This year, Lux Helsinki will expand to include almost all senior centres and service homes in Helsinki. Explore the lightworks on 6–11 January 2026 around Helsinki.
There are a huge sheet and an assortment of paints on the table. Myllypuro Senior Centre's festive hall is filled with cheerful chatter. Suddenly the whole room bursts into song. Culture Instructor Johanna Raaste knows what is going on.
"We are making light art in workshops for the Lux Helsinki light art festival. We thought about ways to approach the festival's theme Stop time!. We ended up focusing on moments where we wish that time would stop. Today we will create a large collaborative painting on fabric and make lanterns from smaller paintings on the same theme," Johanna says.
Artworks have been crafted throughout the autumn in collaboration with social services students from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and preschoolers from the nearby daycare centre, Neulanen. An active team of volunteers has also been involved in the work. Amidst the building, the participants have paused to reflect on important memories.
"We have heard the stories of both children and our residents. It has been wonderful to share."
The idea for the project originally came from Culture Instructor Henna Karhunen, who has held an annual light event inspired by Lux Helsinki at Madetoja Service Home.
The Helsinki Events Foundation, in charge of Lux Helsinki, was excited by what they saw, and last year Kannelmäki Service Home, Madetoja Service Home and Myllypuro Senior Centre were part of Lux's side programme for the first time. This year, most of the City of Helsinki's senior centres and service homes have contributed their own artwork to the event.
"Both the Events Foundation and we, the creators, felt that the collaboration should definitely continue. We wanted all senior centres and service homes to have the opportunity to participate this year if they wanted to – not only as visitors, but also as creators," says Johanna.
From Epiphany onwards, passers-by will be able to enjoy the important moments of seniors through light art. Johanna hopes that the works will encourage people to engage with art.
"Lux is a wonderful way to brighten up this city. We are helping to bring some light, and subsequently joy, to this dark time. I hope the artworks will give passers-by a wow moment, showing how people of different ages can create things together and showcase them."
The light art of the senior centres will be on display during Lux Helsinki from 6 to 11 January 2026 at 17.00–22.00, unless otherwise indicated.
The main works of Lux Helsinki will be located in the heart of Helsinki, stretching from Kansalaistori to Hietalahdentori, Vanha Kirkkopuisto and the Espa stage. The "Stop Time!" themed light art will also spread to Kanneltalo and ten art galleries in the city centre.
See the full programme here.(Link leads to external service)