2025/26 The Great Winter of the Northern Lights
Did you know we’re entering the best time in over a decade to see the Northern Lights?
If you’ve ever dreamed of watching magical dancing lights across the Arctic night sky, 2025 – 2026 winter is the perfect year to make that dream come true. But what makes this year so special for aurora chasing?
Let’s break it down: The Northern Lights phenomenon
The Northern Lights are a natural spectacle that occurs when electrically charged particles ejected from the Sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere near the magnetic poles. These collisions produce colored lights — green, pink, red, and violet — that illuminate the night sky in unique shapes and movements.
Why is 2025 so exceptional?
It all comes down to the Solar Cycle.
Solar activity — the engine behind the auroras — rises and falls in cycles of approximately 11 years. The current cycle, known as Solar Cycle 25, is reaching its peak between 2025 and 2026. That means the Sun is more active, sending out more charged particles toward Earth… and when those particles hit our atmosphere, the sky lights up.
But what does that really mean?
Although the Sun constantly emits energy, not all years are equally intense. This autumn/winter of 2025–2026, the Sun will release energy at the maximum strength of its cycle. This not only increases how often the Northern Lights appear — it also intensifies their brightness and color, including rarer tones like pink, red, and violet that are usually harder to spot during low-activity cycles.
NASA and other space agencies have already confirmed that this cycle is stronger than expected, producing auroras visible even at latitudes where they’re rarely seen.
As this solar maximum passes, the intensity of the auroras will gradually decrease, and we won’t see another peak like this until the next cycle — in about 11 years.
Top destinations to experience the magic of the Northern Lights
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Iceland: Witnessing the Northern Lights here is unforgettable. Combine it with majestic waterfalls, geysers, black-sand beaches, and natural hot springs — the perfect setting for nature and adventure lovers.
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Finnish Lapland: This destination blends reindeer, moose, huskies, lakes, and snowy mountains — plus, it’s home to Santa Claus. The magic of Lapland, combined with the auroras, transports you to a dreamlike world that brings out your inner child.
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Tromsø, Norway: Known as the “Northern Lights capital,” Tromsø offers excellent infrastructure for travelers and a stunning Arctic landscape. Its long nights and clear skies make it one of the top places to chase auroras.
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Alaska, USA: Further west, Alaska is a paradise for Northern Lights hunters. Its wild, remote landscapes and rich local culture make it a unique place to witness this phenomenon — especially during a solar maximum.
Live the Experience with VRN-e
At VRN-e Travel Planners, we want to seize this once-in-a-decade opportunity. That’s why we’ve organized trips to Finland in October and Iceland in November 2025, so you can witness this natural wonder at its brightest.
Why travel with us?
Because we don’t just take you there —
we guide you, prepare you, and share the moment with you as if we were part of your story. Plus:
- We monitor solar and weather conditions daily
- We teach you how to capture the auroras with your phone or camera
- We design the experience around what really matters: living it in a unique way
Ready to join us? Spots are limited.
Iceland or Lapland? You pick the destination — we’ll take care of the rest.