Every year, Southbank Centre turns even the darkest nights of winter into a celebration of artistic glow with its Winter season. This year’s Winter Light exhibition, running from 27 November 2025 to 18 January 2026, brings the architecture of this central London landmark to life with outdoor artworks that play with light and colour.
Far more than a visual feast, the exhibition also explores issues at the forefront of contemporary society. The artists address themes of individual and collective identity, the environment, and technology.
Discovery in the Dark: Politics Made of Light
The beauty of the show lies in how it spreads across the entire site. Visitors encounter the works simply by wandering the grounds, and the experience is at its most powerful after nightfall, exactly as the title suggests. The interplay of light, colour and form with darkness lends the pieces a deeply layered, meditative quality.
Featured artists include Samia Halaby, David Batchelor, Rafaël Rozendaal, France Lise McGurn, Jakob Kvist, Nathaniel Rackowe, Liz West and Tavares Strachan, an outstanding line-up that demonstrates how diverse styles and approaches can unite under a shared aesthetic to transform winter nights.
Through the Bloomberg Connects app you can access a digital map and an audio tour packed with behind-the-scenes insights, offering a deeper understanding of the power of public art.
Exhibition Information Summary
Title: Winter Light
Venue: Southbank Centre, Riverside Terrace (Level 2) and across the entire site
Dates: 27 November 2025 – 18 January 2026
Admission: Free
