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City of Lights Festival

The inaugural City of Lights Festival, held on September 26-27, 2026, transformed Tamworth's Central Business District (CBD) with illuminated installations and light displays. This free event honored Tamworth's heritage as the first municipality in Australia to use electric street lighting, attracting thousands of visitors.

Date
Sep 26-27, 2026
Location
Tamworth
Status
Recently ended
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AU Recently ended
City of Lights Festival
Date
Sep 26-27, 2026
Location
Tamworth
Light Festival Inaugural Event Urban Event

Event summary

Highlights

  • Illuminated installations and light displays throughout Tamworth CBD
  • Commemorating Tamworth's history as Australia's first electrically lit municipality
  • Participation by local businesses with late openings and lit-up shopfronts
  • Activities in Fitzroy Plaza and Bicentennial Park
The City of Lights Festival served to reinvigorate the city's night-time economy and create a more vibrant atmosphere in the city centre. Funded through the NSW government's Regional Night-Time Economy Program and presented by the Tamworth Business Collective, the festival featured light activations in Fitzroy Plaza and Bicentennial Park.

Local businesses actively participated by lighting up their shopfronts and extending their operating hours. The event saw a turnout of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people across both nights, significantly exceeding expectations. Participating businesses, including Centrepoint's food court and Forum 6 Cinema, reported high engagement.

The festival is planned as the first in a series of events, with a "Light Up Late Series" scheduled for subsequent months (October, November, February, and March) to continue fostering after-hours activity. This series will feature special trading events on the second Friday of each month, with lighting packages gifted to CBD businesses to maintain the illuminated atmosphere.

Practical details

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.

Sources and further information

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Location map

Approximate area only; exact venue coordinates are not confirmed.

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