There are few natural wonders as mesmerising as the northern lights, shimmering ribbons of green and violet that dance across the night sky, illuminating Canada's far north in a spectacle of celestial beauty. As the sun reaches its peak activity in more than a decade, 2025 and 2026 are shaping up to be the best years yet to witness the aurora borealis in all its glory.

Stretching across the world's auroral oval, Canada offers some of the planet's most consistent and accessible viewing conditions. In destinations like Yellowknife (Northwest Territories), Whitehorse (Yukon) and Churchill (Manitoba), visitors can settle into cosy lodges, heated domes and lakeside tipis, guided by local experts who bring the science and stories of the lights to life. Indigenous-owned Aurora Village near Yellowknife offers viewing from traditional tipis, while Frontiers North Adventures in Churchill leads multi-day expeditions that pair skywatching with dog-sledding, snowshoeing and remote dining beneath the stars.

For those seeking more than a moment under the lights, Canada's 13 Dark-Sky Preserves invite travellers to reconnect with the cosmos year-round. In Jasper National Park (Alberta), the annual Dark Sky Festival each October features astrophotography workshops and stargazing parties. Out east, Kejimkujik National Park (Nova Scotia) enhances the experience with family-friendly Dark Sky kits, and the vast Wood Buffalo National Park, the world's largest Dark-Sky Preserve, hosts its own festival each August.

This celestial season is set to dazzle, with major astronomical events illuminating Canadian skies in the months ahead. Highlights include the Geminid meteor shower (December 13–14, 2025), promising vivid streaks visible nationwide, and a total lunar eclipse (March 2–3, 2026) when a “blood moon” will glow red across the night.

Meanwhile, in Canada's vibrant cities, the sky will take centre stage differently. The Lunar New Year, beginning February 17, 2026, will see Toronto and Richmond (BC) come alive with celebrations of light, colour, and culture. Expect lanterns, fireworks, dragon dances, and feasts of dumplings and noodles as communities across Canada mark the Year of the Horse. Toronto's Spring Festival, introduced in 2025, has already become a cultural highlight, while British Columbia's festivities blend tradition with family-friendly fun across local attractions.

Whether chasing the aurora through frozen forests or celebrating under a canopy of city lanterns, Canada offers travellers a rare chance to look up and be reminded of their place in something vast, bright, and beautiful.