Master dynamic lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026 by leveraging the powerful Lumen system for real-time, photorealistic results. Easily adjust light properties, switch between directional, point, and spot lights, and fine-tune intensity, color, and shadows directly in the viewport. Use the new AI-assisted lighting presets and Light Mixer 2.0 to instantly preview and iterate changes across scenes with unmatched speed and accuracy.

How to Change Lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026

Key Takeaways

• Use Lumen for dynamic lighting: Achieve real-time global illumination with minimal setup.
• Adjust light mobility: Choose static, stationary, or movable based on performance needs.
• Modify light properties: Tweak intensity, color, and attenuation for precise control.
• Leverage IES profiles: Add realistic light patterns using manufacturer profiles.
• Optimize with Lightmass: Bake static lighting for high-quality, performance-friendly results.
• Use reflection captures: Enhance realism by adding environment reflections to scenes.
• Monitor performance: Check lighting costs via Stat Unit and GPU Visualizer.

Why This Matters / Understanding the Problem

Lighting shapes the mood, realism, and performance of any scene in Unreal Engine 5. Whether you’re building a horror game, a cinematic trailer, or a VR experience, knowing how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026 is essential for professional results. Poor lighting can make even the most detailed models look flat or artificial.

With new features like Lumen, Nanite, and enhanced ray tracing in 2026, lighting has become more dynamic and responsive. But with great power comes complexity. Many creators—especially beginners—struggle with balancing visual quality and performance, or simply don’t know where to start when tweaking light sources.

This guide walks you through the entire process, from basic setup to advanced optimization. You’ll learn how to adjust directional lights, point lights, spotlights, and even use HDRI skies and IES profiles. By the end, you’ll confidently master lighting adjustments that elevate your projects.

Whether you’re working on a real-time game, an animated film, or an architectural visualization, this is your go-to resource for how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026.

What You Need

Before diving in, make sure you have everything ready. You don’t need a top-tier GPU (though it helps), but having the right tools and mindset makes all the difference.

• Unreal Engine 5.4 or later – The 2026 version of UE5 includes updated Lumen settings, improved sky atmosphere, and faster light baking.
• A computer with at least 32GB RAM and a mid-range GPU (RTX 3060 or better recommended) – Lumen and ray tracing demand more resources, especially for real-time preview.
• Project with a scene already set up – Even a simple room with a few props works. We’ll use this to demonstrate lighting changes.
• HDRI sky texture (optional but recommended) – Free ones are available from Poly Haven or Unreal Marketplace. Adds realistic ambient lighting.
• IES light profile (optional) – For realistic artificial lighting like streetlamps or lampshades.
• Static or movable lights (pre-placed or ready to add) – We’ll show you how to add and modify them.

Pro tip: Start with a clean scene—no unnecessary actors or overlapping lights. This helps you see the impact of each change clearly. Also, enable Real-Time Rendering in the viewport to preview Lumen effects instantly.

Step-by-Step Guide to How to Change Lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026

Step 1: Open Your Scene and Enable Lumen (Recommended for 2026)

Lumen is the default global illumination system in UE5, and in 2026 it’s faster and more accurate than ever. It simulates how light bounces off surfaces in real time, making scenes look more natural.

To enable Lumen:

1. Go to Edit > Project Settings > Rendering.
2. Under Default Settings, set Global Illumination to Lumen.
3. Set Reflections to Lumen as well.
4. Click Apply and restart the editor if prompted.

Once enabled, open your scene. You’ll notice that lights now cast soft shadows and indirect illumination automatically. This is the foundation of how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026—start here before adding custom lights.

Tip: If your scene looks too dark, don’t panic. Lumen takes a few seconds to update. Wait 10–15 seconds, or press Ctrl+Shift+; to refresh the lighting preview.

Step 2: Add or Select a Light Source

Now it’s time to choose your light type. In 2026, Unreal Engine supports several light types, each with unique uses.

• Directional Light – Simulates the sun. Controls daylight and shadows across the entire map.
• Point Light – Emits light in all directions, like a bare lightbulb.
• Spot Light – Directional cone, like a flashlight or stage spotlight.
• Rect Light – Flat panel, great for LED screens or windows.
• Sky Light – Captures ambient environment light, often paired with HDRI.

To add a light:

1. Click the + Add button in the top-left of the viewport.
2. Select Light, then choose your preferred type (e.g., Point Light).
3. Drag it into your scene and position it where needed.

Alternatively, select an existing light by clicking it in the Outliner or directly in the viewport.

Warning: Avoid placing too many movable lights. Each one adds GPU load. Use static lights for non-moving objects and stationary for fixed but dynamic ones.

Step 3: Adjust Light Intensity, Color, and Falloff

This is where you shape the mood. In 2026, UE5 allows fine-tuned control over every light property. Open the Details Panel (right side) after selecting your light.

