For the third consecutive year, the “Dimitrie Brandza” Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest transforms into a glowing wonderland as it hosts the Garden of Lights exhibition – an enchanting four-month journey around the world through light, art, and emotion.
After the tremendous success of the previous editions – Alice in Wonderland and Beauty and the Beast – which drew hundreds of thousands of visitors, the creative team from Wonderful Lighting returns with a brand-new spectacle. This year’s event features dozens of themed scenes, artistic installations, illuminated trees, and breathtaking multimedia light shows.
Free entry is available for University of Bucharest employees with a valid staff ID
This year’s theme, “Small World,” invites visitors on a captivating trip around the globe through luminous art and storytelling. Highlights include dazzling displays inspired by Asia’s dragons, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, London’s Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, and the Rio Carnival – all brought together in one magical setting, right in the heart of Bucharest. Also returning this year is Europe’s longest light tunnel – stretching an impressive 220 meters and adorned with over 320,000 LEDs.
“We were delighted to partner once again with the Garden of Lights team. Visitors can now admire the Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest in a completely new light – quite literally – and see how illumination can enhance and highlight the beauty of nature,” said Professor Paulina Anastasiu, PhD, Director of the “Dimitrie Brandza” Botanical Garden.
The Gardens of Light exhibitions are open-air experiences that tell stunning multimedia stories through light and music. For children, it’s a chance to meet beloved fairy-tale characters; for adults, it’s a nostalgic journey back to childhood ,a moment of calm and wonder in the middle of the city. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and friends while discovering a new dimension of creativity and beauty in a natural setting.
The best time to visit is after sunset, when the darkness enhances the light effects and creates a mysterious, romantic atmosphere. Visitors can stroll through the garden’s illuminated paths, admire the glowing installations, and enjoy synchronized light-and-sound shows that offer a truly multisensory experience.
Tickets can be purchased online via the Garden of Lights website or directly at the Botanical Garden ticket office. In addition to single-entry tickets, season passes are available, granting unlimited access throughout the four-month exhibition.
“This season, Bucharest will shine with thousands of lights, taking visitors on a magical journey around the world! After sunset, the Botanical Garden will turn into a fairy-tale realm filled with dazzling displays that bring to life the places we’ve visited – or dream of visiting. And for puzzle lovers, we’ve prepared a special challenge: simply scan a QR code with your smartphone to uncover the castle’s secrets and win prizes,” said Michal Chojnacki, CEO of Wonderful Lighting.
About the University of Bucharest
Founded in 1864, the University of Bucharest has been part of the European Civic University Alliance (CIVIS) since 2019, alongside ten other prestigious European universities. UB is increasingly becoming a key player in shaping European higher education.
The 2025 edition of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, one of the top three most prestigious academic rankings worldwide assessing universities’ involvement in sustainable development, places the University of Bucharest first in Romania and 25th globally for quality of education. Moreover, UB ranks 93rd overall in the Impact Rankings 2025, marking a national milestone as the first Romanian university to enter the global top 100.
UB also reaffirms its leadership position in Romanian higher education according to the most recent edition of the QS World University Rankings 2026—also one of the top three academic rankings. Globally, the University of Bucharest ranks in the 761–770 band, showing a significant improvement from the previous 801–850 band, and achieving some of its best results in the last decade. Notably, UB excels in Employment Outcomes and Employer Reputation, confirming its ability to produce competitive, job-ready graduates. According to the latest data, 81.1% of UB graduates secure employment within 7–11 months after graduation.
Currently, the University of Bucharest is also ranked the best university in Romania for international students, according to the latest Study Abroad Aide’s World University Rankings, placing UB in the top 11% of universities worldwide for international students. Another recent ranking, the THE – Interdisciplinary Science Ranking 2025, places the University of Bucharest first nationally and among the top 350 globally for interdisciplinary scientific research.
About the ”Dimitrie Brandza” Botanical Garden
Founded in 1860, the “Dimitrie Brandza” Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest is both an educational and research hub. Spanning more than 18 hectares, it is home to over 4,000 plant species from various geographical and climatic regions, including many rare specimens. The Garden features ten themed outdoor sections, a large exhibition greenhouse, a historic greenhouse, and a fascinating Botanical Museum. Established in 1882 by the renowned botanist Dimitrie Brândză, the Botanical Museum houses 22 rooms dedicated to the Garden’s history, medicinal plants, botanical curiosities, and special collections. The greenhouses serve both as research spaces and as serene oases filled with tropical, subtropical, and equatorial species from around the world.
About Wonderful Lighting
Headquartered in Poland, Wonderful Lighting was founded in 2020 and organized its first light exhibition in Kraków’s Stanisław Lem Garden of Experiments, which attracted record visitor numbers. Over the following years, Gardens of Light exhibitions drew up to 150,000 visitors per day, totaling more than 1.2 million visitors across multiple cities. This year, the story continues across Central and Eastern Europe, in Riga, Budapest, Belgrade, Dinant, Cluj-Napoca, and Bucharest – and, for the first time, in the United States, in Ohio. Each Garden of Lights edition is inspired by timeless fairy tales such as Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Aladdin’s Lamp, Snow White, The Smurfs, and African Animals. Wonderful Lighting uses cutting-edge technology developed by S4 Lights, a U.S.-based global leader in multimedia and decorative illumination, known for collaborations with Disneyland, SeaWorld, and Silver Dollar City. Each exhibition requires an investment of €600,000–€1,000,000 to bring its magic to life.
Postări asemănătoare:
The Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest once again turns into the Garden of Lights and brings to life the magical world of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale
The Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest once again turns into the Garden of Lights and brings to life the magical world of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale
For four months “Dimitrie Brandza” Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest turns into the Garden of Lights
Over 130.000 visitors at the UB Botanical Garden “Dimitrie Brandza” in the first two months since the opening of the exhibition “Garden of Lights”
