Piccadilly Lights was illuminated yesterday to mark the start of Ramadan, in what organisers described as a world-first for Europe’s largest and most recognisable public screen.
For the first time since its installation, the entire 783-square-metre screen at London’s Piccadilly Circus carried a unified civic message for the Islamic holy month, displaying: “Happy Ramadan – wishing you peace, love, reflection and togetherness.”
The display was delivered by The Aziz Foundation in partnership with Heart of London Business Alliance, Landsec and the Piccadilly Lights team.
Timed to coincide with the global commencement of Ramadan, the illumination reflected the shared start of the holy month across Muslim communities worldwide.
Ramadan begins according to the Islamic lunar calendar, with start dates varying by location depending on moon sightings and astronomical calculations. By the morning of February 19, Muslim communities across multiple regions had entered the fasting month.
Located at the heart of Piccadilly Circus — which attracts an estimated 100 million visitors annually — the screen is among the most visible advertising platforms globally. Organisers said the message symbolised London’s diversity and commitment to inclusive public celebration.
The Piccadilly Lights display also highlighted the wider Ramadan Lights London programme, a free, family-friendly initiative funded by The Aziz Foundation.
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Visual motifs shown on the screen echoed the aerial Ramadan lights currently installed along Coventry Street in the West End.
The Coventry Street lights, first unveiled in 2023 as Western Europe’s first dedicated Ramadan aerial display, were switched on last week by Sadiq Khan alongside Rahima Aziz BEM, a trustee of The Aziz Foundation.
The installation features Islamic geometric patterns and celestial imagery and will display “Happy Ramadan” until March 18, changing overnight to “Happy Eid” through March 24.
Alongside the light displays, the programme includes Shared Light, central London’s first interfaith art exhibition, hosted at the London Trocadero, and Ramadan Delights, a month-long iftar food trail across the West End involving restaurants, food halls and global brands.
Rahima Aziz said the Piccadilly Lights illumination represented “an incredibly special moment for London,” adding that it showed how a global platform could celebrate Ramadan while welcoming people of all backgrounds.
Mark Williams, deputy chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, said the initiative helped showcase the West End as “a welcoming destination for everyone,” while Kate Honey, director of social impact at Landsec, described the display as an example of how landmark spaces can connect global moments with local communities.
