Downtown Boston has turned into a glowing, slightly surreal playground for the third annual Winteractive, a free outdoor art exhibition scattering 18 installations across the neighborhood through March 29, 2026.
Monstrous art in the streets
This year’s head-turners are hard to miss: “Big Other,” a series of giant googly eyes by Quebec duo Collectif Pierre&Marie, peers down from multiple buildings, giving the sense that the city itself is awake and watching. At 367 Washington Street, “Kraken Crossing” by Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas erupts from upper windows with enormous octopus arms that make Downtown Crossing feel like it’s under playful sea siege.
Playful, glowing installations take over Downtown Boston
Other works invite visitors to linger and play. “e/motion,” eight illuminated rideable seesaws by Olivier Landreville, turns Summer Street into a glowing ocean of light and sound that responds to each rise and fall. “Artificial Humans,” by Atelier Haute Cuisine, brings AI-inspired glowing figures to Shoppers’ Plaza, blurring the line between algorithm and human touch. At Dewey Square, Amigo & Amigo’s “Trumpet Flowers” creates a towering, music-making floral forest powered by visitors’ interactions.
How to experience Winteractive
Presented by the Downtown Boston Alliance and inspired by Quebec’s winter festivals, Winteractive is designed as a walkable 1.25‑mile trail that takes about 30 minutes, though the best approach is to wander and explore at your own pace. Find a complete guide to the 18 art installations. The installations are on view 24/7, free and open to the public, with easy access by transit or nearby garages and plenty of chances to warm up at downtown’s 150-plus restaurants, shops, and cafes along the way.