Illuminating Art offers a journey through four centuries of artistic imagination - from the drama of the Baroque to the luminous colour of the Impressionists - alongside references to pioneering developments such as early photography, the age of steam and the beginnings of animation.

Running from 23 31 October 2026, this years experience builds on the success of the inaugural event during the Cathedrals 950th anniversary year, when more than 14,500 visitors stepped inside an extraordinary world of light and sound, seeing the building in a completely new way. Now established as a key moment in the Cathedrals cultural calendar, the 2026 Light Experience will explore the theme Illuminating Art. This is a particularly fitting focus for Chichester Cathedral, renowned for its rich artistic heritage and its remarkable contribution to modern religious art.

Created using large-scale projection and an original score by composer David Harper, Illuminating Art will see the Cathedrals architecture, from its Norman stonework to its soaring nave - reimagined as a canvas for digital art. Visitors will move through a series of immersive environments, where light and sound respond to the buildings form and scale.

The experience unfolds as a carefully curated journey through the Cathedral, with each space offering a distinct atmosphere and perspective. From more intimate moments of detail and texture to expansive displays of colour and motion, the installation builds in scale and intensity, culminating in the nave where the full height and grandeur of the Cathedral are brought to life in a striking finale.