Every October, the Jasper Dark Sky Festival celebrates the wonder of the universe with stargazing, science, live music, outdoor adventures and one-of-a-kind experiences throughout Jasper National Park. In 2026, the festival returns October 16–25, bringing another stellar lineup to the world’s largest accessible Dark Sky Preserves.
Whether you want to peer through a telescope at the top of a mountain, photograph the Milky Way, listen to live music beneath the stars or simply experience the majesty of Jasper after dark, here are some of the top events and experiences to put on your 2026 Jasper Dark Sky Festival itinerary.
Signature events
- Symphony Under the Stars — Oct. 17
- Bahamas live concert — Oct. 24
- Drone Show — Oct. 24
- Speaker Series — Oct. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
Unique festival experiences
- Sun to Stars: a mountaintop telescope tour
- SLOOH Airstream
- Jasper Planetarium Dark Sky Package
- Sounds of the Solar System: Sound Bath
- Night Sky Photography tour
Family-friendly fun
- ScienceFest, presented by TELUS World of Science
- Blast off with the Edmonton Rocketry Club
- Slooh Hands-On Observation Workshop
- Stargazing with Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
The 2026 Jasper Dark Sky Festival runs from Oct. 16 - 25.
Symphony under the Stars
When: October 17, 2026 ~ 7–10 p.m.
Where: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Cozy up under a blanket and let the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Strings provide the soundtrack to an unforgettable evening beneath Jasper’s famously dark skies. Set outdoors at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Symphony Under the Starspairs soaring live music with the natural acoustics and spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies — all under thousands of twinkling stars.
Bahamas concert + Drone Show
When: October 24, 2026 ~ 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Where: Commemoration Park
A mountain town, an open-air stage and a sky full of stars make for a pretty unforgettable concert venue.
Acclaimed Canadian songwriter Afie Jurvanen (better known as Bahamas) headlines the 2026 Jasper Dark Sky Festival with a free outdoor concert in Commemoration Park.
The evening begins with doors at 5:30 p.m., followed by Canadian country and roots artist Kyle McKearney at 6 p.m. and Bahamas at 7:15 p.m. When the final song ends, stick around for another festival spectacle: the Jasper Dark Sky Festival Drone Show! Combining technology and storytelling, this choreographed display of moving light will bring the Moon’s story to life in the night sky.
It’s one of the festival's most stunning evenings, and it’s all free to attend.
Get curious at the Dark Sky Speaker Series
Go deeper than just looking at pretty stars, it introduces you to the people asking fascinating questions about them.
All festival long, scientists, science communicators and experts will be in Jasper for talks and special events that will appeal to everyone from amateur astronomers to curious kids.
- We Have Liftoff & The Story of STEVE — This two-part event brings together stories of innovation and discovery. Join Dr. Jonathan Burchill and Chris Ratzlaff to explore two fascinating stories: student ingenuity taking flight and the citizen-science story behind STEVE, the luminous atmospheric phenomenon that has captivated skywatchers and researchers alike.
- The Science of Pets: Reading and Book Signing with Jay Ingram — Why do cats purr? What do dogs understand about us? Acclaimed Canadian science writer and broadcaster Jay Ingram explores the biology, behaviour and intelligence behind the animals that share our lives.
- After Artemis — What comes next after humanity returns to the Moon? This event takes a musical, scientific — and sometimes darker — look at the space race, offering an entertaining late-night addition to the festival’s science programming.
Explore the universe at the Slooh Airstream Experience
When: October 14–24, 2026 ~ 12 p.m.–9 p.m. daily
Where: Pop Up Village, 635 Connaught Drive
You don’t need to leave downtown Jasper to start exploring the universe. The Slooh Airstream Experience brings a travelling astronomy hub right into town, with interactive astronomy experiences, remote telescope demonstrations and conversations about astronomy and dark skies.
Through Slooh’s network of remote telescopes around the world, visitors can discover how astronomers observe the cosmos in real time. Open daily throughout the festival, the Airstream is an easy addition to your itinerary and a great stop for curious stargazers of all ages.
Go from Sun to Stars at the Jasper SkyTram
When: Fridays and Saturdays through October 24, 2026
Where: Jasper SkyTram and Whistlers Mountain
Ride nearly a kilometre closer to the stars with Sun to Stars at the Jasper SkyTram.
The evening begins with a Jasper Planetarium dome presentation before guests board the SkyTram and climb high above the Athabasca Valley to the Upper Station on Whistlers Mountain. Once at elevation, explore night-sky exhibits, interactive telescope stations and astronomy programming led by Jasper Planetarium experts.
Time your visit right and you’ll watch the Rockies transition from golden hour into darkness — when the stars above Jasper’s Dark Sky Preserve begin stealing the show. Dinner and dessert packages are also available on select departures.
Spend an entire evening with the Jasper Planetarium Dark Sky Package
When: Multiple dates and times available
Location: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
For those who want to go all-in on Jasper’s night sky, the Jasper Planetarium Dark Sky Package combines multiple astronomy experiences into one evening.
Start beneath the Planetarium dome before heading outside for a weather-proof telescope experience. Then follow your astronomy guide to a specially selected dark-sky site within walking distance, where you’ll learn to identify constellations with a laser-guided tour and use supplied binoculars to explore the Milky Way and deep-space objects.
When conditions cooperate, you’ll also get live telescope views beneath the real Jasper night sky. And because astronomy and weather don't always see eye to eye, the experience includes a two-year rain check for portions of the tour affected by poor visibility.
Discover a different side of the night sky with these unique experiences
Some of the festival’s most memorable experiences go beyond traditional stargazing. Gather around a fire for stories, learn how to photograph the stars or experience the solar system through sound.
Fireside Chat
Experience Indigenous drumming, singing and storytelling beneath the open sky during this intimate Fireside Chat. Led by a local Knowledge Keeper, the gathering offers an opportunity to connect with the land, its traditions and the stories carried through generations — all beneath Jasper’s night sky.
Night Photography Tour
Instead of simply admiring Jasper’s stars, learn how to take them home with you — at least in photographs. On the Night Photography Tour with Jasper Photo Tours, a small group of photographers heads into Jasper’s Dark Sky Preserve to learn techniques for capturing stars, night landscapes and, with a little luck, the aurora borealis. Locations are selected each night based on weather and sky conditions, and tours are limited to five photographers, allowing for plenty of one-on-one time with the guide. If clouds roll in, you can still experiment with techniques such as light painting.
Before you head out, get inspired with these tips and locations for photographing the stars in Jasper National Park.
Sounds of the Solar System: Sound Bath
Not every journey through the solar system requires a telescope. Sounds of the Solar System: Sound Bath invites festival-goers to slow down and experience space in an entirely different way. Through planetary frequencies and ambient tones, this immersive experience blends cosmic inspiration with deep relaxation. Bring a mat or blanket, settle in and let the sounds do the travelling for you.
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Jasper Dark Sky Festival 2026: Top Events & Experiences
Discover the top events and experiences at the 2026 Jasper Dark Sky Festival, happening October 16–25 in Jasper National Park. From stargazing and astronomy experiences to live music, expert speakers, unique tours and dazzling night-sky spectacles, explore some of the highlights of what to expect at this year’s festival.
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