Amsterdam Light Festival at a glance
The Amsterdam Light Festival is a winter show of light art along the canals. The coming edition, the 15th, runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. The lights are on every evening, so you can plan a visit on almost any day in that window. You can see the artworks from a boat or on foot, and most visitors pick one or try both on different evenings.
The festival is not one standard product. A boat trip can be a covered and heated boat, an open boat, a cruise with drinks or a private group trip. If you are choosing a boat, the evening cruise guide explains how evening trips differ, and the canal cruise page compares the boat types.
Our pick: a Light Festival cruise
This electric boat trip is made for the festival, and the festival fee is included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Amsterdam Light Festival boat tours and evening cruises
Covered, heated and open boats on the canals in winter, with live prices and availability.
Dates, hours and the route
The key numbers for the 2026/27 edition.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Dates | 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027 |
| Light hours | Daily 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., on 31 December only until 9 p.m. |
| Boat route | About 75 minutes |
| Walking route | 4.5 km |
| App | Available from mid-November |
| Artworks | Around 20 |
For most visitors the boat is the easiest way to see the whole route in one go, and the walk suits an evening when you want to stop at single artworks.
Boat tours and the different boat types
The boat route takes about 75 minutes. Boats come in several types: covered boats with heating, open boats with blankets, cruises with drinks and group boats. Private trips can include dinner. Toilets and heating are not a given on open boats, so check what each offer includes before you book.
A dinner on board is a different thing from a festival cruise. If you want both, look for a private or group trip that says so. The same cruise can be priced differently depending on boat type, group size and extras, so there is no single festival price to quote.
Walking the Amsterdam Light Festival
The walking route is 4.5 km. The festival app becomes available in mid-November, so you can plan before you arrive. Each edition has its own artworks and its own map, so use the current edition's map and do not rely on a route from an earlier winter.
Information points help with questions on the spot. One is at Waterlooplein and another in the Centraal area. Their hours are not the same as the light hours. Usually they are open Thursday to Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. During the Christmas holidays, 19 December to 3 January, they are open daily and closed on 25 and 31 December.
What to check before you go
Practical points for planning an evening.
Pick your boat type
Covered and heated, open with blankets, with drinks or private. Not every boat has the same facilities, so read the offer for heating and toilets.
Check the ticket shop
Prices vary by offer and are shown when you choose in the ticket shop. There is no single price for the festival, so compare what each offer includes.
Plan for 31 December
The lights go off earlier on 31 December, at 9 p.m., and the information points are closed that day. Plan a different evening if you want the full route.
Dress for the weather
It is winter in Amsterdam. The weather guide shows what to expect, and the Christmas page covers markets and lights in the same weeks.
Plan the rest of your visit
More guides on the canal ring.
Amsterdam Light Festival: frequently asked questions
When is the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026/27?
From 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. It is the 15th edition.
What time are the lights on?
Daily from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. On 31 December they go off at 9 p.m.
How long is the boat route?
About 75 minutes.
How long is the walking route?
4.5 km. The app becomes available in mid-November.
Are all boats heated?
No. There are covered and heated boats, and open boats with blankets. Check each offer for heating and toilets.
How many artworks are there?
Around 20. The artworks and the map change from one edition to the next.