Light Moves Festival of Screendance 2026 | Limerick, Ireland
Overview
Light Moves Festival is Ireland’s premier international platform dedicated to the art of screendance—a sophisticated intersection of choreography, cinematography, and digital media. Based in the atmospheric city of Limerick, the festival has gained global acclaim for its focus on how movement and body are redefined by the lens. Since its founding by artists Mary Wycherley and Jürgen Simpson, Light Moves has acted as a creative laboratory where adventurous dance, film, and new media meet, challenging traditional boundaries of performance and visual art.
The 2026 edition continues the festival’s legacy of artistic inquiry, blending large-scale cinematic screenings with intimate gallery installations and cutting-edge live performances. The festival is not just a viewing experience but a deeply participatory one, often featuring the “Studio Light Moves” initiative and the “Open Futures” residency program. These labs allow artists to explore emerging technologies like motion sensing, VR, and interactive sound, ensuring that Limerick remains at the absolute vanguard of digital choreography and media arts.
Set against the backdrop of some of Limerick’s most historic and contemporary cultural spaces, Light Moves creates an evocative autumn atmosphere in the city. From the high ceilings of a deconsecrated church to the modern stages of the Belltable, the festival invites a diverse audience—from specialized scholars to curious locals—to experience dance through a different lens. It is a celebration of the moving image that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visually arresting, reinforcing the idea that dance can exist anywhere a screen or a body can be found.
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Event Highlights
- Feature & Short Film Screenings: A world-class selection of screendance works curated from an international open call, ranging from avant-garde shorts to feature-length documentaries on dance.
- Live Performance & “SPIRAL” Series: A flagship series of commissioned works that explore the live interaction between music, dance, and film, often featuring unique collaborations with the Digital Media and Arts Research Centre (DMARC).
- Installations & Gallery Works: Immersive media installations that transform spaces like the Limerick City Gallery of Art into interactive environments where visitors influence the movement on screen.
- Symposium & Screendance Lab: A rigorous professional program featuring lectures, workshops, and panel discussions led by global pioneers in dance and film theory.
Why Attend
Dance artists, filmmakers, and digital media creators should attend to immerse themselves in a high-level community of practice. Light Moves offers unparalleled access to workshops and mentoring sessions that bridge the gap between technical filmmaking and choreographic expression. It is widely considered a “must-go” event for those looking to network within the international screendance circuit and discover new tools for interdisciplinary creation.
Casual travelers and fans of contemporary art will find the festival to be one of the most unique cultural experiences in Ireland. The festival provides a rare chance to see how technology can enhance the beauty of human movement in ways that are both haunting and joyful. Whether you are wandering into a free gallery installation or attending a live concert with projected visuals, the festival offers a sensory-rich, accessible introduction to the world of modern digital art.
Date & Duration
- Event Dates: In the month of November (Dates to be announced).
- Total Duration: Typically spans 3 to 4 days (Thursday through Sunday).
Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.
Ticket Information
- How Tickets Are Sold: Tickets are sold online through lightmoves.ie and at the box offices of partner venues like Dance Limerick and the Belltable.
- Admission Type: A mix of individual show tickets, Day Passes, and full Festival Passes; some installations and talks are free of charge.
- Ticket Pricing: Individual screening tickets are typically priced around $11.00 – $16.50; Day Passes are approximately $38.00.
- Price Range: “Pay What You Can” options are often available for selected events to ensure accessibility; full Festival Combo Passes usually cost around $65.00.
- Special Seating or VIP Options: Concession rates are available for students, artists, seniors (65+), and people with disabilities; pre-booking is essential for “Pay What You Can” sessions.
Venue / Location
- City and Country: Limerick, Ireland.
- Venue: Multiple locations including Dance Limerick (St. John’s Church), Belltable, and Limerick City Gallery of Art.
- Google Maps Address: 1 John’s Square, Irishtown, Limerick, V94 E6H2, Ireland.
