Countdown to Exmoor Dark Skies Festival 2026
Book Now for the Festival’s 10th Edition
Exmoor Dark Skies Festival returns this autumn with its biggest ever programme, marking the 10th edition of one of the National Park’s most popular celebrations.
Running from Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, the festival invites everyone to celebrate and explore the wonders of Exmoor after dark, beneath some of the darkest skies in the country.
More than 70 events will take place across the National Park, offering something for all ages and levels of experience, from families discovering the night sky for the first time to keen astronomers looking for new ways to enjoy Exmoor’s International Dark Sky Reserve. Two standout highlights for 2026 are the return of the popular Space Odyssey planetarium and a special live theatre experience, Wonders of Our Universe as a special event for the 10th festival.
Festival organiser Julie Colman said: “Protecting and celebrating our night skies matters for wildlife, for people’s wellbeing, for scientific curiosity and the sense of wonder it inspires in all generations. Over the years, the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival has welcomed tens of thousands of people, first-time stargazers, families, photographers and astronomy enthusiasts alike. It’s also brought a welcome boost to our rural economy extending the visitor season, helping local businesses to enhance their offer and share the magic of Exmoor after dark. We are incredibly proud that this has grown into one of the UK’s leading dark skies festivals.”
The planetarium sessions in both Minehead and Lynton are expected to be especially popular, giving audiences the chance to enjoy a spectacular indoor experience that brings the scale, beauty and mystery of the universe vividly to life.
Wonders of Our Universe, on Sunday 25 October at Minehead’s Regal Theatre will offer a live journey through time and space, from the birth of the cosmos to humanity’s first steps beyond Earth, with breathtaking visuals, live music and a cinematic soundtrack designed to ignite curiosity about the night sky.
Festival-goers are encouraged to book early, as many events sell out each year, and some events in this year’s programme have already sold out. Those travelling to Exmoor for the festival are encouraged to explore Dark Sky Friendly Business accommodation providers to make the most of a stay on Exmoor during this magical season.
To view the full 2026 programme and book tickets, visit: www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/darkskiesfestival
