Albany 2026: World's Largest Light Installation Takes Shape on King George Sound
Preparations are advancing rapidly for the spectacular Lighting the Sound event, which will serve as the centerpiece of the Albany 2026 bicentenary celebrations. Construction is well underway, with 13 towers being built across a 10-kilometer stretch of the King George Sound shoreline, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable display.
Finnish Artist Oversees Monumental Project
Finnish artist Kari Kola is currently in Albany to supervise the construction of the scaffolding towers and the installation of LED lights. This ambitious project will illuminate an astonishing 10 million square meters of the stunning landscape, making it the biggest light installation the world has ever seen. Kola expressed optimism about the progress, noting that preparations are ahead of schedule.
"We are in front of our timetable and it is going really well," Kola said during power testing on Wednesday morning. "We will complete the building of the towers today and we have put in 700 light sources over the last two days." He promises a show that will exceed all expectations, stating, "I think people will be surprised. It is going to be bigger than big."
Environmental Considerations and Technical Details
The towers range in height from 6 meters to 20 meters, with Kola taking great care to minimise the impact on Torndirrup National Park's flora and fauna. He has ensured that trees and bush do not block the lights, and his equipment fits into a single container. Local workers have been employed to build the towers and assist with the set-up, with only the generators, which will power each tower, sourced from Perth.
Kola emphasised the project's commitment to environmental sustainability: "We will leave no trace we were here, no markings. We always want to minimise the impact on local wildlife. The light sources will be high up, so no animals get blinded, and the lights are custom-made. We use primarily red and green colours because they are best for insects – no white light, and UV would be disastrous."
World Record and Previous Works
With the Albany installation poised to set a new world record, it will surpass Kola's previous project, the Savage Beauty installation that lit up the Connemara mountains in Ireland in 2020. The scale of the Albany show is set to dwarf that earlier effort, and it has been said that the display will be visible from space. Kola is testing this theory by booking a satellite to film the event.
Event Details and Viewing Information
The first time Kola will view his spectacular project will be when he switches it on, on March 13. "We will turn it on during the day and it will gradually come to life as it gets darker," he explained. "It will be the first time I will see it myself – and I will be 8km away in the city." The event is presented by arts not-for-profit FORM Building a State of Creativity and will run across nine days from March 13-15, 20-22, and 27-29. The best views will be from the city, offering residents and visitors a unique opportunity to witness this historic light installation.
