Lumiere (the ‘event’) is a free event produced by Artichoke taking place in public spaces outdoors and indoors with artworks on display in the city of Durham from Thursday 13 November to Saturday 15 November 2025. Admission to the event and artworks within the city centre is strictly for ticket holders only to provide a safe and comfortable experience at the event. Entry times are from 17:00 to 21:00. Those without tickets or official event accreditation will not be admitted to the city centre during this time. The event and artworks outside of the city centre is open to all and may be accessed without a ticket at any time. For the city centre area, please refer to the event map. Ticket terms and conditions apply to all tickets. These ticket terms and conditions are enforceable by Artichoke, our staff or any third party instructed to operate on our behalf.
Booking Tickets
By booking tickets for the event, you understand and agree that:
- Only tickets booked via lumiere-festival.com are valid for the event.
- Tickets are valid only for the event, the number of person(s) and the date and entry time slot (where applicable) stated upon them.
- During your visit you must keep your tickets with you for production on demand by our team.
- This is a standing and promenade unseated event. Please disregard any reference to a seat number in your confirmation email, this is an unseated event.
- Children that are carried by a parent or guardian do not require a ticket.
- A per ticket booking fee of £1.50 applies to all tickets. In the event of the cancellation of the event, booking fees cannot be refunded.
Admission
Your visit to the event is subject to any notice to visitors we post at the event or online. In addition, you and any persons for whom you have booked tickets must comply with any reasonable instructions given to you by our staff or any third party instructed on our behalf during your visit.
We, acting in public interest, may refuse to allow entry, or remove from the event, any person that fails to comply with any reasonable instructions that we may give to visitors from time to time. Rights Of Admission Reserved.
On arrival at the event to any of the entry gates, you will be required to show either a legible printout of your ticket(s) or a legible electronic version on a mobile device.
If you fail to produce your ticket, you will not be admitted to the event, subject to the sole discretion of our staff.
Your ticket is valid for entry any time from one hour after the stated time.
The following items are prohibited and may not be brought to the event: offensive weapons, pyrotechnics, drones, flyers, flags & banners, prohibited substances (illegal drugs), bicycles/skateboards/scooters, hand carts.
To minimise queuing times, please think carefully about what you bring and leave large bags and rucksacks (larger than A4) at home.
Please contact us at [email protected] regarding any access needs or questions.
Amendments
We reserve the right at our discretion to alter any display that forms part of the event, and to cancel any time slot without notice.
If this occurs and you have booked a ticket for the event, we will where possible contact you to advise you of the change and offer you available options. We will also post information online both on our website and social media channels.
Any donations made when booking tickets and subsequently Gift Aided cannot, under HMRC rules, be refunded.
Our Liability
If we fail to comply with these Terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breaking this agreement or our failing to use reasonable care and skill, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable.
This includes liability for: death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors; fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; and breach of your legal rights in relation to your tickets.
We are not liable for business losses. We only supply tickets for private use. If you use the tickets for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose we will not be liable to you for any loss of business, loss of revenue, loss of profits or loss of business opportunity.
The event takes place in public spaces. We recommend you apply due care and attention when moving through these spaces for both yourself, and for those you have booked tickets.
Resale
Tickets for the event are free of charge and resale of tickets for any value is prohibited. We strongly advise against paying for any ticket that is being offered at anything other than zero value. No compensation whatsoever is payable by us if this occurs.
Ticket refund and exchange requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and cannot be guaranteed. Booking fees cannot be refunded. If you need to exchange your ticket, the booking fee will not be applied again.
Should you be unable to attend you may pass your ticket(s) to someone else to use.
Lost Tickets
We will not be responsible for any tickets that are lost, stolen or destroyed. Replacement tickets will be issued at our discretion.
Once tickets are booked you should keep them secure until required for admission to the event.
Filming & Photography
At the event, we may capture your image by photography or videography for use in promotion, including for print and social media. If you prefer not to be included in any such recording, speak to a member of staff or a volunteer. Staff and volunteers will be clearly identifiable at the event and will advise you how to avoid your image being captured. A notice will be posted at any location where photo or video capture is planned with similar information on this policy.
You are permitted to take photographs or videos for private and non-commercial purposes at the event but you and anyone for whom you booked tickets must comply with any restrictions on photography as we advise.
Donations
Any donations made when booking tickets and subsequently Gift Aided cannot, under HMRC rules, be refunded.
Print Programme
The print programme, offered for sale in advance of the event, will only be available for collection from the Lumiere Visitor Hub next to Gala Theatre in Millennium Place.
Opening Times:
- Saturday 8 November 12:00–16:00
- Closed Remembrance Sunday
- Monday 10 November 10:00 – Tuesday 11 November 11:00–16:00
- Wednesday 12 November – Saturday 15 November 11:00–22:00
Programmes are non-refundable when purchased in advance. This does not affect your statutory rights.
Governance
If a court finds part of this agreement illegal, the rest will continue in force. Each of the paragraphs of these Terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.
These Terms are governed by UK Law and you can bring legal proceedings in respect of tickets in the English courts.