Ostersbaumer Lichterwege

Lichterwege Ostersbaum — Wuppertal's Romantic Light Art Project

When darkness is at its deepest in Wuppertal in February, the Ostersbaum district lights its candles. On February 3, 2026, the hilly district in Wuppertal's Nordstadt will host the 27th edition of the Ostersbaumer Lichterwege — a collective light installation that brings thousands of mini-flames in colorful glasses to the district's stairs, walls, and squares between 6 PM and 8 PM.

7,000 Candles in 27 Years of Tradition

Since the year 2000, thousands of lights have illuminated the entire Ostersbaum district every February. Over 7,000 candles in colorful glasses are lit simultaneously and placed on the steep stairs, house walls, and squares. The artistic concept comes from Wuppertal artist Diemut Schilling, who has been responsible for the romantic light scenography since the beginning.

The light installation is accompanied by musicians and choirs performing at various locations in the district — an acoustic layer that adds emotional depth to the visual magic.

Participatory Art — The Neighborhood Becomes a Work of Art

What distinguishes the Lichterwege from a mere staging: The neighborhood of Ostersbaum and beyond is explicitly invited to become part of the staging itself. Residents are asked to walk along in luminous costumes, actively bring the illuminated routes to life, and contribute their own light objects. This participatory component turns the festival of lights into a neighborhood ritual — not a show to be consumed, but an action to be participated in.

Ostersbaum — The Alternative Wuppertal District

The Ostersbaum district is located in the Nordstadt of Wuppertal, above the main train station Elberfeld. With its steep stairs, Wilhelminian-era house facades, and a distinct social and subcultural scene, it is considered one of the liveliest and most colorful districts in the city. A strong neighborhood structure has developed here, supported by the Nachbarschaftsheim Wuppertal e.V., which coordinates the Lichterwege as the organizer.

Wuppertal — City of the Schwebebahn in the Bergisches Land

The independent city of Wuppertal, with its approximately 360,000 inhabitants, is located in the Bergisches Land region and is world-famous for its Schwebebahn (suspension railway) — the only hanging monorail of its kind. Topographically characterized by steep slopes and narrow valleys, Wuppertal has a distinctly vertical urban structure, which makes the Ostersbaum district particularly well-suited as a stage for the Lichterwege: the stairs, which are already a part of everyday life here, become the main performance area for the light installation. Wuppertal is also known for the Pina Bausch Tanztheater, the Von der Heydt Museum, and a diverse independent art scene — into which the Lichterwege seamlessly integrate.