Key settings to tweak:

• Intensity – Measured in lumens (lm). A 60W bulb is ~800 lm. For sunlight, use 100,000+ lm.
• Light Color – Click the color swatch. Warm tones (orange/yellow) feel cozy; cool (blue/white) feel clinical or eerie.
• Intensity Units – Switch between Lumens, Candelas, or Units (UE4) for backward compatibility.
• Attenuation Radius – How far the light reaches. Set to 0 for infinite (sunlight), or 500–2000 for indoor lights.
• Source Radius – Affects softness of shadows. Larger radius = softer shadows (like a big window).

Example: For a cozy bedroom lamp, set a Point Light to 600 lumens, color to warm orange (RGB: 255, 200, 150), and radius to 1000 units.

This step is crucial in mastering how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026—small tweaks create big emotional impacts.

Step 4: Use Light Mobility Settings (Static, Stationary, Movable)

Mobility affects performance and lighting quality. Choose wisely based on your project needs.

• Static – Light is baked into the scene. Best for non-changing lights (e.g., ceiling fixtures). Fastest performance.
• Stationary – Light is precomputed but can change color/intensity in real time. Great for flickering lamps or day/night cycles.
• Movable – Fully dynamic. Used for moving lights (e.g., flashlight, car headlights). Most expensive.

To change mobility:

1. Select the light.
2. In the Details Panel, find Mobility.
3. Choose the appropriate setting.

If you pick Static, you’ll need to build lighting (see Step 7). For Stationary, Lumen handles indirect lighting. Movable works in real time but may cause flickering if overused.

Tip: Use Stationary for most indoor lights. It gives the best balance of realism and flexibility. Reserve Movable for interactive elements.

Step 5: Add a Sky Light and HDRI Environment

Even if you have a directional light, adding a Sky Light with an HDRI makes outdoor scenes look professional.

Here’s how:

1. Add a Sky Light from the Add menu.
2. Set its Mobility to Stationary or Movable (for day/night cycles).
3. In the Details Panel, expand Light Source.
4. Click Source Type and choose From Scene Capture (default) or Specified Cubemap.
5. For Specified Cubemap, import your HDRI (File > Import Asset > .hdr file).
6. Drag the HDRI into the Cubemap slot.

Now, the Sky Light will reflect the environment and provide ambient illumination. This is especially useful for exterior scenes or open interiors with windows.

In 2026, UE5 also supports Dynamic Sky (via Sky Atmosphere and Sky Light). You can animate sun position, cloud density, and fog for cinematic time-of-day effects—perfect for mastering how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026.

Step 6: Fine-Tune Shadows and Indirect Lighting

Shadows define depth and realism. In 2026, Lumen handles most of this, but you still need to tweak a few settings.

For directional lights (sun):

• Dynamic Shadow Distance – How far shadows are cast. Increase for large maps (e.g., 5000 units).
• Cascade Shadow Maps – Adjust resolution for sharper shadows near the camera.
• Contact Shadows – Enable for crisp, high-res shadows near surfaces (e.g., feet on ground).

For all lights:

• Indirect Lighting Intensity – Boosts bounced light. Use 1.0 for realism, up to 2.0 for dramatic scenes.
• Indirect Lighting Color – Tint bounced light (e.g., green for forest scenes).

Example: In a forest scene, increase indirect lighting intensity to 1.5 and set color to a light green. This makes the ground and leaves look naturally lit.

Pro Tip: Use the Visualize > Lighting Only view mode to see only light and shadow. Helps spot over-lit or under-lit areas.

Step 7: Bake Lighting (For Static/Stationary Lights)

If you used Static or Stationary lights, you need to bake lighting for optimal performance.

Steps:

1. Go to Window > World Settings.
2. Click the Build dropdown and select Build Lighting Only.
3. Wait for the progress bar to finish. This can take minutes to hours, depending on scene size.

Baking precomputes lightmaps (texture-based lighting), which reduces real-time calculations. It’s essential for mobile or VR projects.

In 2026, UE5 uses Virtual Shadow Maps and Nanite Lightmap UVs, making baking faster and more accurate than ever.

Warning: Don’t move or delete static geometry after baking. It will break lightmaps. Always re-bake after major changes.

Step 8: Use IES Profiles for Realistic Artificial Lights

IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) profiles mimic real-world light distribution. A streetlamp doesn’t emit light evenly—it has a specific beam shape and falloff.

To use IES:

1. Download an IES file (free from IES Library or Unreal Marketplace).
2. Import it into your project (File > Import Asset).
3. Select your light (Point or Spot).
4. In the Details Panel, expand Light.
5. Find IES Texture and drag your IES file into the slot.
6. Adjust IES Intensity Scale to match the desired brightness.

Result: A spotlight now casts a realistic cone with soft edges and falloff, just like a real lamp.

This advanced technique is a hallmark of professional lighting and a key part of how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026.

Step 9: Optimize Performance with Light Culling and Volumes

Too many lights = lag. In 2026, use Light Propagation Volumes (LPV) and Light Culling to keep performance smooth.

