Plan Your Visit

Getting around

Navigate the Festival easily using our integrated Program page!

Art installations will span Portland, with key Anchor Sites including Pioneer Courthouse Square, the World Trade Center, and the Electric Blocks, as well as additional locations such as Glow Bar, Director Park, Big Pink, and Ankeny Alley. Most performances take place at the Anchor Sites. Plan your route and start exploring!

Whenever possible, opt for public transit like TriMet buses & MAX. The Portland Streetcar will be free beginning at 5 PM on February 6, 7, 13 and 14

Paid parking is available downtown on a first-come, first-served basis, while cyclists can enjoy free bike parking at Anchor Sites.

Pro Tip: Arrive early, grab dinner before the crowds roll in, and enjoy the Festival without traffic or lines.

  • Costumed lady and samba band downtown on a rainy night partying
    Lantern Procession 📸Brooke Hoyer
  • Portland Streetcar is free during the Festival; Photo by Chris Herring
  • costumed people on a rainy night waiting for public transportation train
    Disco Dragons ride Trimet too 📸Brooke Hoyer
  • Trimet Max Train at night looking down from an office window
    Trimet Max Train 📸Amrik Kerketta
  • Procession of costumed people at night walking by public transportation train
    Lantern Procession 📸Brooke Hoyer
  • bike commuters at night in winter with headlights glowing
    Light up your bike, bundle up enjoy the artwork. 📸Amy Sakurai
  • smiling man in bike helmet with globe art
    Tom Howe with art during 2025 Festival. 📸Tom Howe
Go by bike

Explore seven unique bike routes crafted by Tom Howe, a Festival fan, a contributor to BikePortland.org, and a dedicated BikeLoudPDX volunteer. These thoughtfully designed routes combine the joy of cycling with the beauty of light-based art featured throughout the Festival.

Plan your ride today!

BIKE MAPS BY ZONE
Hotel Partners

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Hotel Partners! Their generous support brings PDXWLF to life by hosting talented artists and installations and includes valuable contributions and a team of knowledgeable staff ready to assist you in navigating PDXWLF 2026. We are truly grateful for their vital role in making this event a reality! Thank you!

  • NLA by Saleam 📸Brett Nemecek
  • Obscura by Andy Batt 📸Therese Gietler
  • Stoicheia ELEMENTS Predator by Lilli Szafranski 📸Amy Sakurai
teal background white text logo
525 SW Morrison St, Portland, OR
dark yellow text logo
545 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR
AC Hotel Logo
888 SW Third Avenue, Portland, OR
2025 NW Northrup St, Portland, OR
550 SW Oak Street, Portland OR
pink moxy text logo
585 SW 10th AVE, Portland OR
white text logo
750 SW Alder Street, Portland, OR 97205
1000 Multnomah St., Portland OR
Cursive white graphic with copy reading Sentinel
Address614 SW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR
Graphic logo
320 SW Harvey Milk Street, Portland, OR
text logo
506 SW Washington St, Portland, OR
15 NW 4th Ave., Portland OR
50 Southwest Morrison Street, Portland OR
logo Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront with red graphic M
1401 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, OR
900 E Burnside St, Portland, OR
gold graphic logo
Address1001 SW Broadway, Portland, OR
515 SW Clay Street, Portland, OR
400 SW Broadway, Portland, OR
422 SW Broadway St. Portland OR
Community Partners

A big thank you to our fantastic community partners! With the 11th anniversary just around the corner,
your support and collaboration are helping make this year’s Festival something memorable.

LUMINARY COMMUNITY PARTNERS
COMMUNITY VENUE PARTNERS

New Seasons Market

Goodbeast

James Beard Public Market

COMMUNITY PARTNERs

40 Lbs Coffee Bar
Addy’s Sandwich Bar
All Classical
Ankeny Alley
Argo Quest
Aurora
The Architectural Heritage Center
artANTICa @ Green Anchors
Big Pink
Buckman Elementary
Bridgespace
Cannon Design
Catherine Freshley Fine Art
CBRE
Columbia Point Condominiums
Commonwealth Building
Community Vision
Director Park
East Creative Collective
East Portland Collective
Eichinger Sculpture Studio
Elephants Delicatessen
Elizabeth Leach Gallery
Eris Cocktail Lounge
Fathom
Fiber Rhythm Craft and Design
First Presbyterian Church
For Good & Company
Galleria
GiftyKitty
Grave Rainment Studio
Great Harvest
Green Anchors
Greenworks
Halprin Landscape Conservancy
Hennebery Eddy
Holmes


Halprin Landscape Conservancy
Hennebery Eddy
Holmes
Ida B. Wells High School Makerspace
INKBUS Tattoo
Integrus Architecture
JaJa PDX
Kaleido Studio
Kells Irish Pub
Kinglet Tea
Lease Crutcher Lewis
Lechon
Lincoln High School
Literary Arts
Mackenzie
Marks
Marsh & Mallow Co.
Mayer Reed
Mazzetti
Melvin Mark
Midtown Beer Garden
The Monta-Villa Garden Cottage and Furry Farmstead
Multnomah Art Center
The Newberry
Northwest Children’s Theater (The Judy)
Nostrana
NW Natural
Oaks Amusement Park
Old Spaghetti Factory
Old Town Neighborhood Association
Orangewall Studios
Oregon Park
Oregon Symphony
O’Rourke & Sons LLC
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Pacific Northwest Sculptors / Justice Center Sidewalk Gallery



