The IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is lit annually
October 9 – December 8
December 21–31
February 18 (Yoko Ono's birthday)
March 20-27
The Imagine Peace Tower is lit one hour after sunset until midnight each night except on John & Yoko’s birthdays and on New Year’s Eve, when it remains lit until sunrise. On October 9, it lights up at 8:00 PM, and from March 20–27, it lights up at 9:00 PM.
The Imagine Peace Tower is a work of art conceived as a beacon to world peace by the legendary artist, musician, and peace advocate Yoko Ono. Built on Viðey Island, the design appears as a wishing well that projects a powerful light beam. The words IMAGINE PEACE are inscribed onto the wall of the well in 24 different languages.
The light tower comprises several individual lights that focus together to form a single beam. Six lights travel through corridors across a platform that surrounds the well and are reflected upwards to the sky with mirrors. An additional nine lights shine straight up to the sky, amplifying the light. The light's strength, intensity, and brilliance constantly fluctuate with dust in the air and the changing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.
The Imagine Peace Tower dedication occurred during a private ceremony on October 9th, 2007, on Viðey Island, Reykjavík, Iceland. The artwork was dedicated to the memory of John Lennon on the occasion of his 67th birthday. Annually, the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER has been lighting the evening sky from October 9th to December 8th. It is also lit during the winter solstice for one week, New Year's Eve, and Spring Equinox for one week.
Reykjavík Energy supplies the electricity for the light, which sources the electricity sustainably from geothermal power. The construction and installation of the Imagine Peace Tower was a collaborative effort between Yoko Ono, the City of Reykjavik, Reykjavik Art Museum, and Reykjavik Energy.
Iceland has been ranked as the most peaceful country in the world since 2008, according to the annual Global Peace Index compiled by the Institute for Economics & Peace. All photos courtesy of Ragnar Th & Visit Reykjavík.