Bay Bridge 'Bay Lights' Installation to Return in March
The 'Bay Lights' art installation on the Bay Bridge will return on March 20, 2026, following a three-year absence. The project to rebuild the 1.8-mile-long lighting display cost $11 million.
- The original "Bay Lights" were created by artist Leo Villareal and first illuminated on March 5, 2013, to celebrate the Bay Bridge's 75th anniversary. Initially a temporary, two-year installation, it was made permanent in 2016 due to its popularity. - The lights were turned off on March 5, 2023, after a decade of operation, because the harsh marine environment of the Bay had caused significant deterioration to the system. The 25,000 LEDs and electronic components were failing faster than they could be repaired. - The new installation is a complete rebuild engineered by Iowa-based Musco Lighting to specifically withstand the bridge's wind, salt, and vibration. It features 48,000 custom LEDs, nearly double the original amount, and is designed to last for at least a decade. - The artist, Leo Villareal, is known for large-scale light installations that use custom computer code to generate complex, non-repeating patterns. His inspiration for using programmed light patterns in his art came from creating a strobing landmark to find his tent at the Burning Man festival. - The $11 million project was funded entirely by private donations raised by the arts nonprofit Illuminate. Major contributions came from tech philanthropists, including WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg and WhatsApp founder Jan Koum. - The relighting date of March 20th was chosen to coincide with the 92nd birthday of former San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, for whom the western span of the bridge is officially named. - A future phase, dubbed "Bay Lights 360," is planned to install lights on the south side of the bridge cables, making the artwork visible to East Bay communities like Oakland and Berkeley for the first time.
