As a biennial for light art and urban design, the Luminale pursue the goal of creating a popular and high-quality program in terms of both artistic and contextual content. A further key objective is to make a sustainable contribution to urban development – in dialogue with artists, creative minds, urban planners, scientists and the city’s residents. Projects revolving around urban visions in the fields of light, architecture, technology, ecology, social interaction in the city, or with its history and culture, make this into a tangible experience – accompanied by interdisciplinary dialogue. In this process, the Luminale sees itself as a source of ideas and impulses, as well as coordinator, communicator and test laboratory.

In 2018, the Luminale presented itself with a new concept. As a biennial for light art and urban design, it illuminated the streets, squares and houses of the city - and next to that and beyond, current issues of urban development formed the focus of attention. Renowned artists such as Victoria Coeln, Philipp Geist and the artists' collective Urbanscreen participated. More than 150 projects attracted more than 250,000 visitors.