Sharjah Light Festival 2026: An illuminating experience
The Sharjah Light Festival is set to return, illuminating the emirate with a vibrant display of creativity, culture and innovation. This year, the Sharjah Light Festival 2026 will run from 3rd to 15th February, promising an unforgettable experience that combines artistry and technology in a breathtaking showcase.
ABOUT SHARJAH LIGHT FESTIVAL
Since its inception, the Sharjah Light Festival has become a hallmark of artistic expression in the region. Now in its 15th edition, the Sharjah Light Festival 2026 is poised to transform the city into a dazzling canvas. This event will feature a series of light installations celebrating Sharjah’s rich cultural heritage. It will bring together local talents and renowned international artists, fostering a spirit of collaboration and creativity.
- Dates: 3rd to 15th February
Initiated in 2010, the Sharjah Light Festival (SLF) is an annual arts festival featuring light shows across the emirate. It is organised annually by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
The Lights Festival in Sharjah aims to showcase the emirate’s inspiring history, rich heritage and architectural achievements.
SHARJAH LIGHT FESTIVAL SHOWS 2026
The Sharjah Light Festival returns in 2026 to tell the emirate’s rich heritage stories through light and music at 13 iconic landmarks. Here’s an overview of the specially curated shows and installations that you can enjoy during the Sharjah Light Festival 2026.
A Journey of Time, a Legacy of Belonging
The Opening Show transforms light into a storyteller, weaving a cinematic narrative of identity, unity and shared memory. By blending projection and music, the spectacle traces Sharjah’s journey from its ancestral roots to a visionary, culture-driven future inspired by the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. It culminates in a powerful moment of collective wonder, illustrating that in Sharjah, light is the ultimate expression of belonging.
- Location: Dr Sultan Al Qassimi Centre
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
Radiant Serenity
The Sharjah Mosque is transformed into a sanctuary of light, where soft illumination honours Islamic patterns and architectural elegance. This respectful display transcends decoration, fostering a deep sense of peace, faith and cultural unity. Ultimately, the experience moves beyond the visual, inviting visitors to a quiet moment of spiritual connection.
- Location: Sharjah Mosque
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
The Pulse of Belonging
This installation pulses like a heartbeat, using rhythm and motion to transform the space into a vibrant communal hub. More than an artwork, it serves as a welcoming meeting point where visitors pause, connect and capture shared memories. It ultimately celebrates the idea that belonging is found in the moments we experience together.
- Location: Al Majaz Waterfront
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
Threads of Memory
Blending heritage with a modern signature, this installation reimagines traditional patterns through contemporary light and intentional detail. As shifting reflections evoke memories of the past, the piece serves as a cultural echo rather than just a landmark. It stands as a reminder that belonging is found in what we inherit, recognise and carry into the future.
- Location: Al Jada
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
A Path of Light
This installation is a luminous pathway that symbolises progress and shared direction through clean, modern beams of light. While it serves as an iconic landmark from afar, it offers a personal sanctuary up close for reflection, connection and renewal.
- Location: Kalba Waterfront
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
The Rock of History
The Rock of History transforms the Al Rafisah Dam into a living chronicle, mapping the journey of identity from the Palaeolithic age to the modern era. By projecting luminous geological strata onto the natural landscape, the show illustrates how diverse cultures have found sanctuary on the same desert bedrock. It is a powerful tribute to Sharjah as a constant host, using state-of-the-art technology to prove that belonging is etched into the very earth we share.
- Location: Al Rafisah Dam (Khorfakkan)
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
The Heart of Khorfakkan
This installation captures the essence of Khorfakkan as a historic gateway, blending imagery of ancient trade ships and pearl divers with the natural flow of water. As stars and sea life reflect in the streams, the boundary between nature and art dissolves. It is an immersive experience designed to be felt rather than just seen: a sensory reminder that we are part of the water’s eternal flow and belonging.
- Location: Khorfakkan Waterfall
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
Infinite Fort
This show reimagines Al Dhaid Fort as a living vessel of collective memory, blending ancient architectural motifs with contemporary digital art. Through synchronised live performances and shifting projections, ranging from tribal drawings to modern glass planes, the fort’s sandstone walls dissolve the hierarchy between past and future. The experience culminates in a vibrant oasis of light and dance, positioning the fort as a timeless beacon of security, prosperity and shared identity.
