Rising costs result in shorter light festival

The Durham Lumiere draws huge crowds to the city

The latest edition of a city's light festival will be a day shorter than previous events due to increased costs, organisers have said.

Durham Lumiere usually takes place across four nights in November every two years.

It sees landmarks and buildings lit up in intricate artistic designs and has drawn more than 1.3 million visitors over the years.

But the 2025 event - which is being held in Durham and Shildon - will take place over three nights between 13 and 15 November to balance "the challenge of rising costs", organisers confirmed.

Installations will illuminate parts of Durham city, with artworks also placed in Shildon as part of celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The biennial has been taking place since 2009 and this will be its first edition to run for the shorter three-night period.

A spokespersonsaid: "Lumiere 2025 will take place over three nights to balance the challenge of rising costs while maintaining its reputation as a vibrant, world-class event for Durham.

"From Thursday to Saturday, November 13-15, visitors and locals will once again experience UK premieres and stunning light art commissions by national and international artists in Durham City and Shildon, the location for this year's Spotlight on County Durham."

Artworks this year include a huge forest of illuminated flowers outside Durham Cathedral, a digital waterfall responding to human touch and a butterfly installation at Crook Hall.

Shildon's Locomotion Museum will also host a trio of artworks, including a community-created lantern installation called Glimmer .