For Lumen:

• Go to Edit > Project Settings > Rendering > Lumen.
• Adjust Scene Lighting Quality (High for quality, Low for performance).
• Enable Hardware Ray Tracing if your GPU supports it (RTX 30/40 series).

For light culling:

• Use Lightmass Importance Volumes to focus baking on key areas.
• Add a Lightmass Portal near windows to improve interior lighting from exterior sources.
• Set Light Culling Distance in light properties to limit rendering range.

Example: For a large open world, set point lights to cull at 2000 units. Only lights within that range will render, saving GPU power.

Step 10: Test and Iterate in Different Conditions

Lighting looks different at dawn, noon, and dusk. Test your scene in multiple scenarios.

Use the Time of Day feature (if using Sky Atmosphere):

1. Add a Sky Atmosphere and Sky Light to your scene.
2. Select the Sky Atmosphere actor.
3. In Details, adjust Sun Height from 0 (sunrise) to 1 (midday) to 1.5 (sunset).
4. Watch how shadows and colors shift.

Also, test in-game using Play in Editor (PIE). Move the camera and check for dark corners, light leaks, or flickering.

Iterate. Lighting is not a one-step process. It’s a cycle of adjust, test, refine.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced artists make lighting mistakes. Here’s how to avoid them—and level up your skills.

Pro Tip 1: Use three-point lighting for characters: key light (main), fill light (softener), and back light (separation). This is standard in cinematography and works wonders in UE5.

Pro Tip 2: Enable Lighting Debug (View > Lighting > Show Flags) to see light influence, shadow maps, and Lumen updates. Great for troubleshooting.

Pro Tip 3: Use Post Process Volumes to adjust exposure, bloom, and color grading. Lighting isn’t just about lights—it’s about the whole visual tone.

Common Mistake 1: Overusing movable lights. Each one adds GPU cost. Use stationary or static whenever possible.

Common Mistake 2: Ignoring light units. Setting intensity to 100,000 without checking units (candela vs. lumens) leads to unrealistic brightness.

Common Mistake 3: Forgetting to bake static lights. Unbaked static lights appear black in packaged builds. Always bake before testing.

Common Mistake 4: Using default HDRI without adjusting exposure. A bright HDRI can wash out your scene. Use Sky Light > Intensity to tone it down.

Remember: how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026 isn’t just about sliders—it’s about storytelling, performance, and attention to detail.

FAQs About How to Change Lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026

Here are the most common questions—answered clearly and practically.

Q1: Why is my scene so dark even with lights enabled?
A: This usually happens with Lumen. Wait 10–15 seconds for it to update. If still dark, check that your light intensity is high enough (e.g., 800+ lm for indoor, 100,000+ for sun). Also, verify that Global Illumination is set to Lumen in Project Settings.

Q2: Can I change lighting without baking?
A: Yes—if you use Movable lights or rely entirely on Lumen. But baking is recommended for static scenes to improve performance, especially in games or VR.

Q3: How do I make soft shadows like in movies?
A: Increase the Source Radius of your light. A larger radius creates softer shadows. For sunlight, use a Directional Light with Source Radius > 50 units. Also, enable Contact Shadows for crisp near-surface details.

Q4: What’s the difference between Lumen and Lightmass?
A: Lumen is real-time, dynamic, and uses ray tracing for indirect lighting. Lightmass is baked, static, and uses precomputed lightmaps. In 2026, Lumen is preferred for most projects, but Lightmass is still used for baked-only games or mobile builds.

Q5: How do I simulate candlelight or flickering?
A: Use a Point Light with Mobility = Movable. Then, create a Material with a Panner or Noise node and plug it into Emissive Color. Apply it to a small mesh (candle flame), and parent the light to it. For flickering, animate the light intensity using Blueprints or Sequencer.

Q6: Can I use real-world light data in UE5?
A: Yes! Import IES files to replicate real lamps. You can also use Sun Position Calculator (free plugin) to sync your directional light with real-world latitude, longitude, and date.

Q7: Why does my light look different in the editor vs. packaged build?
A: This often happens if you didn’t build lighting for static/stationary lights. Always bake before packaging. Also, check that your project settings (like Lumen) are consistent between editor and build.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to change lighting in Unreal Engine 5 in 2026 is one of the most rewarding skills a creator can have. It transforms flat, lifeless scenes into immersive, emotional experiences.

From enabling Lumen to using IES profiles and optimizing performance, every step you take brings you closer to professional-quality visuals. Don’t rush—light is subtle. Small changes in color, intensity, or shadow softness can shift the entire mood of a scene.

Remember: Start simple. Use one light, tweak it, test it. Then add more. Use the tools we covered—HDRI, Sky Atmosphere, IES, and Lumen—to build depth and realism.

And most importantly: test in context. Lighting doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It interacts with materials, camera angles, and player movement. Always preview in-game or in real time.

Now go forth and light up your world. Whether you’re crafting a horror game, a sci-fi film, or a virtual home tour, you now have the skills to make it shine—literally.

Keep learning, keep iterating, and keep creating. The next great scene starts with a single light.