GLOW 2025: light art connecting city and region, world record and young talent in the spotlight

Successful anniversary edition brings city and region together through light art

Eindhoven, 16 November 2025 – The anniversary edition of GLOW Eindhoven demonstrated how light art brings people together and sets the city in motion. With an official world record, an expanded regional programme and a strong platform for young talent, this year’s edition celebrated creativity and collaboration. GLOW and its partners look back with pride on a highly successful international light festival. A mix of crowd favourites, innovative artworks, the growing GLOW in the Region programme and the remarkably mild November weather drew exceptionally large numbers of visitors.

The annual GLOW audience survey — conducted by research agency Markteffect — once again showed the festival’s positive impact. According to the results, 65% of visitors feel that GLOW is a festival for everyone, regardless of background or status. In addition, 43% indicate that GLOW strengthens the sense of connection between people in the region.

Outgoing GLOW director Ronald Ramakers:
“Ten years ago, I started at GLOW with the vision ‘The city creates GLOW’. It’s the collaboration between companies, communities, artists and schools that allows us to tell the city’s unique stories through light art. With our expansion into the region this year, we were able to connect even more people and let them enjoy free light art. While we can’t determine the exact numbers, I wouldn’t be surprised if more than a million people visited GLOW in Eindhoven and the surrounding region — not to mention our online reach! Seeing so many people from all kinds of backgrounds experiencing culture together in public space is priceless. I couldn’t have wished for a better farewell.”

GLOW in the Region

GLOW in the Region proved more popular than ever. In Best, Oirschot, Veldhoven, Lieshout and Helmond, visitors could enjoy both small and larger routes.

Project leader Bart van Bokhoven:
“Each GLOW edition in every town or city is unique. They all tell their own story. I think everyone will agree that GLOW enriches the region — it gets people out and brings them together. That has both social and economic impact. Regional entrepreneurs are also extremely positive.”

World record: largest circular chandelier

For the first time in 20 years, an official world record was set during GLOW. On 7 November, officials from the International World Records Organisation (IWRO) confirmed that the Chandelier of Connection is officially recognised as the world’s largest circular chandelier.

The chandelier is an initiative by VanPetnaarPret and Signify, together with the Climate Mission Eindhoven–Helmond. During GLOW 2024, thousands of visitors took part by cycling to crush PET bottles for its creation. The final result was on display throughout the week in the Paterskerk.

Talent Award by SIMAC

Eleven innovative student projects competed this year for the Talent Award, the leading competition for students from the GLOW Academy. As tradition dictates, the prizes were presented on the final evening of GLOW — this time at the Effenaar in Eindhoven, with a live audience.

The Audience Award (€1,000) was won by Perception, created by Team IGNITE.
The Jury Encouragement Award (€2,000) went to Kubus Bos, developed by Praktijkcollege Helmond.

GLOW is made possible by its Founding Partners: Signify and the Municipality of Eindhoven.
Main Partners: ASML, BIZ Eindhoven, EDGE Eindhoven, Eindhoven 247, Enexis, Levanto, Eindhoven Airport, Heuvel Eindhoven, Mini Nederland, Pronorm, Pullman, Rabobank, Het Eindhoven van de Toekomst and our supporting partners.