Staged around outdoor locations across Salford Quays and MediaCity, Lightwaves Salford invites families and friends of all ages to get together and explore captivating light installations that transform the Salford waterside environment after dark.

2024 marked the 11th Lightwaves, with a trail of 14 illuminated works from established as well as emerging artists, both local, national and international, that brought a variety of different pieces; thought-provoking, surprising and playful.

Lightwaves Salford is part of the Quays Culture Programme, a partnership initiative with a mission to animate public spaces, bringing extraordinary art and culture events into the heart of the community for everyone to experience free of charge.

Dates of the previous/upcoming edition: 4 – 7 December 2025