LUMA Southern Light Project

LUMA

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Arts & CultureQueenstown
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationWinterEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsLUMA began in 2015 as a preview event of
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NZD
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

LUMA Southern Light Project in Queenstown

LUMA Southern Light Project is a free light-art festival that transforms Queenstown Gardens over King's Birthday Weekend in early June, filling the trees and paths with illuminated sculptures, soundscapes, live performance and a short film programme across four winter nights each year, run by a local not-for-profit trust.

LUMA Southern Light Project began in 2015 as a modest add-on to the Queenstown Winter Festival, a preview evening built around just four light sculptures placed through Queenstown Gardens.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

LUMA began in 2015 as a preview event of just four light sculptures added to the now-discontinued Queenstown Winter Festival, run by a small group of local trustees under the not-for-profit LUMA Light Festival Trust

02

The mystery stays covered

It has since grown into a standalone drawcard attracting roughly 60,000 attendees a year, effectively outgrowing the festival it started inside

03

The city starts moving

Two features distinguish it from typical light shows: LUMAbility, a program built to make the installations accessible to visitors with diverse needs, and DISHrupt, a zero-waste initiative that removes single-use packaging from festival catering in favour of reusables

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's LUMAbility accessibility programme and DISHrupt zero-waste catering system are its distinguishing organisational traditions

Water and renewal

Living ritual

carried forward each year as the event's identity beyond the light art itself

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Warm layered clothing, a waterproof jacket, gloves and a hat, as this is an outdoor night event in early winter alpine cold with long stretches of standing and walking.

Safety

Keep photography restrained at LUMA Southern Light Project; give people room and treat community moments as more than scenery.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Queenstown you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

NZD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map45.03 S, 168.66 EOpen in Google Maps

Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand

Nearest airportZQN — Queenstown
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Queenstown you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Queenstown via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Queenstown, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearWarm layered clothing, a waterproof jacket, gloves and a hat, as this is an outdoor night event in early winter alpine cold with long stretches of standing and walking.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for New Zealand and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is LUMA Southern Light Project?

LUMA Southern Light Project is listed for June · Winter. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does LUMA Southern Light Project take place?

The festival is listed in Queenstown, New Zealand. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Winter is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLfestival-of-light.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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