Illuminating the World: Iconic LED Projects around the globe
20.08.2025
In the realm of modern design and architecture, LED technology has emerged as a powerful tool to create mesmerizing and unforgettable environments. From bustling urban centers to serene natural landscapes, iconic LED installations are redefining spaces across the globe, turning ordinary locations into extraordinary experiences. This continuously expanding list showcases some of the most breathtaking LED projects that captivate the imagination and inspire awe. Join us as we explore how these luminous masterpieces craft exciting atmospheres and leave a lasting impact on all who encounter them. Whether you’re an enthusiast of cutting-edge technology or simply a lover of dazzling art, these iconic LED projects are sure to ignite your curiosity and illuminate your senses.
United States of America
Times Square, New York City, USA
Times Square in New York City is famous for its building-sized digital billboards that can display full-motion video, high-resolution graphics and dynamic content. These are often referred to as “spectaculars.” The Nasdaq Tower or the „One Times Square“ billboard (where the New Year’s Eve ball drops) are probably the most famous screens. Some advertisers opt for a “takeover,” where they run their campaign simultaneously across multiple screens for maximum impact. Some of the screens here have been updated to 3D or „forced perspective“ screens that display anamorphic video over the corner of the building.
The name “Times Square” by the way, comes from The New York Times newspaper. In 1904, the newspaper moved its headquarters to the newly built Times Tower (now known as One Times Square) located in what was then called Longacre Square. To celebrate the move, the city renamed the area “Times Square”.
Japan
Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan
Shibuya Crossing is famous for its large 3D screens that display advertising and entertainment content, contributing to the bustling and dynamic environment of one of Tokyo’s busiest intersections. The appearance of a giant cat made this digital corner-billboard famous overnight.
Spain
Plaza del Callao, Madrid, Spain
The Plaza del Callao in Madrid features impressive screens that showcase advertising and artistic content, making it a popular spot for both locals and visitors. In this case the city of Madrid has actively supported the building owners and advertisers to create an urban environment with iconic character.
United Kingdom
Piccadilly Circus, London, UK
The 783 sqm „Piccadilly Lights“ screen, at Piccadilly Circus, in the heart of London is one of the most recognisable iconic LED advertising landmarks in the world. The first advertisements began to appear here in 1910. A few years later, in 1923, the first large electric billboards were installed on the facade of the London Pavilion, a prominent building in the circus. The patchwork on-screen format is available exclusively to six brands at any one time, who rotate positions every 90 seconds. Every 10 minutes, each brand takes over the screen for 40 seconds.
Peoples Republic of China
City Center of Shanghai, China
The Bund in Shanghai is one of the city’s most iconic tourist attractions. Its buildings are adorned with LED mesh and stripe dispays that create a stunning visual spectacle along the Huangpu River waterfront. The 2024 Shanghai International Light Festival revealed the true nature and scale of this epic urban spectacle to inhabitants and tourists alike putting Shanghai in the international media spotlight.
United Arab Emirates
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE
The Burj Khalifa’s LED light show is a stunning display that transforms the tallest building in the world into a canvas of vibrant colours and patterns. These types of urban architectural art installations are typically only seen at night.
Federal Republic of Germany
Potsdamer Platz Berlin, Germany
The 257 m² LED display the Sony Center, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin allows for both standard and forced perspective advertising campaigns. In addition, the screen can also be used for live communication during events taking place in the centre’s forum.
South Korea
COEX K-Pop Square, Seoul, South Korea
The COEX K-Pop Square is a popular attraction in Seoul, known for its eye-catching 3D effects, often showcasing K-Pop content and advertising. The large-scale LED screen was made famous by the “WAVE” installation, which created a realistic 3D wave effect.
United Kingdom
Outernet, London, UK
Outernet London is a mixed-use development focused on the arts, entertainment and culture opened in 2022 in the West End of London. It is the largest digital exhibition space in Europe with the world’s largest LED screen deployment (in 2025). The central semi-outdoor atrium shows advertising and art in a continuous loop captivating local inhabitants and tourist who have made this location one of the most visited attractions in London within a matter of months.
