Aberdeen is preparing to welcome tens of thousands of residents and visitors as Spectra – Scotland’s Festival of Light returns from 5–8 February 2026.
The free, family‑friendly event will once again transform the city centre with immersive light installations, interactive art, and a bold theme of ‘Be Curious’, encouraging audiences to explore, question and discover.
Customer‑led accessibility leadership through partnership
This year, Aberdeen City Council again partners with We Too!, Aberdeen’s customer‑led charity supporting disabled visitors and their families. We Too! plays a vital role in shaping an inclusive visitor experience through practical support, specialist insight, and a highly visible team of volunteers known as the We Too! Ninjas. Ninjas will be present throughout festival sites, providing visual guides, sensory aids, friendly support, and clear information to help visitors navigate the festival comfortably and confidently.
New accessibility innovations for 2026
Spectra 2026 introduces several major accessibility enhancements to ensure a welcoming experience for all:
- BSL QR‑Linked Videos: Each installation now features a QR code linking to British Sign Language (BSL) video explanations, offering accessible interpretation for Deaf visitors and complementing this year’s live BSL tour.
- Community Communication Boards: New AAC‑friendly communication boards across festival locations provide symbol‑based support for visitors who use or benefit from augmented communication.
- Sensory Breakout Areas & Accessibility Welcome Desks: Quiet regulation spaces and Accessibility Welcome Desks (Town House & Trinity Centre, 5:30pm–8:30pm) offer tailored guidance on accessible routes, sensory support, mobility aids, and parking.
Phionna McInnes, Chief Ninja at We Too! said: “Accessibility isn’t an add‑on — it’s what makes events truly belong to everyone. Each year, we see more residents and visitors seeking supportive, inclusive ways to enjoy Aberdeen’s cultural life, and we’re incredibly proud to help make that possible.
From BSL QR videos to communication boards and the continued success of our Quiet Tour, we’re showing what’s achievable when a city invests in access. With the right corporate partners beside us, we can take this even further — building on successes like Accessible Tall Ships and ensuring Aberdeen leads the way in inclusive events for years to come.”
Quiet tour success reflects growing demand
This year’s Quiet Tour — a supported, low‑stimulus way for visitors to explore Spectra — reached full capacity ahead of schedule, underscoring the growing demand from both residents and visitors for accessible cultural experiences. With Spectra drawing tens of thousands each night and accessibility improvements shaped by community feedback, demand for inclusive design continues to increase.
Building on Aberdeen’s accessible event legacy
We Too!’s contribution to Spectra builds on the organisation’s broader work advancing accessible public events across the region, including the highly praised delivery of Accessible Tall Ships, which helped demonstrate what fully inclusive large‑scale events can achieve.
Call to action: Partner We Too to build the future of inclusive events
With demand for inclusive cultural experiences continuing to surge, We Too! is inviting forward‑thinking corporate supporters to join our mission to take accessibility at Aberdeen’s flagship events even further.
As Aberdeen builds on the momentum of Accessible Tall Ships and Spectra’s expanding accessibility efforts, this is a pivotal moment for organisations to help shape the next generation of inclusive public events. We welcome conversations with businesses who share our vision. Together, we can build an accessible future for Aberdeen and beyond.