Call for Proposals: Lumen 2026
City of Waterloo
Call for Artist Proposals – Lumen at City of Waterloo
Application Deadline: March 12, 2026 | 5:00pm ET
City of Waterloo is inviting artists to submit a proposal to be part of Lumen, Waterloo’s annual festival of light, art, and technology-based installations. Lumen will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 6 to 11pm in public spaces throughout Uptown Waterloo.
The goal of the festival is to celebrate the great community spaces, places, and parks that are available for use by the community and to animate public spaces through creative temporary installations. Audiences for the one-night event are expected to exceed 40,000 attendees.
Up to ten (10) artists will be selected as part of this open call. All selected work will feature the interplay between light, art, and technology and should include an interactive, collaborative, or participatory component. Artists working in all mediums are encouraged to apply.
Selected artists will receive a fee of $2,000 (inclusive of all artist fees, transportation, supplies, etc.) for their participation in the festival. Additional resources such as volunteers or event set-up can be requested, however they are not guaranteed.
Lumen is an accessible festival, and artists are encouraged to think about accessibility when submitting their proposal.
City of Waterloo
100 Regina Street South
Waterloo, ON N2J 4P9
festivals@waterloo.ca
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Image Descriptions:
1. Night view of Silver Lake during the City of Waterloo’s Lumen festival, with illuminated art installation Wavelengths by Stephen Orlando floating on water with the vibrant lights of Waterloo Park in the background.
2. A person sits beside illuminated letters spelling “LUMEN” at nighttime in Waterloo Park with vibrant lights in the background.
3. A person standing between a series of brightly lit geometric neon frames titled Lux Array by Luxonus at the City of Waterloo’s Lumen festival.
4. Logo for City of Waterloo.
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