins Hendrikkade, Oosterdokskade). Other departure points are Leidseplein, A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam-Noord and the Amstel near Waterlooplein.
How many artworks are there?
The 15th edition has 20 light artworks by Dutch and international artists, in, above and along the canals of the city centre.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. Prices are from-prices per adult and may vary by date.