United States of America
The Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas, USA
In the heart of Las Vegas, the Viva Vision light show at Fremont Street offers a nightly spectacle that captivates visitors with its dazzling display. Set on the world’s largest LED video screen, this free attraction spans four city blocks and transforms the pedestrian mall into an immersive wonderland of vibrant visuals, iconic images, and synchronized animations set to music.
The Viva Vision canopy stretches over 1,375 feet in length and 90 feet in width, suspended 90 feet above the bustling Fremont Street. The sheer size of this screen is a marvel in itself, creating a canvas for breathtaking visual artistry.
With 16.4 million pixels and 49.3 million LEDs, the screen ensures stunning and crystal-clear visuals. Every color and image pops with intensity, making the experience unforgettable for all who witness it.
Enhancing the visual feast is a powerful 600,000-watt sound system that synchronizes music with the light show. This audio-visual harmony elevates the experience, enveloping visitors in a sensory symphony.
The Viva Vision light show dazzles audiences nightly with scheduled hourly performances from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM, ensuring there’s always a chance to catch the magic.
One of the greatest aspects of the Viva Vision light show is that it’s free for everyone to enjoy. As you stroll along Fremont Street, you’re treated to world-class entertainment without spending a dime.
The shows feature a diverse array of music, themed displays, and artistic light sequences. With new content and artists added regularly, each visit offers something fresh and exciting.
The combination of the massive screen, powerful sound, and vibrant visuals creates an immersive experience that draws crowds night after night. Visitors are transported to a realm of wonder and excitement, making the Viva Vision light show a must-see attraction in Las Vegas.
United Kingdom
The Printworks, Manchester, UK
The media architecture ceiling in the Printworks in Manchester, UK, is the largest digital ceiling in Europe and was part of a wider refurbishment and enhancement of the venue. The LED digital ceiling is 1,000m² large and shows 8K content. Other LED canvases are integrated across the building’s interior and exterior that evolves from day to night. The integration of LED media walls has turned the location into a fully immersive experience.
Federal Republic of Germany
Klubhaus Hamburg, Germany
This award-winning architectural media façade continues to be one of the most spectacular out of home media and art installations in Europe. The 400m² façade displays both art and advertising in a continuous loop and the building has become one of Hamburg’s iconic new buildings within a matter of months.
United States of Amerika
The Sphere, Las Vegas, USA
East of the Las Vegas Strip, “The Sphere” is probably one of the most recognisable iconic LED installations in the world. Designed by Populous and financed and operated by the Madison Square garden Company, the MSG Sphere is a venue and iconic landmark building that is equally impressive inside and outside. The venue has total capacity of 20,000. The 16K resolution wraparound interior LED screen has been specially designed with directional beamforming speakers that are mounted behind the screen. The exterior features a 580,000 sq ft (54,000 m2) LED display, making it the largest in the world.
Forced perspective
Digital Out Of Home (DOOH) 3D billboards and the true marketing effect
Advertisers around the world use 3D content or forced perspective advertising as a Digital Out Of Home (DOOH) marketing tool. This digital optical trick goes by different names, such as 3D billboard, holographic hoarding, deep screen or anamorphic advertising, but the true impact of these screens on advertising can be seen in the social media ‘echo’ associated with the campaign. In some cases, the social media reach is many times higher than that of the campaign itself. The optical trick requires a creative motif that is produced in an “anamorphic” format, which when created looks distorted but when displayed on an outdoor LED screen from a sweet spot, typically opposite the corner screen, shows a life-like 3D image. Outside the sweet spot the creative may appear distorted.
Image source: https://www.unit-led.com/3d-anamorphic-billboard
Related and trending
Fake Digital Out of Home (FOOH)
“FOOH” is short for Fake Out of Home advertising. It is a form of advertising that uses CGI (computer-generated imagery) to place digital, often surreal advertising in real environments that appear so realistic that they look like real outdoor advertising, but in fact only exist on digital platforms. There have been a lot of FOOH campaigns from brands and artists in recent times (2024) and the phenomena is best described by one of the industry’s most successful FOOH artists, Ian Padgham, who held this revealing talk at the ADC Congress in Germany in 2024.
