In just a few weeks, the night sky could offer one of the most promising northern lights opportunities of the year—or even of the next several years—for viewers in the mid-latitudes.
Solar activity, which drives the aurora, is now slowly waning as the sun moves past the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, known as solar maximum, which topped out in late 2024. That decline doesn’t mean the lights are fading away overnight. In fact, a sweet spot for viewing is arriving in mid- to late March, when several favorable conditions overlap.
During both the spring and autumnal equinoxes—the former falling on March 20, 2026—the magnetic fields of the Earth and sun align in a way that makes it easier for charged solar particles to funnel into our magnetosphere. Known as the Russell-McPherron effect, this seasonal alignment statistically boosts the odds of auroral activity. Still, it’s not a guarantee.
“It’s only an enhancing condition, not a trigger on its own,” says Jonny Cooper, founder of Nordic travel company Off The Map Travel and the creator of aurora-forecasting app Aurora Buddy. “I’ve seen some great displays around the equinoxes, and I’ve also seen very little happen.” Strong northern lights visible at the mid-latitudes still require a trigger like a larger solar event, such as a coronal mass ejection aimed squarely at Earth.
But this March also brings another advantage: darkness. A new moon on the night of March 18–19 will leave skies especially dark around the equinox, helping even faint auroras stand out more vividly.
If you don’t see the northern lights next month, however, all is not lost—the northern lights won’t be disappearing entirely as the sun moves toward solar minimum. Solar activity tends to decline gradually after maximum, meaning strong displays can still pop up any time. “In high-latitude regions like the Nordics, you’re directly under the auroral oval, so even lower-level activity can still produce impressive displays,” Cooper says. “You just need to be in the right place.”
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights this March?
Aim for the two weeks surrounding the equinox in March, when auroras are statistically more likely due to seasonal magnetic effects. The darkest skies fall between March 11 and March 24 (the third quarter and first quarter moons)—even faint activity looks dramatically brighter under moonless skies. Plan to be outside between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., when auroral activity typically peaks, though strong storms can flare earlier or later. Most importantly, get yourself to a location away from city lights with minimal cloud coverage.
Where to see the northern lights in spring 2026
To maximize your chances of seeing the aurora, head as far north as you possibly can. High-latitude destinations, such as Alaska, Iceland, and northern Norway, are ideal, but even the northern parts of the continental United States can witness auroral displays.
US getaways
Many northern US destinations sit just far enough north—and dark enough—to catch strong geomagnetic events. Kalispell, Montana, pairs Glacier National Park scenery with wide-open skies. Mackinac Island, Michigan, while typically a summer destination, offers low light pollution over Lake Huron. Duluth, Minnesota, is perfectly positioned for a drive out to the darkest areas of Lake Superior’s North Shore. And out east, Lake Placid, New York, delivers dark Adirondack wilderness within a few hours of New York and Boston. While not continental, Fairbanks, Alaska, remains the gold standard, with frequent sightings and dedicated aurora tours nearly every clear night.
