Wild About Dark Skies Festival
Wild About Dark Skies Festival returns in 2026!
Celebrate the beauty of our night skies with walks, talks and other events throughout the year…
Exciting news – the Wild About Dark Skies Festival is returning to the High Weald for 2026!
After a hugely successful Festival in 2025 we have returned with new venues and different events.
Join us for our Autumn programme of events led by dark skies experts, specially timed to ensure the best view of the stars (weather permitting!).
These seasonal events will lead up to a fun, family-focused Wild About Dark Skies Festival Stargazers and wildlife enthusiasts young and old can enjoy a programme of walks, talks and activities celebrating the High Weald’s starry night skies and raising awareness of light pollution.
Please see events listed below to see what is happening in your area, and be sure to sign up to our mailing list to receive all the latest news – just use the link at the bottom of this page.
If you are interested in more events across Britain, please visit Stargazing events map – find stargazing events near you – Go Stargazing
The Wild About Dark Skies Festival is supported by the High Weald National Landscape Partnership and sponsored by Lund Trust.
| Date | Venue | Event | Host | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 April 2026 | Sheepstreet Lane, Etchingham (full details will be sent to ticketholders after booking) | FREE event NightFlyers: A Journey Into the Starlit World of the Moth – Take a walk with Sussex Moth Group specialist Colin Piper, and astronomy enthusiast Chris Woodcock of the Sussex Sidewalk Astronomers | Brightling Environment Group | to book |
| 26 April | Victoria Centre Tunbridge Wells | Wonder at the stars and planets in an indoor planetarium as part of the Climate and Nature festival coming to Tunbridge Wells | Tunbridge Wells CAN – Climate and Nature CIC | book here |
Did you know the High Weald has some of the darkest skies in the South East, with the least artificial light?
As well as celebrating the High Weald’s dark skies, the Festival raises awareness about the negative impacts of light pollution – on wildlife, climate change and our own wellbeing – and provides some ‘quick wins’ and advice for how we can all do our bit to reduce it.
The Wild about Dark Skies Festival isn’t just a celebration; it’s a call to action. It’s an opportunity for us all to come together and make a real difference here in the High Weald. If you’re passionate about reducing light pollution, come and join us!
For inspiration, watch the short film created for this year’s Festival by Sussex artist and citizen scientist, Steve Geliot. ‘Sleepwalking in the Dark’ examines Steve’s relationship with the night sky, and how it has inspired his art over the years.
Get involved with the Festival
We are inviting Parishes, ‘Wild About…’ groups, community groups, astronomical societies, and other organisations across the High Weald National Landscape to take part in the Wild about Dark Skies Festival 2026.
Grant funding is available to support eligible events through the High Weald Nature and Community Fund.
Your contribution to the festival can be as big or small as you wish – you can hold one event or multiple celebrations.
However, your event MUST have a theme of reducing light pollution to be included.
Activities could include:
- Family Star party – fun activities for children, games, craft and puzzles
- Dark Sky photography exhibition
- Mobile Planetarium show
- Stargazing demonstrations with astronomy groups
- Talks from special guest speakers
- Leading a dark skies walk
Interested in taking part?
Read through our guidance documents and contact info@highweald.org for an application pack.
Our Dark Skies Experts:
There are lots of dark skies experts that support our cause to reduce light pollution who have a wide range of knowledge on topics, from astrology and art to storytelling and ecology.
Find out who appeared at our events below:
Rachel Bennington:
Rachel Bennington is a professional storyteller and has told myths and traditional tales from all around the world to schools and at events across Sussex.
Doug Edworthy:
A space enthusiast since hearing Sputnik’s beeps at the age of four, Doug is an amateur astronomer and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He provides ‘Outreach’ for the public and is especially keen to enthuse young minds with the awesome universe out there.
Dan Oakley:
Dan is a professional dark sky expert and founding director of Darkscape Consulting. He has long experience of working in dark skies and is passionate about providing services to protect our connection the cosmos for people and our planet.
Dan served as the Dark Sky Officer for the South Downs National Park Authority for over 10 years and was responsible for creating and producing all aspects of the South Downs IDA International Dark Sky “Moore’s” Reserve application.
Steve Geliot:
Dark Skies, Natural Night artist, campaigner, citizen scientist. Steve works with photography and moving image as well as field recording and remote sensing (NASA Satellite based).
Ryan Greeves:
