Spectacular light festival to bring Expo 2020 Dubai site to life

Kaleidoscope, a stunning outdoor night-time light festival, will bring Expo 2020 Dubai’s site to life for the mega event’s entire six months, from incredible structures designed by superstars of the architecture world, such as Asif Khan, Foster + Partners, Grimshaw, and Hopkins Architects, to its landscaped public areas.

Kaleidoscope will harness the beauty of photography, light and visual arts. The festival will connect with Expo 2020’s impactful initiatives and global entertainment, including Diwali and Christmas, to tell powerful stories in immersive ways.

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Awards (HIPA) is providing much of the light show’s imagery and has been specially chosen to link to Expo’s subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability using imagery from HIPA’s archive, which stretches back to its founding in 2011.

Grant Reid, Vice President, Events and Entertainment, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “While the past 18 months have been unprecedently challenging, we believe that collaboration can inspire a better future – something we hope to highlight in our light show. A kaleidoscope is symbolic: once shaken, it shows something new but equally beautiful; and light has the power to conquer darkness.

Through Kaleidoscope, our subthemes – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability – will be vividly brought to life, reminding us of their relevance now more than ever before.”

Alongside showcasing Expo’s subthemes, dynamic programming and the power of human connection, the light festival will also offer a self-guided visitor experience, with provisions made for social distancing.

Kaleidoscope will harness the beauty of photography, light and visual arts. The festival will connect with Expo 2020’s impactful initiatives and global entertainment, including Diwali and Christmas, to tell powerful stories in immersive ways.