Vibrance
- From to
- 5.30pm - 8.30pm
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About this event:
- Event type:
- Free | In-person
- Admission:
- Free, no tickets required
- Location:
- City of London (various locations)
Event information
→ Vibrance Locations → Visitor Information → Festival Map
A new free festival of light and sound in the City of London
from 5.30pm on Thursday 29 January & Friday 30 January 2026
For two nights only, Vibrance transforms the City of London to offer unforgettable encounters with light, sound and live performance, as historic landmarks, hidden gardens and striking façades are reimagined with colour, music and storytelling.
Across more than a dozen artworks in five locations in the vibrant Culture Mile area, the festival explores the dialogue between ancient and modern – from Roman ruins to medieval churches, historic buildings to contemporary towers – illuminated and transformed with layers of memory, voice and digital energy.
As you wander through the City, whether heading home from work, exploring with family, or starting a night out, you might stumble upon an opera performance, lose yourself in an atmospheric soundscape, or see ancient ruins illuminated in ways you’ve never experienced before.
Created by Guildhall Production Studio, the award-winning team behind Beasts of London (“A crazily enjoyable immersive experience” ★★★★ The Telegraph), Vibrance brings together bold new artworks and live performances by emerging artists from Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Join us to light up your January and celebrate the Square Mile as a place of imagination, culture and connection.
Vibrance Locations
Vibrance features more than a dozen artworks across five iconic locations, uniting historic monuments with cutting-edge technology.
Click on the locations listed below for more about what you can expect at each site, the concepts behind individual artworks, and details to look out for during your experience; as well as behind-the-scenes interviews with the makers.
Please note: the artworks at Guildhall Yard, Salters’ Garden, and Milton Court consist of six pieces at each location, running on a continuous loop throughout the three-hour event. St Alphage London Wall & Garden and St Giles’ Cripplegate present interactive works, which can be observed or joined at any time — see also the Festival Map.
Phase Align
Phase Align is an outdoor spectacle in which Guildhall’s iconic Dance Porch morphs into a living, breathing canvas of giant interconnected projections. The 30-minute set includes six artworks reflecting modern-day London: Luminata Vocalis, Pulse +1, Dimensions of Light – Light Bounces Back to Me, MargaM Reimagined, Celestia and Synchronic.
Luminata Vocalis
Luminata Vocalis is a site-specific sound and light performance staged in front of the Guildhall’s Dance Porch. It combines a live vocal soloist, an illuminated fibreoptic costume, projection mapping and an electronic soundscape to transform the space into a moment of operatic spectacle. The work explores the human voice as light, presence and emotional resonance within a charged architectural setting.
- Artists: Tara Duffy*, Hollie Lester*, Dan Shorten, Toby Young, Raiser
Pulse +1
Following its celebrated debut at Blackpool's Lightpool Festival in 2024, Pulse evolves into Pulse +1, transforming the historic Guildhall Yard into an arena of synchronised light and collective rhythm. Here, in the civic heart of the City of London, medieval stonework and contemporary architecture become the canvas for an ambitious fusion of projection mapping, geometric light patterns and dynamic soundscapes. As emotive imagery and synchronised pulses of light trace sacred geometries across the Dance Porch, an immersive electronic score builds from whispered rhythms to euphoric crescendos. Pulse +1 creates a tapestry of light where the individual heartbeats of the city merge into one collective urban rhythm, offering a spectacular finale that celebrates London's eternal capacity for renewal and transformation.
- Artists: Tom Alchin*, Owen Kelly*, Nuoon Kim*, Alberte Lauridsen*, Elizabeth Lindsell*, Mabel Nash*, Kamila Przybylski*, Dan Shorten
Dimensions of Light – Light Bounces Back to Me
Dimensions of Light – Light Bounces Back to Me reimagines the lights of the city through evolving, abstract visuals. Light is translated into colours, and life is seen through light. The piece invites the audience to witness a colourful and experimental dream-like state, blending morphing geometric shapes and deconstructed movement. Everything blends and reverberates. The music sits inside that same space: introspective and bold, meditative and surreal.
- Artists: Pierre Engelhard, Guy Wilson*
MargaM Reimagined
MargaM Reimagined transforms the acclaimed virtual reality experience as an immersive architectural projection onto the Guildhall Dance Porch. Classical South Indian dance forms dissolve into light, with sacred gestures, temple motifs and mandala geometries unfolding across the façade. Bharatanatyam (one of India's oldest classical dance forms) rhythms become radiant vectors, weaving culture and movement into the stone. As the architecture glows with echoes of devotion and legacy, audiences are drawn into a contemplative intersection between sacred tradition and digital performance. Set to a pulsating fusion of Carnatic beats and dub textures, the piece meditates on lineage, female artistry and the urban sacred.
