Lichtfest Leipzig mit Besuchern mit Kerzen zur Feier der Friedlichen Revolution im Herbst 89 in Leipzig

Candles are an essential part of the Leipzig Festival of Lights – they illuminate the candles' podium '89. Traditionally, visitors to the Leipzig Festival of Lights fill the candle platform with tea lights in candle holders, which are available free of charge or in return for a voluntary donation at the numerous information stands in Leipzig city centre.

The proceeds from the donations benefit a recipient selected in advance by the “Board of Trustees for the Day of the Peaceful Revolution 1989”.

This year’s proceeds will go to Haus Steinstraße e.V.

Haus Steinstraße e.V. is a sociocultural centre and multigenerational community centre in Leipzig, as well as an independent youth welfare organisation. The association combines cultural education, opportunities for people to meet and social engagement. Through workshops, theatre projects, holiday activities and its family and community café, it encourages, educates and supports people regardless of their age, background or disability. The association stands for respect, involvement and participation: “Culture and education for everyone, with everyone”.

Find out here which organisations received the proceeds in previous years.

The proceeds in 2026 will go to Haus Steinstraße e.V. – a sociocultural centre, multigenerational community centre and independent youth welfare organisation in Leipzig. The association promotes cultural education, interaction and engagement, and supports people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances.

Candle sponsorship 2026

Lichtfest_2025_Übergabe Spendenscheck_Foto_Andreas Schmidt — © leipzig.travel, Andreas Schmidt

The proceeds from candle donations collected as part of the 2025 Festival of Lights will benefit the sociocultural centre ‘Die VILLA’, which has been committed to education, culture and social participation in Leipzig since 1990.

Candle sponsorship 2025

Scheckübergabe: Der Erlös aus der Aktion Kerzenpatenschaft im Rahmen des Lichtfest Leipzig 2024 ging an den Wolfsträne e. V. — © LTM/Andreas Schmidt

The proceeds from the Candle Sponsors campaign, raised as part of the 2024 Leipzig Festival of Lights, went to Wolfsträne e. V. The association supports grieving children and young people who have lost a parent or sibling.

Candle Sponsorship 2024

Kerzenpaten Lichtfest Leipzig 2023: EuropaMaidan Leipzig e. V. — © LTM/Andreas Schmidt

The proceeds from the Candle Sponsors campaign, raised as part of the 2023 Leipzig Festival of Lights, went to EuropaMaidan Leipzig e. V., which collects donations for projects in Ukraine, as well as for refugees and Ukrainians who have remained in their country.

Candle Sponsorship 2023

Der Erlös aus der Lichtfest-Spendenaktion Kerzenpatenschaft im Rahmen des Lichtfest 2022 ging an das Journalists-in-Residence-Programm des in Leipzig beheimateten Europäischen Zentrums für Presse und Medienfreiheit (ECPMF) — © Niek Verlaan/Pixabay

The proceeds from the Candle Sponsors campaign, raised as part of the 2022 Leipzig Festival of Lights, went to the Journalists-in-Residence Programme run by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), which is based in Leipzig.

Candle Sponsorship 2022

Übergabe des Spendenschecks an die Kerzenpaten 2021. Die Erlöse wurde im Rahmen des Lichtfest 2021 gesammelt — © LTM/Andreas Schmidt

The candle sponsorship initiative was successfully continued in 2021. The proceeds raised through the campaign before and during the 2021 Leipzig Festival of Lights were divided equally between Ariowitsch-Haus Leipzig e. V. and the Jewish Community of Halle.

Candle Sponsorship 2021

Scheckübergabe mit Oberbürgermeister Burkhard Jung in Neuen Rathaus: Die Erlöse aus der Aktion Kerzenpatenschaft im Rahmen des Lichtfest Leipzig 2020 ging zu gleichen Teilen an Clowns & Clowns e. V. und die Leipziger Klinikclowns — © LTM/Andreas Schmidt

The proceeds from the candle sponsorship campaign held as part of the 2020 Leipzig Festival of Lights were divided equally between Clowns & Clowns e. V. and the Leipzig hospital clowns. The organisations support people in hospitals and care facilities. Alongside entertaining sick children, their work has a particular focus on older people.

Candle Sponsorship 2020

In 2023, reusable cups for candles were trialled for the first time at the Leipzig Festival of Lights. On the 9ᵗʰ of October 2024, 20,000 reusable cups were used at the candle stands - replacing the previously used single-use PET cups. The cups were collected and stored after the event. They are to be reused at future editions of the festival. The cups are made of durable plastic and were supplied by Chemnitz-based EmotionVibe. Sourcing them from Chemnitz can reduce transport distances in this area of procurement compared with suppliers located further away.

Reusable instead of disposable
Designed for reuse

Sustainability at the Leipzig Festival of Lights

Candle Sponsors

Reusable cups at the Leipzig Festival of Lights