Parkrose Hardware
Past Lives Makerspace
PBOT/Smart Park
P:ear Gallery
Pivot Property Management
Portland Art Museum
Portland Botanical Garden
Portland Burger
Portland State University Foundation
Pro Photo Supply
Rachel Escoe Glass
Rose’s Equipment Supply
Rubinette Produce
SheBop
Sleestak Factory
SmartTech
Smith Teamaker
SOLVE
SoundsTruck NW
Southpark Seafood
Statera Cellars
Sunlan Lighting
T.i.M.M.
Trader Joe’s
The Architectural Heritage Center
The Better Bar
The Haven
The Meadow
The Old Church Concert Hall
The Roll Up
Washington Square
Waterleaf Architecture
Weedman Design Partners
Whole Foods Market
Wildland Roots
Wonderlove PDX







FAQ

The 11th anniversary of the Portland Winter Light Festival will be February 6 – 14, 2026. Hours are 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM unless otherwise noted.

Yes! The Festival is not-for-profit and is presented free of charge to attendees. It is made possible by generous support from our sponsors and donations from community members like you. Thank you for helping to keep the Festival free for all! If you’d like to help, go here.

Anchor Sites include Pioneer Courthouse Square, World Trade Center, and the Electric Blocks at SE 2nd and Clay. Additional sites are located throughout Portland, including storefront windows, front yards, and more, and are viewable from the street.

Yes! Isn’t that great? The Festival is a reason to get out of the house and celebrate winter with the entire community. Please dress appropriately for Portland’s winter weather. Don’t forget to light yourself up, too!

Festival attendees can navigate PDXWLF using our Google Map on the program page or our map PDF (link coming soon). Art installations are located throughout the city at pop-up locations and Anchor Sites, including Pioneer Courthouse Square, the World Trade Center, and the Electric Blocks at SE 2nd and Clay. We encourage guests to create their own exploration plans. Consider Trimet or the Max (public transportation) when possible. The Portland Streetcar will be free and accessible from 5 PM until 11:30 PM, and Anchor Sites are located near public transportation. Ample parking is available downtown, and parking at all Festival sites is on a first-come basis. Bike parking will be available at Anchor Sites.

If you are coming from out of town, consider staying with one of our Hotel Partners. These local accommodations are knowledgeable about the Festival and can provide you with an authentic Portland experience!

Yes! We have food and hot beverages available for sale from local food cart vendors at Anchor Sites. Returning this year is the Glow Bar on SW First & Columbia.

Absolutely! The Festival is family-friendly and has many interactive activities for all ages. We encourage families to participate.

Most of the Festival is on public land, where you can bring your leashed pets. Dogs are not allowed in the World Trade Center Plaza, and pets are not permitted for Festival events or exhibitions held there. 

Note that the Festival can become extremely crowded and difficult to navigate; we recommend lighting up your pup for style and safety or leaving it in the comfort of your home.

Yes, please! In addition to dressing warmly for our winter weather, we always encourage attendees to participate by donning festive accessories. 

For sustainability concerns, we suggest avoiding single-use glowsticks (that you “crack” to activate) and instead using reusable, solar- and battery-charged LED lights, el-wire (electroluminescent wire), and other light accessory options.

Send an email [email protected] for opportunities.

Lost and found items will be returned at the closest Info Booth during the Festival. Outside of Festival hours, contact [email protected] to inquire.

We are always looking for volunteers! Click here to find out more and sign up to help! If you are interested in participating as an artist, we will post the call for 2027 submissions in the summer of 2026.

Yes! The Portland Winter Light Festival is a program of the Willamette Light Brigade, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Donations directly support the incredible art and design on display and the critical infrastructure needed to present a Festival of this magnitude. Donations help keep the Portland Winter Light Festival free and accessible to all.  All donations are tax-deductible and help ensure the Festival continues to thrill and inspire. Click below to donate to support this dynamic free event. Support the Festival here!

We listed some ideas below, but feel free to be creative and become part of the Festival experience!

  • Decorate yourself with lights
  • Donate to support the Festival
  • Join the Illuminated Bike Ride
  • Be a part of the Lantern Procession
  • Have a little one? Join the Little Luminaries Procession
  • Become a Volunteer
  • Tag us in your social posts IG @portlandwinterlightfestival and FB @pdxwlf
  • Use our hashtag #PDXWLF and #PDXWLF2026

Got questions? We’ve got answers! We tried to think of everything—from where to park your bike to where to find the best art—and put it all in one handy FAQ. Check it out and be in the know before you go!

  • giant glowing orbs looking like jellyfish art installation
    A Stroll Beneath The Sea by Grant Turner at Electric Blocks; Photo by Amrik Kerketta
  • silhouette of two people viewing art insstallation projected onto wall
    Nexus by Rebecca Watkins, Ahbi Prem and Jonathan Snyder; Photo by Amrik Kerketta
  • Secret Roller Disco Winter Delight under the Burnside Bridge; Photo by Andy Batt