- Artists: Divya Kasturi, Dan Shorten
Celestia
Inspired by a previous artwork by Dan Shorten Seraphic – presented at Blackpool Lightpool in 2023 – Celestia transforms the Guildhall into a portal to cosmic contemplation. Abstract imagery of the cosmos drifts across the ancient stone as the building dissolves into nebulae; geometry from sacred cosmologies slowly spirals across the façade in harmony with ambient techno and choral echoes. Designed as an antidote to the city’s constant motion, this immersive projection invites stillness and reflection. Through shimmering galaxies and breath-like animations, Celestia presents the Dance Porch as a space of urban reverence – a contemplative cathedral of light inviting Londoners to pause, reflect and connect with something far beyond themselves.
- Artists: Sohee Baek*, Lian Dyogi*, Dan Shorten
Synchronic
Synchronic transforms the Guildhall Dance Porch into a living interface of the city’s consciousness rendered in mesmerising visual abstraction. Pulsing grids, flickering architectural outlines, cascading numbers and morphing typography. Occasionally, the building seems to “breathe”, glitch or freeze - a poetic system crash that reflects our own fractured attention spans. It’s a portrait of a city thinking aloud. As digital signals accumulate, the visuals stutter, freeze, reboot - a poetic reflection of overload, silence and reawakening. With a soundscape of syncopated digital jazz and live-coded glitch textures, Synchronic renders the building as a visual seismograph of the hyperconnected age.
- Artists: Dan Shorten, Raiser
*Students on the BA (Hons) Production Arts & Design or BMus Electronic & Produced Music Course
Thresholds
Thresholds transforms the ruins of St Alphage into a sensory portal that responds to audience movement. A liminal space where crossing from one point to another generates shifting audio textures and visual traces. Inspired by the concept of physical and psychological thresholds in the city, connections between past, present and future, isolation and connection, stillness and momentum. The piece responds to how people pass through space, the impact they have on it and its impact on them. As individuals cross invisible lines within the site, they activate subtle sonic and visual changes, as if opening and closing unseen doors.
- Artists: Miu Puntoomsinchai*, Dan Shorten
*Students on the BA (Hons) Production Arts & Design or BMus Electronic & Produced Music Course
Echo Chamber
Echo Chamber awakens the hidden voices of Salters’ Garden, where London's ancient Roman wall stands as a silent witness to two millennia of city life. Within this sunken sanctuary, a carefully orchestrated network of concealed speakers creates an acoustic environment that seems to emerge from the depths of time itself. As sound rises from beneath earth and whispers between plants, layers of music and ambient sound weave together the garden's many lives – from Roman fortune to medieval herb garden to modern city oasis. This unique installation invites visitors to discover a secret space where past and present converse, creating an intimate portrait of London's living memory within the heart of the contemporary city.
- Artists: Annabel Brooks*, Jonas Gloeer*, Philippa Godsalve*, Odysseas Pantazis*, Severin Salvenmoser*, Anton Sconosciuto*
*Students on the BA (Hons) Production Arts & Design or BMus Electronic & Produced Music Course
Array Infinitive
Array Infinitive invites participants to experience or witness a virtual reality artwork where the body becomes an instrument of creation – every gesture generates cascading particles of light and waves of sound that transform the virtual space around you and the physical location too. Drawing from PhD research into altered states of consciousness, artist Leslie Deere has created an environment where the boundaries between self and space dissolve. As ambient soundscapes respond to your movements and light trails map your journey through digital space, you become both performer and audience in an ever-evolving composition painting with sound and light. Each participant's journey through Array Infinitive is unique, creating a deeply personal exploration of perception that expands our understanding of reality, presence and consciousness in our digital age.
- Artist: Leslie Deere
Surface Shift
Surface Shift is a series of six contrasting visual creations transforming Milton Court's modernist façade through an evolving architectural metamorphosis. Beginning with precise architectural mapping, the building's clean lines and glass surfaces gradually dissolve and reconfigure, challenging our perception of solid and void as the installation reveals the fluid nature of our urban environment. The artwork creates a dialogue between the permanent and the transient, turning the office-hour backdrop into a dreamlike portal that invites passersby to question their relationship with the built environment. Supported by Linklaters, this spectacular piece captures a festival that explores the hidden dimensions of city life.
- Artists: Didier Brown*, Finn Karat*, Mabel Nash*, Walter Nash*, Kamila Przybylski*, Sid Worth*
*Students on the BA (Hons) Production Arts & Design or BMus Electronic & Produced Music Course
Festival Map
1. Phase Align
GUILDHALL YARD
2. Thresholds
ST ALPHAGE LONDON WALL & GARDEN
3. Echo Chamber
SALTERS' GARDEN
4. Array Infinitive
ST GILES' CRIPPLEGATE
5. Surface Shift
MILTON COURT
Visitor Information
No need to book, Vibrance is a free non-ticketed event!
