Last updated: 7:30 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Portal art installation in LOVE Park has been relocated to make way for the Christmas Village, returning for a 17th season. But it didn’t go far.
The Philly Portal was installed in the park last month and activated on Oct. 22. On Thursday, it was relocated a short distance away from its original position — now, next to the Visitor Center in the corner of the park nearest 16th Street and JFK Boulevard — and turned back on at 4:28 p.m.
The 8-foot-tall circular structure connects Philadelphia to three international cities through a live stream. The live video feed changes every three minutes, rotating among the scenes at identical installations in Vilnius, Lithuania; Lublin, Poland; and Dublin, Ireland.
And Michael Newmuis, the 2026 director for the city of Philadelphia, says the backdrop here in Philly that the people in other cities will see is going to look different very soon.
“You are really going to see the space transform into a holiday spectacle,” he said. “There will be increased holiday lighting. There will be some activation spaces for people to sit and relax and enjoy this. In the next two weeks we will have a celebration of Irish dancers. There will be some podcasts associated with the Philadelphia Eagles team. It’s really going to be a space where people can come and create.”
Philadelphia is the only American city currently with a Portal installation. Prior to Philly, it had been installed in New York City.