A method for controlling a lighting system in an aircraft cabin is provided. The lighting system has lighting units each including a controller for controlling RGB light-emitting diodes, and a central processor connected to each controller for data exchange. Each controller has a storage unit for storing scene programs each controlling a respective scene. Control data records are transmitted to the controllers from the central processor for controlling an overall luminous behavior generated by the lighting units. The control data records have scene program identification information and synchronization information for controlling the sequence of the scene program corresponding to the scene program identification information with time.