Lyon's Festival of Lights, Seen as a Group
Over four evenings, Saturday 5 December to Tuesday 8 December 2026, the Fête des Lumières turns streets, squares and monuments across central Lyon into a light show. The shows run 19:00 to 23:00, apart from Sunday when they run 18:00 to 22:00, so your party's minibus plan is an evening one.
Getting in and out of the centre
Much of the festival happens on the Presqu'île, where traffic is limited. Tourist coaches are treated like public transport and drive in without formality in the morning, until 13:00; later, and so on every festival evening, a coach driver calls through the bollard's intercom to be let in. The operator confirms how the vehicle you book gets access.
Coach parking in Lyon cannot be booked. At Place Bellecour the coach places are now limited to the eastern side, by no. 19. Expect the driver to set your group down, then wait somewhere quieter until you are ready.
An easier night for everyone
Crowds fill the Presqu'île during the festival, and it is easy to lose people. Pick one meeting point and one return time before you scatter, and keep the group small enough to move together.
For guests with reduced mobility, the festival provides adapted routes and parking places. Mention any wheelchair users when you book so the vehicle and drop-off are right.
When and where
- Streets, squares and monuments across central Lyon
- 5-8 December 2026 (Saturday to Tuesday); 19:00-23:00, except Sunday 18:00-22:00
Before the lights come on
With daylight free, many groups spend the afternoon out of town: Pérouges is about 42 km away, the Beaujolais village of Oingt about 38 km. Keep the day reasonable, because driving time across day and evening counts towards the driver's daily limit.
Your questions, answered
Is the 2026 programme confirmed?
Yes. The dates and hours are published by the Ville de Lyon on the festival's official site.
Does the low-emission zone matter in December?
Lyon's zone applies around the clock all year, and every vehicle in it must display a Crit'Air sticker. The rules are current and may change, so the vehicle is checked before your trip.
We're flying in for the weekend. How far is the airport?
Lyon-Saint Exupéry is about 30 km by road from Place Bellecour, so an arrivals pickup can lead straight into an evening at the festival.