The percussion-triggered lighting system is adapted to provide steady and/or percussively triggered illumination within one or more drums. The drums have translucent heads to allow the internal lighting to be viewed. An electromechanical switch is installed within the drum(s), for economy and to allow the system to be installed in existing drums. The system may also operate small peripheral lights around the edge of one or more drums, the peripheral lighting being programmable to produce various moving patterns. The system may also include a video projector within one or more drums to project a visual image on the interior of the translucent drum head that is visible to the audience. A separate control panel may be provided to allow the drummer to actuate any of the percussive lights without striking the drum to avoid creating a sound when a drum beat is inappropriate during the performance.