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Contact Information
- Email: info@lightmoves.ie
- Phone: +353 (0) 61 400994
- Website: lightmoves.ie
- Social Media:
- https://www.facebook.com/LIGHTMOVES/
- https://twitter.com/lightmovesfest
- https://www.instagram.com/lightmovesfest/
- https://www.youtube.com/@LightMovesFestival
Getting There
- Nearest Airports: Shannon Airport (SNN) is 25 km away (~25 minutes by taxi/bus); Dublin Airport (DUB) is 200 km away (~2.5 hours by Green Bus or JJ Kavanagh express).
- Public Transport: Frequent bus services (Bus Éireann Route 343) link Shannon Airport to Limerick city center; the train station (Colbert Station) is a 10-minute walk from the venues (~$2.10 local fare).
- Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi from Shannon Airport to Limerick costs roughly $50.00 – $65.00; Uber and Free Now are active in the city.
- Parking: Use public parking at Pennywell or the multi-story car park at Harvey’s Quay (~$20.00/day); John’s Square has limited on-street parking.
- Other Access: Limerick is a compact and walkable city; most festival venues are situated within a 15-minute walk of each other in the historic “Irishtown” and city center areas.
Accommodation Options
- Luxury Hotels: The Savoy Hotel (5-star, 0.8 km, boutique luxury in the heart of the city, ~$220-380/night); No. 1 Pery Square (4-star, boutique hotel in a restored Georgian townhouse, ~$190-290/night).
- Mid-Range Options: Limerick City Hotel (3-star, 0.5 km, overlooking the Shannon River, ~$120-170/night); George Limerick Hotel (4-star, very central on O’Connell Street, ~$130-190/night).
- Budget Stays: Pery’s Hotel (3-star, affordable classic stay near the station, ~$90-140/night); various hostels and B&Bs are located within a short bus ride of the city center.
Attendee Experiences
- Seeing a dance film projected onto the stone walls of St. John’s Church was one of the most atmospheric art experiences I’ve ever had.
- The ‘Pay What You Can’ tickets made it so easy to bring my whole family to see the interactive installations; the kids loved the motion-sensor room.
- The mix of technology and raw human movement is fascinating; I went to a workshop on VR dance and it completely changed how I think about choreography.
Maps
Contact
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FAQ's
Is the festival only for professional dancers and filmmakers?
While the festival is a major hub for professionals, its program is designed to be highly accessible to the general public. Many of the screenings and installations are visual and non-verbal, making them perfect for anyone who enjoys cinema or art. The "Beyond Screen" presentations and street performances are specifically curated to engage people who might be new to the concept of screendance.
What exactly is "Screendance"?
Screendance is a genre of art that combines the languages of dance and cinema. Unlike a simple recording of a stage performance, a screendance work is created specifically for the screen. It uses camera movement, editing, and digital effects as part of the choreography itself, often resulting in perspectives or movements that would be impossible to achieve in a live theater setting.
Can I submit my own film to be shown at the festival?
Yes, the festival holds an "Open Call" for film submissions which typically opens in early spring of the festival year. They welcome a wide range of works, including short films (under 15 mins), medium-length works, and features. Keep an eye on the website and social media in January and February for the submission guidelines and deadlines for the 2026 edition.
Are the festival venues accessible for people with disabilities?
Light Moves is committed to being an inclusive festival. The primary venues, including Dance Limerick, the Belltable, and the City Gallery, are all wheelchair accessible. Additionally, the festival often offers "Relaxed Screenings" and provides detailed access information in its program. If you have specific accessibility requirements, you can contact the team at info@lightmoves.ie for assistance.
How do the "Pay What You Can" tickets work?
To make the festival as accessible as possible, certain events (often the opening night or community workshops) operate on a "Pay What You Can" basis. While you still need to book a ticket online in advance to ensure a seat, you can choose a price point that fits your budget. This initiative is part of the festival's mission to encourage new audiences to explore adventurous dance and media arts without financial barriers.
