Guildhall Production Studio presents Vibrance: a new festival of light and sound
Vibrance 2026
Guildhall Production Studio, Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s award-winning service for performance and technical innovation, presents Vibrance, a brand-new free festival of light and sound illuminating the heart of the City of London in January 2026.
On 29 & 30 January 2026, Vibrance transforms the City of London, in partnership with Culture Mile Business Improvement District and the City of London Corporation's Culture Team, creating unforgettable encounters with light, sound and live performance. Historic landmarks, hidden gardens and striking façades are reimagined with colour, music and storytelling.
For two nights only, this event brings together artists, designers and performers from Guildhall School to reimagine five iconic locations within the Culture Mile after dark, inviting audiences to rediscover the City’s architectural treasures in a whole new light, and bring warmth and wonder to the winter evenings.
Professor Jonathan Vaughan, Principal of Guildhall School of Music & Drama, says:
“Vibrance reflects the spirit of creativity, collaboration and innovation at the heart of Guildhall School. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our artists and staff to bring their artistry to the wider City community, transforming familiar spaces through imagination and light. We’re proud to partner with Culture Mile and the City of London Corporation to showcase the next generation of creative talent in such a striking and inclusive way.”
Vibrance features more than a dozen artworks across five iconic locations, uniting historic monuments with cutting-edge technology:
- Guildhall Yard: a large-scale projection sequence will illuminate one of the City’s most historic sites, including one experimental performance fusing opera and electronic music where a live singer performs in front of the Guildhall, wearing a mesmerising audio-responsive costume.
- St Alphage London Wall & Garden: an intricate, interactive installation that combines projections and subtle electroacoustic soundscapes that respond to the audience's movements.
- Salters’ Garden: a sonic installation, guiding audiences along a hidden route of speakers woven through the greenery to create a spatial audio experience.
- St Giles’ Cripplegate: an Extended Reality (XR) installation, where sound, light and Virtual Reality (VR) technology merge for an otherworldly effect.
- Milton Court: a series of visual lightworks created by Guildhall School’s Digital Design & Production artists, reflecting on inner-city life and its impact on the human experience.
Vibrance is created by Guildhall Production Studio, the award-winning team behind the Beasts of London exhibition. The festival brings together bold new artworks and live performances by emerging artists from Guildhall School, a vibrant, international community of musicians, actors and production artists in the heart of the City of London.
Dan Shorten, Creative Director of Guildhall Production Studio says:
“We’re incredibly proud to launch this new festival showcasing work from across Guildhall School. Vibrance is an opportunity to share our creativity in the public spaces that surround us every day. It’s deeply important to us to help enliven our local environment and contribute to the vibrant cultural life of the City of London.”
Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London, says:
“Our Destination City strategy is transforming the Square Mile into one of the most vibrant places in the UK to live, work, learn and explore. As part of this vision, I was delighted to support Vibrance through our Destination City Partnership Fund. The festival is a wonderful showcase of Guildhall School at its best – creative, collaborative and truly inspiring.”
Austin Casey, CEO of Culture Mile Business Improvement District, says:
"As a cultural destination within the City, our aim has always been to make culture more accessible, especially following Centre for London’s 'Arts for All' report which highlighted Londoners’ lack of engagement with arts and culture in the capital. Hosting the first edition of London’s newest arts festival is the perfect example of how we can increase accessibility to culture for people living locally and in the wider London area – by bringing art into our shared public spaces, partnering with the next generation of talent and championing the voices of the community.”
Across the festival, refreshments will be available offering seasonal food and drink. Vibrance is free, taking place from 5.30pm – 8.30pm on Thursday 29 & Friday 30 January, and invites everyone to celebrate the Square Mile as a place of imagination, culture and connection.
Vibrance Festival 2026 is brought to audiences in partnership with Culture Mile Business Improvement District and the City of London Corporation's Culture Team. It is supported by the City Corporation’s Destination City Partnership Fund.
Experience a new free festival of light and sound in the City of London
Visit the Vibrance event page for full details