Thank you to our 2026 WaterFire Season Supporters for helping to keep the fires burning.
Want to learn more about WaterFire and what we’ve got planned? Send us a text: (401) 399-4460. You can also stay up-to-date by following us on social media on Instagram: @WaterFireProv and @WaterFireArtsCenter and Facebook: WaterFire Providence and WaterFire Arts Center.
Upcoming WaterFire Lightings
2026 WaterFire Season Schedule
The 2026 WaterFire lighting season is proudly presented with generous support from the City of Providence, Providence Tourism Council, and GoProvidence.
Full Lighting Dates
Saturday, May 30 – Celebrating WaterFire’s 500th Lighting
Supported by: Rhode Island School of Design,
with additional support from Achievement First
Sunset: 8:12 PM | Lighting ends at Midnight
Onshore programming and vendors open at 7:00 PM
Music Program
Saturday, July 4 – Commemorating 250 Years of American Independence
Supported by: RI250 Commission
Sunset: 8:23 PM | Lighting ends at Midnight
RI Philharmonic Orchestra Concert at RI State House Starts at 6:45 PM
Food and Arts Markets Open at 5:00 pm
WaterFire Onshore opens at 7:00 PM
Music Program
Saturday, August 1 – Clear Currents Community Paddling Night
Supported by: Amica Insurance and Brown University
Sunset: 8:03 PM | Lighting ends at Midnight
Onshore programming and vendors open at 7:00 PM
Music Program
Saturday, August 29
Supported by: FM with additional support by JPMorgan Chase
Sunset: 7:23 PM | Lighting ends at Midnight
Onshore programming and vendors open at 6:30 PM
Music Program
Sunday, September 6
Supported by: The Providence Tourism Council
Sunset: 7:10 PM | Lighting ends at Midnight
Onshore programming and vendors open at 6:00 PM
Music Program
Saturday, September 26 – Celebrating Rhode Island Educators
Supported by: the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), XQ Institute, Fidelity Investments
Sunset: 6:35 PM | Lighting ends at Midnight
Onshore programming and vendors open at 5:30 PM
Saturday, October 17 – United Way of Rhode Island’s Centennial Celebration
Supported by: United Way of Rhode Island
Sunset: 6:01 PM | Lighting ends at 11:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 5:00 PM
Saturday, November 7 – 14th Annual Salute to Veterans
Supported by: Chisholm, Chisholm and Kilpatrick
Sunset: 4:32 PM | Lighting ends at 10:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 3:30 PM
Basin and Partial Lightings
Friday, June 12 – Basin Lighting – Celebrating the Summer of Soccer in Rhode Island
Supported by: Rhode Island Sports Commission
Sunset: 8:21 PM | Lighting ends at 10:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 7:00 pm
Thursday, June 18 – Partial Lighting: RISD + Memorial Park Area
Celebrating Juneteenth & RI Pride
Supported by: Providence Tourism Council
Sunset: 8:23 PM | Lighting ends at 11:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 7:00 pm
Monday, June 22 – CANCELED
Programming will be move to July 17
Supported by GoProvidence
Sunset: 8:24 PM | Lighting ends at 10:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 7:00 PM
Friday, July 17 – Basin Lighting
Summer of Soccer Community Send-off
Supported by: GoProvidence
Sunset: 8:17 PM | Lighting ends at 10:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 7:00 pm
Friday, August 14 – Basin Lighting
Supported by: GoProvidence
Sunset: 7:46 PM | Lighting ends at 10:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 6:30 pm
Saturday, October 3 – Partial Lighting
Supported by: Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation
Sunset: 6:23 PM | Lighting ends at 10:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 5:30 pm
Friday, December 11 – Holiday Basin Lighting
Supported by: GoProvidence
Sunset: 4:14 PM | Lighting ends at 9:00 PM
Onshore programming and vendors open at 4:00 pm
Starts at Sunset Events
Located on the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge
Presented by the Providence Tourism Council
Thursday, July 9 – Sunset (8:22 PM) to 10:00 PM
Thursday, September 17 – Sunset (6:51 PM) to 9:00 PM
Thursday, October 29 – Sunset (5:44 PM) to 8:00 PM
Thursday, December 31 – Sunset (5:30 PM) to 9:00 PM
Stay Tuned to this page is the most up-to-date event schedule resource.
- Stay tuned! Thank you for your ongoing support.
- 2026 Season Schedule Printable (PDF) Version.
- Subscribe to the 2026 Season Schedule (ICAL)
- Full Lighting vs. Partial Lighting – What’s the difference?
- Starts at Sunset 2026 Series
- Clear Currents – Community Paddling Night
Learn more:
- WaterFire Arts Center Events
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Prior Year’s WaterFire Schedules
- Sponsorship Opportunities
- About WaterFire
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Your support of WaterFire Providence is more vital now than ever!
Celebrate at WaterFire
Proposals, anniversaries, date nights. Make memories at WaterFire.
WaterFire Lighting Lingo Explained
Full WaterFire Lightings light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park on scheduled evenings throughout the season. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset and the fires will remain lit until midnight (unless otherwise noted). Full lightings include onshore programming such as performance stages, art and food vendors, and the Starry, Starry Night installation in Memorial Park.
Basin Lightings include the circle of twenty-two braziers in the Waterplace Park Basin and the eight braziers leading up to the Providence Place Mall.
Partial Lightings can include braziers in any section of the river. Examples include a Memorial Park Lighting which would include the 12 wall-mounted braziers in Memorial Park or a Basin to Steeple Street Lighting which would include all the braziers in Waterplace Park as well as the braziers in the two downstream sections of the installations ending at the Steeple Street Bridge. Typically Partial Lightings of WaterFire do not include onshore programming or food vendors unless otherwise noted.
As additional financial support is secured, WaterFire will announce additional lightings and programming – check back for updates here and on our Facebook page and Twitter account.
WaterFire Providence’s Plan Your Trip to Providence web page is the #1 resource for up-to-date details about the event, transportation, parking, hotels, restaurants, and other local attractions.
Each year WaterFire attracts nearly 1 million visitors to downtown Providence to experience art in the city. Annually, WaterFire activity creates $149 million in economic output for local businesses, generates over $9 million of tax revenue for the State of Rhode Island, and supports 1,294 jobs for community residents.
You can help us keep the fires burning by making a donation to keep the fires burning, joining the WaterFire Circle, or becoming a WaterFire Sponsor.
Fire marshal regulations do not permit folding chairs to be set up on any of the riverwalks to ensure safe passage for all of our visitors. WaterFire is an event to be explored and savored on foot as you wander around to discover its many surprises, leave your chairs in the car, and start exploring all that our event has to offer.
