Countdown to International Dark Sky Week | April 13–20, 2026
Sign up for International Dark Sky Week updates by taking the pledge to protect the night.
What is International Dark Sky Week?
International Dark Sky Week is a global celebration of the night.
From the darkness needed for a restful night’s sleep to the activities we enjoy beneath the stars, the night is filled with wonder and importance. Dark nights sustain critical wildlife ecosystems, strengthen the well-being of our communities, enable scientific discovery, and preserve shared cultural knowledge and traditions.
Join us this April as we “go dark” to explore the night and take action to protect dark skies worldwide.
Pledge
Take the pledge to protect the night and share it with your community to help raise awareness and inspire action.
Explore
Discover the wonders and importance of the night through online activities and events held worldwide.
Take action
From improving lighting at home to supporting a community proclamation, get involved today.
Pledge to protect the night
Take a simple step that makes a meaningful difference. By signing the pledge, you demonstrate your commitment to protecting the nighttime environment.
I pledge to protect dark skies through quality lighting choices that align with the Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting, helping create a world where the nighttime environment thrives for wildlife, people, and the planet.
Photo credit: Haohan Sun
Activities & events
Each year DarkSky encourages our community of partners, chapters, and International Dark Sky Places to organize events that share the wonder and importance of this night during this special week. From guided hikes and star parties to dark sky brews, trivia, and movie nights, explore our growing list of events taking place around the world.
Photo credit: Oscar Leonardo Chavez Torres
Support DarkSky conservation
Support dark sky conservation efforts by shopping DarkSky merchandise or making a direct donation to DarkSky International. Your support helps advance global programs and initiatives that reduce light pollution. By making a direct donation, you also gain access to Nightscape, DarkSky’s quarterly magazine.
Photo credit: Exmoor National Park, England
Event sponsors
A special thanks to our event sponsors for making IDSW 2026 possible. To learn more about partnering with DarkSky to protect the night, visit darksky.org.
