Lumiere over the years in nine glowing pictures

Hundreds of handmade lanterns filled Durham Cathedral's Cloiser during Lumiere 2025

The final Lumiere came to a close on Saturday night, with installations lighting up Durham and Shildon.

The event began in 2009 and has been back every two years, illuminating the cold November nights.

Helen Marriage, artistic director of Lumiere, has confirmed this year's festival was the last. However, there might be a glimmer of hope for its future as Durham County Council said it would review this year's event and that it was not "necessarily the end of Lumiere or light art in Durham".

Artists and visitors have spoken of the impact it has made and joy it has brought, which is evident from these photos marking every edition of the light festival.

Chorus was one of the artworks at the very first Durham Lumiere in 2009

The trees and river were illuminated during the second festival in 2011

In 2013 a simulation of the sun was tethered over Durham University's Science site

A whale found itself in the River Wear in 2015 as a realistic projection emerged from the water

In 2017, Amsterdam came to Durham, with an installation showing a portrait of life in the city hanging above the River Wear

Geometrical patterns illuminated the trees at Durham's riverside back in 2019

Lumiere at times ventured further afield and in 2021 lit up Finchale Priory

In 2023, an installation turned into the beating heart of Lumiere, with an artwork activated by the heartbeat of participants

This year, the Palace Green became a forest of giant illuminated flowers