Introducing Lightwaves: Lumens of the Lost
Sutton on Sea lantern parade at Lightwaves 2025.
Lightwaves is returning to the Lincolnshire coast, this time as the new chapter; Lightwaves: Lumens of the Lost. The event will bring four evenings of light installations, storytelling, heritage and community creativity to Spilsby, Chapel St Leonards, Sandilands and Sutton-on-Sea this October.
Inspired by the stories of Lincolnshire’s submerged coastal forests, the event will invite residents and visitors to explore the stories, landscapes and local voices that have shaped the area.
Developed in collaboration with Sessions Arts and artist SDNA, Lightwaves: Lumens of the Lost will celebrate the connection between people and place through immersive experiences, creative workshops and opportunities for local communities to help shape the event itself.
The event will explore how places hold memory, evolve over time and continue to impact on the people who live there. Drawing inspiration from our seaside heritage, local folklore, and hidden histories, Lightwaves: Lumens of the Lost encourages you to see the Lincolnshire coast, and nearby towns, from a new perspective.
Across the four locations, you can expect to discover a series of illuminated installations, soundscapes, storytelling and activities that celebrate the unique character of East Lindsey. Each location will bring together different stories, forming a connected journey, before culminating in a finale event in Sutton-on-Sea.
Yet again, the community will be at the heart of the event. In the lead up to Lightwaves, local residents will be invited to take part in workshops and creative activities, sharing their own experiences that will help shape new artistic work. We want to make sure that this event reflects the people and history of the area, and these contributions will ensure that.
As part of the programme, SDNA will deliver Voices from the Lost Forest, a new artist commission exploring the relationship between people, place and imagination through moving image, light and participatory digital art.
Speaking about the project, SDNA said:
"This is an incredibly inspiring theme, connecting folklore, ecology, heritage and environmental change. We are excited to be collaborating with locally based artists as part of the workshop programme, ensuring the project is shaped by local voices, knowledge and creativity."
Sessions Arts, producers of Lightwaves, added:
"We are delighted to be working on Lightwaves in East Lindsey for the third time. Each year the festival continues to grow, and we're excited that in 2026 it will run across four nights, creating even more opportunities for people to experience and engage with light-based art and activities.
As well as an expanded programme of illuminated installations and events, we're looking forward to involving more local people through a range of creative workshops and participatory activities. Lightwaves is a fantastic celebration of creativity, community and place, and we're proud to be part of bringing this unique experience to East Lindsey once again."
By bringing together artists, local people and cultural organisations, the event will celebrate the stories that connect us to the Lincolnshire coast while creating new stories and memories.
There is plenty more to come, including artist announcements, workshop opportunities and ways to get involved.
Keep an eye on our socials for more updates and dates, we can’t wait to share more of what we’re working on for this event, and bring you along on this journey with us.