Napa Lighted Art Festival Preview

The 8th Annual Napa Lighted Art Festival is just around the corner! The celebration of creative arts, technology and lights returns in this free, walkable outdoor experience in Downtown Napa, featuring 15 lighted art installations for five weeks from Jan. 17-Feb. 15, 2026. Projection artwork will also be displayed on three iconic downtown buildings for the first nine nights of the festival. Festival hours are Sunday-Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 6-10 p.m.

This year's festival showcases exciting works from international and local artists. Past installations have ranged from 3D video mapping projections on historic buildings to interactive LED sculptures and fiber optic installations. The festival is also introducing two special community events this year:

• Artist Meet & Greet (Jan. 17): A free event at Aerena Gallery (604 Main Street) from 4:30-6 p.m., where the community can meet the artists behind the installations.
• Gnome Hunt (Feb. 7): A family-friendly adventure in the Oxbow District from 6-8 p.m., featuring 12 giant "Roaming Gnomes," music and giveaways.

This annual event is made possible through a strong public-private partnership between the Napa Tourism Improvement District (TID), Napa Property Improvement District (PBID) and many downtown businesses. The Napa TID has historically underwritten roughly 60% of the event's $340,000 budget, while the Downtown Napa PBID contributed additional funds to support and enhance installations in the downtown core. These targeted investments reflect the festival's direct role in driving off-season visitation and economic activity for local businesses.

"January and February are historically slower months for tourism in Napa," said Neal Harrison, Economic Development Manager. "The festival creates a reason for people to come out, walk our streets and support local restaurants and shops during a time when that activity really matters for our business community."

The festival is free and designed for audiences of all ages, which has made it a welcoming community gathering point that has tangible benefits for local businesses. The 2025 festival attracted approximately 70,000 unique attendees, many of whom dine or shop downtown before or after experiencing the illuminated art walk. Sixty-two percent of attendees came from outside the area, and 18% stayed in local hotels. The event as a whole contributed to an estimated $4.4 million in economic impact. Notably, 30% of the highest-visitation days in Downtown Napa for the entire year occurred during the festival, underscoring its role in driving activity and supporting downtown businesses during the winter season.

Beyond boosting off-season visitation, the festival showcases downtown Napa's unique architecture as backdrops for contemporary art and elevates Napa's reputation as a destination for innovative cultural experiences that complement its well-known hospitality offerings.

In recognition of its impact, the City of Napa received the 2019 Helen Putnam Award of Excellence for Economic Development through the Arts for the festival.

More information about the festival is available on the Napa Lighted Art Festival website.