Over 148 high-brightness projectors from Barco illuminate five districts at the 2nd Shanghai International Light Festival, redefining urban storytelling through light, architecture and immersive visuals.

What happens when an entire city becomes a canvas? At the 2nd Shanghai International Light Festival, the answer unfolded after dark, as Barco’s large-format projection technology transformed Shanghai’s architectural landmarks and public spaces into a sweeping, multi-district spectacle of light, motion and narrative.

Running from 19 September to 18 October 2025, the month-long festival activated sites across Xuhui, Jing’an, Yangpu, Baoshan and Huangpu districts, delivering an ambitious programme of architectural projection mapping, immersive installations and public art experiences. More than 148 projectors from Barco’s UDX, UDM and G100 series were deployed across the city, providing the brightness, image consistency and operational resilience required for complex outdoor environments spread across multiple locations.

From reimagined industrial heritage sites to contemporary urban façades, Barco’s projection systems enabled a wide variety of creative expressions. In Xuhui, six UDX-4K40 projectors converted large industrial tanks into luminous sculptural forms, using precision mapping to accentuate their scale and texture. Jing’an’s “Light-colored Canvas” installation utilised 12 UDM-30K projectors to animate building façades with dynamic visual content, while Yangpu’s Fuxing Island Slipway Park showcased a monumental light sculpture driven by 18 high-brightness projectors.

One of the festival’s most striking visual moments took place in Huangpu, where a historic ship was brought vividly to life through a narrative projection experience powered by 40 UDX-4K40 projectors, merging storytelling with maritime heritage. Beyond Shanghai, Barco technology also featured in a cave projection installation at Taizhou’s Huangyan Caves, where seamless imagery was mapped across complex rock formations, blending natural landscapes with digital art.

According to organisers and technical partners, Barco’s projection platforms delivered the luminance, colour uniformity and image stability essential for large-scale outdoor displays, particularly in riverside and high-humidity conditions. The availability of a broad range of lenses and accessories allowed accurate alignment across architectural surfaces with varied geometries, depths and viewing angles, ensuring visual consistency across the festival’s diverse locations.

Positioned as both a cultural celebration and a showcase of Shanghai’s innovative spirit, the 2nd Shanghai International Light Festival demonstrated how advanced projection mapping can redefine public spaces, encouraging residents and visitors alike to engage with the city through immersive night-time experiences. Barco has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting large-scale public art, architectural illumination and night-time cultural tourism through continued advancement of high-performance imaging solutions.