Three of the 13 installations at Liverpool's River of Light festival will remain closed on opening night due to Storm Austen, with a yellow weather warning in place for Merseyside.
The free event returns to Liverpool city centre from Friday, October 23 until Sunday, November 1, under the theme "Together", celebrating how light can bring people closer. Delivered by Culture Liverpool, the 2026 festival features 13 artworks, including nine new installations.
Storm Austen forces partial closure
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Merseyside until 9pm today (October 23), with winds expected to reach 45mph to 55mph. Ahead of the opening, Visit Liverpool confirmed that some installations will be closed this evening.
In a Facebook post, Visit Liverpool stated: "Due to Storm Austen, River of Light will be partially open this evening (23 October). For everyone’s safety, three of the 13 installations will remain closed, while 10 artworks will be open and ready to experience."
The post added: "With strong winds, colder temperatures, and heavy rain forecast, we’re asking everyone to take extra care. Wrap up warm, plan your travel ahead, and enjoy the artworks safely."
Closed artworks and further warnings
The closed installations are Anooki at Liverpool Town Hall, Dream Herd at Derby Square, and Unity at George’s Dock Way.
A second weather warning is in place for Merseyside from midday on Saturday, October 24 until 9pm on Sunday, October 25. Visit Liverpool has not yet shared updates on whether this will affect the weekend displays.
Visit Liverpool advised: "Please keep an eye on our Instagram stories for any further event updates throughout the evening and into the weekend should weather conditions change."
