Join us as UCL gets a once-in-a-bicentennial glow-up!
UCL Illuminated will be a night to remember, celebrating UCL’s past, present and future and launching a year of celebrations for our 200th anniversary. Running on the evenings of 11, 12 and 13 February 2026, UCL’s iconic Wilkins Building and newly remodelled Quad will be transformed into a dazzling son et lumière, an immersive experience brought to life with cutting-edge 3D projection mapping.As evening falls, you’ll be transported to the streets of London, 1826. Here you’ll watch the story of UCL’s foundation via a tour de force of light, music, storytelling and animation. Guests will be taken through 200 years of UCL’s history, from a small community of intellectuals on the city’s edge to a global powerhouse of science, arts and humanities, where research and innovation changes lives.
This is an unmissable event - and everyone is invited!
But that’s not all...
Post-show, you’ll be invited to step into the remodelled Quad and Wilkins Building spaces for the first time and to visit Two Centuries Here , the official UCL200 Exhibition. The exhibition offers an opportunity to explore UCL’s origins as the first university in London, get to know some of the remarkable staff and students who lived and worked here, and discover the ground-breaking work that happens here today. Expect photography, objects, artefacts, stories, dialogue, and interactive installations.You’ll also experience our awesome AI installation, The UCL Eye - a high-resolution, micro-LED screen using generative AI to visualise a kaleidoscopic impression of the enormous range of UCL’s research.
Make an evening of it, with food and drink options available from a range of stalls and food trucks while special student performances, courtesy of Students’ Union UCL, will keep you entertained throughout the night. Get your hands on brand-new UCL200 merchandise and three new books, tracing two centuries of ground-breaking discoveries, architecture, and generational stories of student life.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the newly reopened Quad and Wilkins Building for an evening of fun and festivity!
Tickets are now on sale
There are various showings planned across the three nights, with slots reserved for staff, students and alumni - so why not plan to attend with your team or classmates?The show is family-friendly and we very much encourage you to bring your loved ones to UCL Illuminated if you’d like to. Under-16s will be able to attend for free, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Just choose the ’Under 16’ ticket type (only available when booking at least one adult ticket).
On Thursday 12 February at 5.15pm, there is a relaxed performance, designed to offer a more comfortable and inclusive experience for anyone who would prefer a relaxed environment. This showing will include BSL interpretation, captioning and limited seating available.
The running time of UCL Illuminated is 12 minutes and you will have plenty of time to explore the Quad, stalls and exhibition.
Tickets cost £5 each, which includes entry to UCL Illuminated and Two Centuries Here exhibition, and a UCL200 souvenir gift. All proceeds from ticket sales will support UCL200 Scholarships, helping to create a lasting legacy for UCL’s Bicentenary.
We want everyone to be able to attend, so if the cost is a barrier, you’ll be able to request a complimentary ticket. Please get in touch with UCL ticketing via ticketing@ucl.ac.uk
Take a look at the full schedule and buy tickets here
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000