City’s Christmas glow up with brand new light projections

Cardiff city centre has come alive with two new light projections, officially kicking off the city’s festive season while paying tribute to a Welsh icon.

At Cardiff Market, visitors will see a brand-new projection featuring a robin soaring among the market stalls – a symbol of warmth and community during the Christmas season.

Over at Cardiff Central Station, a refreshed display celebrates Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales, featuring animated quotes from the iconic poem, bringing Welsh storytelling to life for locals and visitors alike.

Unveiled by FOR Cardiff, and created by renowned light artists Illuminos, the projections transform Cardiff Market and Cardiff Central Station into festive landmarks, shrouding the heart of the city in light, poetry, and colour.

The new installations mark the official start of the Cardiff’s Christmas celebrations, coinciding with the launch of late-night shopping at St David’s Dewi Sant and a six-week programme of seasonal events across Cardiff.

Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director at FOR Cardiff, said: “Cardiff at Christmas is a truly magical place, and this year’s light projections bring that spirit to life in a way that feels both fresh and rooted in our city’s unique character.

“From the timeless words of Dylan Thomas lighting up Central Station, to our brand-new projection site outside Cardiff Market, these installations are a celebration of creativity, community and connection.

“Our aim is to attract more people into the city centre to shop, dine, celebrate and make memories – while supporting the local businesses that make Cardiff so special during the festive season.”

Lewis Brencher, Executive Director of Customer and Communications at Transport for Wales, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in bringing this special light projection to Cardiff.

“As one of Wales’s busiest transport hubs, Cardiff Central station sits at the heart of our communities, and we’re proud to support FOR Cardiff in making it a festive destination for everyone travelling through or visiting the city this season.”

Cllr Jennifer Burke, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events added: “The new light projections are an exciting addition to what is already a brilliant festive offering in the city centre.

“This year’s line-up of events, activities and attractions ensures that whether you’re shopping, skating, dining or simply soaking up the atmosphere, Cardiff truly shines as one of the UK’s top Christmas destinations.”

The new light projections also mark the start of the wider A Very Cardiff Christmas campaign.

Delivered by FOR Cardiff in partnership with Visit Cardiff, A Very Cardiff Christmas aims to position the Welsh capital as one of the UK’s leading festive destinations, showcasing the best of Cardiff’s retail, hospitality and culture.

The launch of the campaign also coincides with the launch of FOR Cardiff’s Weekend Park & Ride service: (15 Nov – 21 Dec), which helps to ease congestion and reduce emissions in the city centre; the scheme saved 1.173 tonnes of CO₂ in 2023.

A list of festive highlights curated by Visit Cardiff include:

• The Cardiff Castle Ice Rink and Ice Walk (13 Nov – 4 Jan)
• Winter Wonderland at City Hall Lawn (13 Nov – 4 Jan)
• The award-winning Bute Park light trail (21 Nov – 31 Dec)
• The Christmas Market (13 Nov – 23 Dec) with over 70 independent stalls
• The Festive Quarter on Working Street offering Bavarian-style cabins, food and drink
• The Victorian Arcades, beautifully decorated for the season with boutique shopping and cafés

For more information, head to Visit Cardiff’s site here.