Detours | Karlsruhe Palace Light Festival
The City As a Backdrop for Digital Art

Though light shows abound, hardly any other is as spectacular as the Schlosslichtspiele light festival at Karlsruhe Palace. If you’re looking for a travel destination with the wow factor this summer, Karlsruhe is the perfect choice!

By Sarah Klein

As the summer sun sets over Karlsruhe, a spectacle begins that transforms the baroque facade of Karlsruhe Palace into a radiant work of art: the Schlosslichtspiele Karlsruhe. Ever since its premiere in 2015, it has delighted thousands of visitors each year with breathtaking projections that go far beyond any conventional light show.

The Schlosslichtspiele festival uses the 170-metre-long facade of Karlsruhe Palace as a screen onto which to beam huge 3D projection mapping videos. Each year, international artists create new works that are not just visually impressive but also address all kinds of different topics. The motto of the 2025 festival is “The Shining Lights of Science” to pay tribute to the achievements of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Science and art will be combined here to produce a unique audiovisual experience.

Though it’s easy to be stunned by the fabulous light shows, audiences in Karlsruhe are not supposed to just stand by and watch: unlike many other light festivals, which concentrate solely on projecting images, the Schlosslichtspiele is all about genuine interaction. By moving or using digital applications, visitors can become part of the light choreographies. In earlier years, for example, the palace facade was turned into an interactive multiplayer game in which spectators could use their smartphones to influence the projections.

The Schlosslichtspiele festival has long since established itself as one of Europe’s biggest audiovisual artworks. Over two million people have come to see the festival since it was founded. The combination of historic architecture and the very latest in digital art ensures that Karlsruhe takes centre stage in the international media art scene every summer. And by the way, admission is free!