---
title: "Leipzig Festival of Lights 2020 | Programme"
url: "https://lichtfest.leipziger-freiheit.de/en/festival-of-lights-programme/festival-of-lights-2020"
description: "The Leipzig Festival of Lights 2020 took place in a smaller format on St Nicolas Church Yard due to the pandemic. Many residents of Leipzig took part from home."
language: "en"
breadcrumb: "Root > Leipzig Festival of Lights > Leipzig Festival of Lights Programme > Festival of Lights 2020"
---

Leipzig Festival of Lights 2020
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Programme Leipzig Festival of Lights 2020
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Festival of Lights at home

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Everything was different in 2020. Due to the pandemic, the Leipzig Festival of Lights could not take place on Augustusplatz as usual with thousands of visitors. Therefore, on the 9ᵗʰ of October 2020, there was a smaller edition of the Festival of Lights. The focus of remembrance was on the candles surrounding the entire **St Nicolas Church Yard**. The traditional **candles' podium '89** formed the centre. There, Mayor Burkhard Jung, Saxon Minister President Michael Kretschmer, Leipzig civil rights activist Uwe Schwabe, and Marco Wanderwitz, Federal Government Commissioner for the New Federal States, addressed short greetings to the citizens of Leipzig.

The entire event was broadcast live on Leipzig Fernsehen and streamed online.

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Opening Leipzig Festival of Lights 2020 at St Nicolas Church Yard

Welcome speeches, music, candles' podium '89

 

Lichtfest Leipzig 2020: Eröffnung im kleinen Rahmen auf dem Nikolaikirchhof

Lord Mayor **Burkhard Jung** referred to this particular situation and welcomed the guests with a question: “Is it not paradoxical to celebrate a Leipzig Festival of Lights and a prayer for peace that cannot be open to everyone? – That does not really fit.” However, the celebrations should by no means be cancelled, and Jung therefore asked for understanding regarding the chosen format. In addition to Jung, there were greetings from civil rights activist **Uwe Schwabe** and Saxon State Minister **Sebastian Gemkow**. One of the most moving moments of the evening was undoubtedly the “**Greeting from the citizens of Leipzig**”, presented by Annegret Janssen and Tanja Werner (Youth Parliament Leipzig).

Already in September, the Leipzig Festival of Lights visited various districts with light, art and conversations with civil rights activists. Short interviews with the contributors and video clips offered a look back. After about an hour, this special Leipzig Festival of Lights came to an end with the canon “Dona Nobis Pacem”, sung by the **vocal quintet Ensemble Nobiles** and accompanied by **Leipzig trombone choirs**. For a short time, the roughly 10,000 candles arranged in the shape of the 89 remained. A quiet conclusion.

 

 

Light projects: on the way to the Leipzig Festival of Lights 2020
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