A new North East Dark Skies Festival is set to invite visitors to slow down, look up and reconnect with nocturnal nature in the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, across Northumberland and the wider North East this winter.

This region-wide celebration of the awe of a truly dark night will run from Friday 13 -Sunday 21 February and feature stargazing, storytelling, family adventures, hands-on astronomy led by Northumberland’s flagship observatories and offers on fantastic places to stay and eat.

The Festival showcases one of Europe’s largest protected dark-sky landscapes covering most of Kielder Water & Forest Park and Northumberland National Park. Here, under pristine skies, visitors can see the moon, planets, meteor showers, comets and the Milky Way with the naked eye.

Liz Blair, festival curator and director of Kielder Partnership, said: “We have curated a programme of events that illuminates the importance of our unique dark skies. The 2026 Festival brings a diverse, multi-partner programme together that will attract visitors to enjoy observatory nights, family coast events, wildlife-led stargazing, forest night rides, creative workshops and more.

“Our ambition is to grow this exponentially in the years ahead, expanding activity across the entire North East so even more communities, venues and businesses can help people look up, learn and fall in love with our night skies.”

Highlights and bookable experiences of the 2026 Festival include:

• Kielder Observatory: Late Night Dark Skies (13–21 Feb) – Expert-led telescope tours and cosmic insights under Europe’s darkest skies.
  
  
• Battlesteads Observatory: Late Night Dark Skies (13-21 Feb) – Beginner-friendly stargazing with telescopes and aurora-adapted programming.
  
  
• Northumberland Coast National Landscape Stargazing Evening (13 Feb, Embleton) – A magical evening for families under the stars on the coast.
  
  
• Dark Skies Creatures of the Night (20 Feb, Walltown Country Park) – Astronomy meets nocturnal wildlife.
  
  
• Northumberland Wildlife Trust Immersive Stargazing Experience by NASTRO (14 Feb, Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre) – educational immersive stargazing experience.
  
  
• Evening Forest Ride with Team Cycles (various dates, Kielder Castle) - guided trails through Kielder Forest under the night sky.
  
  

Andrew Fox, chair of Visit Northumberland, added: “Dark skies aren’t just magical they are economically meaningful. Noctourism has helped lengthen our visitor season and create higher-value experiences across the county. In 2024, Northumberland’s visitor economy reached £1.443 billion, with almost 10.5 million visitors and a notable rise in overnight stays and average spend, evidence that experiences like our Dark Skies Festival drive quality, growth and resilience for local businesses.”

In addition to boosting tourism and the visitor economy, the festival is also expected to enhance wellbeing and connection by encouraging reflection, mindfulness, and a sense of wonder through stargazing. It will inspire learning and curiosity for all ages, bringing science to life through themes like astronomy and conservation. Finally, by celebrating Northumberland’s unique dark skies, the festival will strengthen regional pride and reinforce the North East’s identity as a world-class destination.

With detail of many more events still to be announced, visitors seeking to explore the dark skies can start planning their 2026 adventure and find their perfect experience at www.northeastdarkskies.co.uk

For businesses who would like to get involved, please complete the Dark Skies Festival enquiry form Contact us | North East Dark Skies Festival.