Early bird tickets are now available for the much-anticipated return of Chichester Cathedral’s Annual Light Experience, as a new immersive installation by Luxmuralis prepares to transform the historic space this autumn.
Running from 23 – 31 October 2026, this year’s experience builds on the success of the inaugural event during the Cathedral’s 950th anniversary year, when more than 14,500 visitors stepped inside an extraordinary world of light and sound, seeing the building in a completely new way.
Now established as a key moment in the Cathedral’s cultural calendar, the 2026 Light Experience will explore the theme Illuminating Art. This is a particularly fitting focus for Chichester Cathedral, renowned for its rich artistic heritage and its remarkable contribution to modern religious art.
Created using large-scale projection and an original score by composer David Harper, Illuminating Art will see the Cathedral’s architecture - from its Norman stonework to its soaring nave - reimagined as a canvas for digital art. Visitors will move through a series of immersive environments, where light and sound respond to the building’s form and scale.
The experience unfolds as a carefully curated journey through the Cathedral, with each space offering a distinct atmosphere and perspective. From more intimate moments of detail and texture to expansive displays of colour and motion, the installation builds in scale and intensity, culminating in the nave where the full height and grandeur of the Cathedral are brought to life in a striking finale.
Illuminating Art offers a journey through four centuries of artistic imagination - from the drama of the Baroque to the luminous colour of the Impressionists - alongside references to pioneering developments such as early photography, the age of steam and the beginnings of animation. Familiar artistic styles are reinterpreted in bold, contemporary ways, creating a vivid, multi-sensory exploration of creativity through time.
Rebecca Lewry-Gray, Visitor Experience Manager at Chichester Cathedral, said: “We are delighted to launch early bird tickets for Illuminating Art and to confirm the Annual Light Experience as a firm fixture in our calendar. It offers visitors the opportunity to plan ahead and create a new tradition - returning each year to experience the Cathedral in a different way. Timed entry slots between 5:30pm and 8:30pm ensure that everyone has the time and space to fully immerse themselves in the experience.”
Peter Walker, Artistic Director of Luxmuralis, said: “Illuminating Art is an invitation to experience art in a completely different way. By bringing together light, sound and historic architecture, we’re able to reimagine artistic movements so they feel immediate and alive. Returning to Chichester Cathedral is particularly special following the 950th anniversary celebrations. The building is an extraordinary canvas, and this installation has been shaped to respond to its unique character - guiding visitors on a journey through creativity, discovery and wonder, culminating in a truly uplifting finale.”
As a key fundraising activity, the Annual Light Experience raises vital funds to support the work of Chichester Cathedral, a registered charity (1205740).
Early bird tickets start from £11.70 per adult and are available for a limited time only.
Header image: 'Illuminating Art' created by Luxmuralis Artistic Collaboration at Salisbury Cathedral, 2023.