London’s West End Aglow as Mayor Sadiq Khan Switches on Ramadan Lights for Fourth Consecutive Year
London’s West End was illuminated on Thursday evening as Mayor Sadiq Khan officially switched on the city’s Ramadan lights, marking the fourth consecutive year the capital has hosted the aerial display.
More than 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights now span the streets connecting Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. The installation, which features intricate geometric designs inspired by Islamic art, currently beams the message “Happy Ramadan” to passersby. Organizers have confirmed that the display will undergo an overnight transformation on March 18, switching to read “Happy Eid” to mark the conclusion of the holy month and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr festivities.
A Symbol of Inclusion and Diversity
The switch-on event was attended by community leaders, including representatives from the Aziz Foundation and the Heart of London Business Alliance. Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted the display as a testament to London’s status as a beacon of diversity and religious tolerance.
“I am delighted that London is the first major European city to host a spectacular light display to mark Ramadan,” Khan said. “These lights are a true symbol of how our capital celebrates our diversity.”
Rahima Aziz, a trustee of the Aziz Foundation, which funds the project, described the lights as an “open invitation to people of all beliefs and backgrounds to come together and experience the values at the heart of Ramadan.”
Background: From Crowdfunding to a West End Staple
The initiative, now a fixture in London’s cultural calendar, began as a grassroots movement led by Aisha Desai. Inspired by the festive lights she loved seeing as a child during Christmas, Desai launched the project with a crowdfunding campaign in 2020 to bring similar joy to the Muslim community.
“As a child, I was captivated by the festive lights every year. As a proud Muslim and Londoner, I not only wanted to bring some of that magic to my community, I also wanted to break the barriers for other creative young Muslims,” Desai has previously stated.
The project quickly gained momentum, expanding from local installations to the heart of the West End in 2023, making London the first Western European city to host such a prominent aerial Ramadan display. The 2026 installation continues this legacy, with the lights scheduled to remain illuminated nightly from 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM until March 24.
Public Debate and Objections
While the lights have been widely praised as a celebration of multiculturalism, they have also drawn criticism and sparked debate regarding the representation of religious festivals in the public sphere.
Some critics have voiced objections over what they perceive as an unequal emphasis on different religious holidays. Social media commentators and some political figures have questioned why similar large-scale aerial displays are not always prioritized for Christian festivals like Easter, with some viewing the prominence of the Ramadan lights as a symptom of eroding traditional British culture.
Further objections have been raised regarding the funding and focus of city resources, although the installation is privately funded by the Aziz Foundation and supported by local business alliances rather than taxpayer money. In previous years, the lights have occasionally become a flashpoint for broader political arguments, with detractors accusing city leadership of “virtue signaling” while supporters argue the display simply reflects the demographic reality of a modern, multi-faith metropolis.
Despite the differing views, the lights remain a significant draw for tourists and locals alike, with thousands expected to visit Coventry Street and Leicester Square throughout the month to witness the display.
timeout.com
theyounglondoner.com
secretldn.com
londonist.com
newarab.com
youtube.com
londonist.com
cbc.ca
pointsoflight.gov.uk
youtube.com
quora.com