Vibrance will take place between 5.30-8.30pm, on Thursday 29 & Friday 30 January 2026. We look forward to seeing you there.
We recommend you use public transport to make your way to the City of London.
Below are the nearest transport links.
Guildhall Yard: 7 min walk from Moorgate Tube Station.
Milton Court: 8 min walk from Moorgate Tube Station.
Nearest bus stops for Guildhall Yard:
Stop A - Bank Station/Princes Street – Bus Routes 141, 21, 43
Stop K - Bank Station/Poultry – Bus Routes 25, 26, 8, N242, N25, N26, N550, N551, N8
Nearest bus stops for Milton Court:
Stop S - Finsbury Square – Bus Route 153
Stop B - Moorgate Station – Bus Routes 153, 141, 76, 43
What3Words locations
Guildhall Yard: ///advice.digit.dress
St Giles’ Cripplegate: ///drift.nurses.dishes
St Alphage London Wall & Garden: ///skinny.goals.buck
Salters’ Garden: ///clear.cracks.proper
Milton Court: ///indoor.broken.asserts
The locations are all a short walk from each other. Our furthest distance is between Guildhall Yard and Milton Court; our three other locations are between these sites. We recommend you either start your route at Guildhall Yard or Milton Court.
Approximate walking times between installations:
Milton Court to St Giles’ Cripplegate - 6 mins
St Giles’ Cripplegate to Salters’ Garden- 2 mins
Salters’ Garden to St Alphage London Wall & Garden - less than 1 min
St Alphage London Wall & Garden to Guildhall Yard - 8 mins
Milton Court to Guildhall Yard -12 mins
No, we do not have a set route. Our map showcases the five locations within Vibrance, and you are welcome to visit each location at your own leisure.
Yes, Vibrance is an accessible event. Please see our accessibility information for each location, including access to toilets during your evening. All our locations are wheelchair accessible. Please note, there are specific regulations for use of the VR headset at St Giles’ Cripplegate. Please read below.
Guildhall Yard:
https://www.guildhall.cityoflondon.gov.uk/accessibility
Milton Court:
https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/Milton_Court_Access_Guide.pdf
St Giles Cripplegate:
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/15366/facilities/
Salters’ Garden:
We have three available bathroom facilities along the route.
Guildhall Yard - https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/Things-to-do/guildhall-art-gallery-accessibility-guide.pdf
Barbie Green - https://www.daisygreenfood.com/location-barbie
Barbican Centre - https://www.barbican.org.uk/your-visit/general-info/toilets
Guildhall Yard
The Clink will be serving hot desserts and drinks, including alcoholic options at Guildhall Yard. Please note that The Clink will begin taking orders from 5pm, and alcohol will no longer be available to order after 8.15pm. Further details can be found on their website. https://theclinkcharity.org/event-catering
St Alphage London Wall & Garden and Salters’ Garden
Barbie Green will be hosting a pop-up bar serving a selection of drinks right across St Alphage London Wall & Garden and Salters’ Garden. For more information, please visit their website.
https://www.daisygreenfood.com/location-barbie
To explore more food and drink options in the area beyond the festival, please visit: Places to eat & drink in the City of London - City of London
We look forward to welcoming you and hope you enjoy the offerings on the evening.
No, Vibrance is a self-led walking route, covering five locations across the City of London. Navigate the five locations using our map. Our event stewards and security will be stationed at each location for guidance.
Yes, Vibrance is a family-friendly event and we invite audiences from all ages to attend.
Yes, Vibrance is suitable for visitors with light sensitivity or epilepsy. The installation does not use flashing or strobing effects. However, individual responses can vary. If at any point you feel unwell or uncomfortable, we advise that you remove yourself from the viewing area and speak to a member of staff, who will be happy to assist. Please note, there are specific regulations for use of the VR headset at St Giles’ Cripplegate. Please read below.
VR experience at St Giles’ Cripplegate
The installation Array Infinitive invites visitors to wear a VR headset. Our team will be on hand to explain the experience and answer any questions before you take part.
Please do not use the Meta Quest 3 headset if you:
- Are under the age of 10
- Have certain medical conditions (including heart conditions or implanted medical devices)
- Are pregnant
- Are unwell, fatigued, or emotionally distressed
- Are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Stop use immediately if you experience discomfort, dizziness, pain, or any other adverse symptoms. For further details, please refer to Meta’s full terms and conditions.
Our event is outdoors, so please dress warmly. We aim to go ahead whatever the weather, although extreme conditions may require us to close some installations or cancel the event.
Partner credits
Vibrance Festival 2026 is brought to audiences by Guildhall Production Studio 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.
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