This November, Dubrovnik's Old City will be transformed into a stage of light and imagination as the Lumiart Festival returns, blending history, art, and technology in a dazzling celebration.
From November 7 to 9, 2025, Dubrovnik will once again become a canvas of light and imagination when the Lumiart Festival returns for its annual celebration of visual artistry. Since 2019, Lumiart has transformed the world-famous Old City into an immersive stage, merging technology, art, and heritage in ways that delight both locals and visitors.
This year's theme—"Underwater City"—invites artists to reimagine the facade of the historic Sponza Palace through 2D and 3D video mapping. Picture coral-like forms growing across Renaissance stonework, waves of light washing over ornate windows, fish schools flickering in projection: the architecture of Dubrovnik becomes submerged in dreamy, underwater fantasy. The competition is open to creatives who want to bring the deep sea's mysteries to life using new media and projection mapping.
One of the most charming things about Lumiart is that its magic is free to all. Every light installation, projection, and visual spectacle is accessible without charge. Visitors can wander the glowing alleys, gather in open squares, and soak in artistry under November skies, whether moonlit or cloudy. Should bad weather intervene, the organizers are prepared with adjusted settings so the festival mood remains undimmed.
Beyond the central mapping on Sponza Palace, Lumiart promises a full programme of light installations, new media works, and artistic experiences spread across Dubrovnik's Old City. A "festival warm-up" event will kick things off with an audio-visual journey curated by Pixel Design & Cobblestone Echoes, offering a taste of what's to come.
For those who delight in quieter, atmospheric travel, November in Dubrovnik has special appeal. The warm glow of installations cuts through crisp evening air; fewer tourists mean less interruption between moments of awe. Cafés glow with candlelight, locals resume their rhythms, and the Old City takes on a softer, more intimate feel. Lumiart leans into this season perfectly—an invitation to explore history not as a backdrop, but as part of the performance.
Artists and participants will have the chance to compete in the video-mapping contest, contributing their visions of submerged cityscapes. Whether you come for the artistry, the architecture, or simply to wander beneath layers of light and story, Lumiart offers a reason to visit Dubrovnik in autumn that feels simultaneously cutting-edge and deeply connected.
