Dark Skies Festival is back for 2026 – with lots of star-studded events celebrating the wonders of the night sky.
For its eleventh festival, the annual event features a packed programme for 2026 including stargazing, new wellbeing ritual ‘Dusking’, trails and crafts, talks and much more.
Dark Skies Festival takes place from Friday 13 February to Sunday 1 March 2026.
The festival takes place across England, but we’ve put together a guide of highlight events happening in the North York Moors.
The North York Moors is one of only 25 locations in the world to be recognised for pristine, dark skies – and it was made an International Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association) in 2020.
For more information and to see the whole programme of events, visit the Dark Skies Festival website.
Nine highlights for the Dark Skies Festival 2026
Astro-Norma and the Cosmic Piano
Do you fancy something a little bit different for the Dark Skies Festival? Fladam Theatre are returning to the Helmsley Arts Centre with an intergalactic musical adventure for the whole family.
Norma dreams of going into space, like her heroes Mae Jemison and Neil Armstrong. But children can’t go into space, can they? Especially children who have a very important piano recital coming up.
But what’s that bizarre looking contraption that just crash landed in the garden? Is it a bird? Or a plane? No… it’s a piano?! But this isn’t any ordinary piano. This is a COSMIC piano! Maybe Norma’s dreams are about to come true? Packed with awesome aliens, rib-tickling robots, and interplanetary puns, ASTRO NORMA will have kids shooting for the stars! Ideal for ages 4 to 10.
- Helmsley Arts Centre, Meeting House Ct, Helmsley, York, YO62 5DW
- Sun 15 Feb
- 2:30pm
- From £8
- Booking essential
- More info
An Evening Under the Stars at Birdsall House
Join Go Stargazing for an intimate evening of stargazing as we celebrate the extraordinary dark skies above Birdsall House. Nestled in the Yorkshire Wolds, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, Birdsall enjoys an exceptional setting beside one of just 25 places in the world recognised for its pristine, dark skies, allowing us to share in this rare and remarkable celestial landscape.
- Birdsall House, Birdsall, Malton YO17 9NR
- Tue 17 Feb
- 5pm
- £35pp
- Booking essential
- More info
Dark Skies Talk by Whitby Astronomical Society
Come on a lantern led walk through streets and alleyways as you listen to tales of the Strange and Supernatural under deep dark skies. Journey into a mysterious past of Spirits, Shipwrecks, Smugglers, Local Folklore and Legend, in this magical village beside the sea under starry skies. Book your place: email [email protected] or call 01947 602878.
- Whitby Youth Hostel, Abbey House, Whitby, YO22 4JT
- Wed 18 Feb
- 7pm
- Booking essential
- More info
Dusking – A new wellbeing ritual coming to the UK
Experience dusking for the first time it has come to the UK. This ancient Dutch ritual invites people to sit together at twilight before turning on any lights, quietly watching the day fade into night and gently marking the shift from work to rest. The practice will change your mindset towards the darker nights and provide a space to appreciate the beauty of nature.
As part of this year’s Dark Skies Festival, Marjolijn van Heemstra will introduce this soothing practice to the UK with a gorgeous sound piece blending music and storytelling.
- The Orchid House, Helmsley Walled Garden, Helmsley, York YO62 5AH
- Thu 19 Feb
- 5pm
- £10
- Booking essential
- More info
Dark Skies Trail
Discover the magic of the night on our Dark Skies Trail. Follow the clues, explore the wonders of the starry skies, and uncover fun facts about the amazing creatures and constellations that come alive after dark. Trail sheets are available from Danby Lodge National Park Centre for £3 per sheet.
- Danby Lodge National Park Centre, Lodge Ln, Danby, Whitby YO21 2NB
- Fri 20 Feb
- Any time
- £3
- No booking required
- More info
Constellations and Craft
Enjoy an immersive day of wirework and lino printing, inspired by constellations and night skies.
Set in the quiet valley of Ellerburn, on the edge of Dalby Forest, this hands-on workshop invites you to slow down and create unique, star-inspired artworks. You will learn wirework techniques to form your own hanging constellation, alongside lino printing skills to design and print a night-sky artwork to frame or turn into notecards.
This creative day is perfect for adults who enjoy learning new skills. You will be guided by artists Hannah Turlington and Lesley Beale, and all materials are included.
- Ellerburn, on the edge of Dalby Forest
- Sat 21 Feb
- 10am – 4pm
- £120
- Booking essential
- More info
Cities Under Stars – Tackling Light Pollution
Join York St. John University for an inspiring evening of discussion, performance and reflection with leading international dark-sky experts, artists and academics, exploring how cities can become more dark-sky-friendly.
- Creative Centre, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk York YO31 7EX
- Wed 25 Feb
- 6:30pm
- Free
- Booking essential
- More info
Public Stargazing at Dalby Forest
Scarborough & Ryedale Astronomical Society host regular public stargazing sessions at the John Harper Observatories in Dalby Forest during the autumn and winter months. Discover stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies beneath some of the darkest skies in the country, within the North York Moors Dark Sky Reserve.
- Dalby Forest Visitors Centre, Dalby Forest Drive, Low Dalby, YO18 7LT
- Fri 27 Feb
- 8pm
- Free
- Booking essential
- More info
Magical Robin Hood’s Bay Moonlight Coastal Walk
At a glance…
- Feeling exhilarated and alive!
- Night walk (4 – 6 miles)
- Learn about benefits of walking in the dark
- Find out about the universe, planets, stars, geology & deep time
- Time to stargaze
- Learn a secret formula that enhances your experience, enabling feelings of awe & wonder
- Robin Hood’s Bay, North York Moors National Park
- Sat 28 Feb
- 5:15pm
- £49
- Booking essential
- More info
