Constellations de Metz

An open-air digital art festival

Since 2017, the Constellations de Metz festival has established itself as one of the major digital art events in France. Free and accessible to all, it transforms the city of Metz into an open-air art gallery every summer, where ancient heritage and contemporary creation dialogue in spectacular harmony. For more than two months, the medieval facades, historic squares, and gardens of the city become the canvas for ephemeral works designed by artists from around the world.

Three artistic trails

Pierres Numériques – The nocturnal trail

The festival's flagship circuit comes alive at nightfall. The facades of the Saint-Étienne Cathedral, the Opéra-Théâtre, the Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains church, and other emblematic monuments are transformed into giant screens through video mapping. Immersive audiovisual installations, laser scenographies, and interactive devices mark the trail, inviting spectators to rediscover the city from a new perspective. An international mapping competition brings together creative teams from around the world each year.

Art & Gardens – The daytime trail

During the day, the festival takes over Metz's parks and gardens with visual artworks, monumental sculptures, and land art installations. This trail connects the city's green spaces while showcasing creations that explore the relationship between art, nature, and urbanity. The works, often designed specifically for their locations, blend harmoniously into the Metz landscape.

Urban Art

The street art component of the festival permanently enriches Metz's urban landscape. Mural paintings, trompe-l'œil, and graphic interventions are created by renowned artists on the city's walls. These creations, designed in conjunction with the existing architecture, endure well beyond the festival period and constitute a true permanent open-air museum.

International reach

A member of the International Light Festivals Organisation (ILO), Constellations de Metz is part of a global network of light festivals. The event attracts several hundred thousand visitors each year, making Metz a leading summer cultural destination in the Grand Est region. The artistic quality of the programming and the originality of the concept have earned the festival national and international recognition.

A unifying and free event

One of Constellations' major assets is its complete freeness. Organized by the City of Metz with the support of the Eurométropole de Metz and numerous institutional and private partners, the festival aims to be a popular and unifying event. The trails are freely accessible, day and night, allowing everyone to engage with the city and its heritage through the lens of contemporary creation.