Light triggered drug delivery systems enable site specific and time controlled drug release. In previous work, we have achieved this with liposomes containing gold nanoparticles in the aqueous core. Gold nanoparticles absorb near infrared light and release the energy as heat that increases the permeability of the liposomal bilayer, thus releasing the contents of the liposome. In this work we replaced the gold nanoparticles with the clinically approved imaging agent indocyanine green (ICG). The ICG-liposomes were stable at storage conditions (+4 °C - +22 °C) and at body temperature, whereas fast near infrared (IR) light triggered drug release was achieved with optimized phospholipid composition and 1:50 ICG to lipid molar ratio. Encapsulated small molecular calcein and FITC-Dextran (up to 20 kDa) were completely released from the liposomes after light exposure of 15 seconds. Location of ICG in the PEG layer of the liposomes was simulated with molecular dynamics. ICG has important benefits as light triggering agent in liposomes: fast contents release, improved stability, improved possibilities of liposomal size control, regulatory approval to use in humans, and possibility of imaging the in vivo location of the liposomes based on the fluorescence of ICG. Near infrared light used as a triggering mechanism has good tissue penetration and safety. Thus, ICG-liposomes are an attractive option for light controlled and efficient delivery of small and large drug molecules.