Overview
You know it's winter when Lightscape returns to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Launched in 2022, this emergent annual tradition is back again, taking over Melbourne's most famous green lung with a series of new luminous paths and glowing canopies.
On display from Friday, June 12–Sunday, August 2, this 2.1-kilometre wander through the gardens will be lined with a host of magical after-dark encounters. In 2026, you'll catch 15 new and returning installations, with renowned artists from Australia and around the world getting involved.
Leading the highlights for the latest edition is the Australian premiere of Bifröst. Created by the celebrated French studio, Pitaya, you'll encounter a 40-metre-long tunnel featuring 20 arches of cascading light. Meanwhile, Firefly Field by Dutch studio TOER sees 200 glowing light points darting and hovering above the grass.
What's more, old favourites will make a dazzling return in 2026 with a fresh look. For instance, the 30-metre Winter Cathedral and the Fire Garden have been reimagined with a new circular spiral adorned with 150 candles. If you're yet to visit Lightscape, expect to be bathed in radiance from start to finish.
"We are delighted to be back in Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with our 2026 edition of Lightscape," says Zoe Bottrell, Managing Director of Culture Creative. "Each year, it's an absolute pleasure to be asked to light up this beautiful landscape, that is as stunning at night when the trees and buildings are awash with colour, as it is during the day bathed in winter sun."
As in previous years, you can enjoy the show with hot chocolate, mulled wine and an array of tasty treats. Yet, in a Lightscape first, the 2026 instalment is set to include exclusive adults-only evenings, perfect for a date night beneath the stars that goes beyond distant celestial formations.
Lightscape is happening from Friday, June 12–Sunday, August 2, at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Head to the website for more information and tickets.
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