Santa Monica will illuminate the night on Sept. 28 with its third annual Glow. This signature event—the nation’s only nighttime arts celebration devoted exclusively to original works—runs from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Modeled after Paris’ Nuit Blanche, Glow presents 15 commissioned, site-specific interactive installations that light up Santa Monica’s iconic pier and beach. For one evening, the city’s center becomes a vast outdoor museum where artworks are meant to be experienced as fully as they are seen.
Glow blends technology, artistic imagination and the natural beauty of the coast. The program features a distinguished list of artists, including Mathieu Briand, Janet Echelman, Glenn Kaino, Victoria Vesna and Rebecca Mendéz, and showcases a broad cross-section of contemporary practice. Offerings range from large-scale earthworks to bespoke, participatory mobile apps, each designed to engage visitors directly.
Every piece at Glow aligns with the festival’s central goal: to reframe urban and natural settings through the perspective of contemporary artists. The commissioned works respond to site, light and movement, encouraging viewers to rethink familiar places and to encounter the beach and pier in surprising, imaginative ways.
Beyond the art itself, Glow fosters a sense of community and discovery. The late-night schedule invites exploration, allowing visitors to move through the illuminated landscape at their own pace. Interactive elements invite participation from a diverse audience—families, art enthusiasts, tech-savvy visitors and casual passersby—so that each attendee becomes part of the artwork’s unfolding experience.
By commissioning original projects specifically for the event, Glow supports experimental practices and provides artists with a platform to test ideas in a public setting. The result is a dynamic mix of works that highlight contemporary concerns—environmental awareness, public engagement, and the intersection of analog and digital media—while remaining rooted in the particular character of Santa Monica’s waterfront.
Glow’s nighttime format also encourages new relationships with light and landscape. Illuminated sculptures and projections alter perceptions of scale and distance, while responsive pieces react to movement, sound or mobile interaction. This emphasis on sensory experience makes the event memorable long after the lights go down.
Visitors should expect a curated, cohesive program that balances ambitious installations with accessible, participatory projects. Whether drawn to monumental sculptural interventions or subtle, tech-driven pieces, attendees will find opportunities to engage, reflect and be surprised by how contemporary art can transform public space.
As Glow returns for its third year, it continues to emphasize original commissions, interdisciplinary collaboration and the transformative power of art. The festival reaffirms Santa Monica’s role as a vibrant cultural hub where art, technology and the natural environment converge to create unforgettable nighttime experiences.