- Location: Al Dhaid Fort
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
Still Life, Eternal Motion
At Al Hamriyah Souq, history is reimagined as a “living still-life,” where the façade transforms into a speculative art gallery of Sharjah’s trading legacy. Projection mapping animates treasures like silk, pearls and frankincense, blending classical painting styles with the motion of Arabian commerce. This fusion of visual languages honours the Souq’s role as a historic crossroads, creating a luminous beacon that connects the caravans of the past with the diverse communities of today.
- Location: General Souq – Al Hamriyah
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
A Haven for Dreamers
This show transforms the Kalba Hanging Gardens into a poetic sanctuary where nature and dreams converge. By reimagining the site as a modern successor to the ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the projection mapping mirrors how communal identity and environmental beauty intertwine. Ultimately, it celebrates the garden as an emotional landscape, a “new kingdom” of coexistence where individual memories root into a shared sense of belonging.
- Location: Hanging Gardens in Kalba
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
Crafts of the Peninsula
Crafts of the Peninsula transforms the mosque into a living portfolio of Gulf artistry, wrapping the façade in intricate, hand-crafted geometric motifs. As radiant patterns and colourful light bloom across the architecture, the masjid becomes a symbol of divine serenity and cultural preservation. This display honours the hidden order of craftsmanship, celebrating a shared identity through every luminous, repeating stroke.
- Location: Al Tayari Mosque (Dibba)
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
Light Between Words
This 3D mapping show transforms The Scroll into a living metaphor for the journey from silence to shared wisdom. As books surface from the stone and the monument ripples like desert sand, the display illustrates that knowledge and belonging know no borders. The experience culminates in a breathtaking calligraphic finale, celebrating Sharjah’s enduring commitment to culture, creativity and the power of light.
- Location: House of Wisdom
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
Call For A Wish
Call for a Wish is an interactive installation that transforms personal whispers into a collective visual masterpiece. By speaking into a “wish catcher,” visitors materialise their anonymous dreams as evolving light trails that trigger surreal reactions across the façade. Over time, these individual sparks accumulate into a glowing, magical landscape, a shared portrait of the community’s hopes and imagination.
- Location: Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)
- Timings: Monday to Friday, 06:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday, 06:00 pm – 12:00 am
ABOUT SHARJAH LIGHT VILLAGE
SLF Eats & Shops
The Light Village features over 60 vendors offering a diverse culinary journey of traditional, exotic and fusion flavours. Across 25 unmissable nights, you can revisit family favourites or discover new ones, ranging from gourmet burgers and fresh salads to speciality coffees. Beyond the food, enjoy a curated shopping experience with various retail stores participating this year.
- Tickets: Starting from AED 10
- Dates: 29th January – 22nd February 2026
- Location: Opposite University City Hall
- Timings: Sunday to Wednesday, 05:00 pm – 12:00 am | Thursday to Saturday, 05:00 pm – 01:00 am
Light installations and experiences
From the Smash Room and Yeppley workshops to an appealing play area, there’s so much to explore at the Light Village this year. The best part? You can enjoy it all until the 22nd of February!
Play Zone is the ultimate destination for fun, skill-building and lasting memories. A wonderland for kids to explore their imaginations, it features arcade games that keep them entertained for hours. The colourful attractions delight children of all ages, especially the spinning carousel, which takes them on a magical ride.
- Tickets: Starting from AED 10
- Dates: 29th January – 22nd February 2026
- Location: Opposite University City Hall
- Timings: Sunday to Wednesday, 05:00 pm – 12:00 am | Thursday to Saturday, 05:00 pm – 01:00 am
FAQs
When did the Sharjah Light Festival start?
The first Sharjah Light Festival was organised in 2010.
Is the Sharjah Light Festival free?
Yes, all light shows are free to attend and open to all age groups. However, you must purchase entry tickets to the Sharjah Light Village 2026, priced at AED 10 for adults and kids over 12. Children under 12, adults over 60 and People of Determination can enter the SLF Light Village for free.
Budget-conscious visitors will be happy to know that there are also several other free things to do in Sharjah, like mosque and park visits.
That is all about the Sharjah Light Festival 2026. Inspired by local culture and traditional stories, this year’s show is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the emirate. So mark your calendar and keep your phones charged as the city lights up!
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*Cover Image Credits: SLF’s official website
