David Adjaye, Sam Jacob and Amanda Levete have all been shortlisted for the £20m competition to light up the River Thames.

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Diller Scofidio & Renfro are also on the shortlist.

The Illuminated River international design competition picked six teams from 105 entries based on past experience, 47% of them from overseas.

Organisers Malcolm Reading Consultants argued that this demonstrated that London “remains a top destination for international designers, artists, engineers and technologists post-Brexit”.

Reading also said: “This shortlist brims with promise: these teams are at the intersection of art, architecture, technology, engineering, film and literature. They have put together fascinating combinations of skills and we expect great things of them.”

The second stage of the contest involves designs, with finalists asked to develop concept design lighting schemes for four bridges – Westminster, Waterloo, London and Chelsea, plus a design masterplan for all 17 bridges between Albert and Tower.

The brief is for an “elegant and charismatic light installation that will be forward-thinking and environmentally friendly”.

Jury interviews will take place in late November, when the designs will also go on public display.

A winner is due to be announced in early December.

The mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The Illuminated River will breathe new life into the Thames and create a dazzling outdoor gallery for Londoners to enjoy each night, showing that our capital remains a leader in innovation, sustainability and artistic creativity.”

The project will require £20 million to be raised.

The competition is funded through a grant of £250,000 from the Rothschild Foundation and £250,000 from the Mayor of London. The City of London has pledged £500,000 towards the realisation of later stages of the project. The City of London Corporation’s Bridge House Estate is providing £500,000 towards improvements on London Bridge, which will help realise the project, said the organisers.