{"id":22892,"date":"2026-11-10T17:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T17:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/northern-lights-2026-27-solar-cycle-what-travellers-should-really-expect\/"},"modified":"2026-11-10T17:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T17:02:27","slug":"northern-lights-2026-27-solar-cycle-what-travellers-should-really-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/lapland\/northern-lights-2026-27-solar-cycle-what-travellers-should-really-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Lights 2026\u201327 and the Solar Cycle: What Travellers Should Really Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"22892\" class=\"elementor elementor-22892 elementor-bc-flex-widget\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52699f0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"52699f0\" data-element_type=\"container\" 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img{width:100%;height:auto;aspect-ratio:21\/9;object-fit:cover;border-radius:8px;display:block;}\n@media(max-width:640px){.htf-bk-cta{padding:20px 18px;}.htf-bk-title{font-size:21px;}button.htf-bk-btn{width:100%;}}\n<\/style>\n<script>\n(function(){function fb(){var bs=document.querySelectorAll('button.bokunButton[data-href]');for(var i=0;i<bs.length;i++){var b=bs[i];if(b.disabled){b.disabled=false;b.setAttribute('data-htf-fallback','1');b.addEventListener('click',function(e){window.location.href=this.getAttribute('data-href');});}}}\nif(document.readyState==='complete'){setTimeout(fb,7000);}else{window.addEventListener('load',function(){setTimeout(fb,7000);});}})();\n<\/script>\n<!-- HERO --><header class=\"htf-hero\">\n<div class=\"htf-hero-inner\">\n<div class=\"htf-breadcrumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/\">Home<\/a> \u00a0\/\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/category\/press-media\/\">Press &amp; Media<\/a><\/div>\n<span class=\"htf-category\">Press \u00b7 Data and trends<\/span>\n<h1>Northern Lights 2026\u201327 and the Solar Cycle: <em>What Travellers Should Really Expect<\/em><\/h1>\n<p class=\"htf-hero-deck\">Solar Cycle 25 has passed its peak. NOAA&#x27;s numbers, the Sodankyl\u00e4 Geophysical Observatory and the Finnish Meteorological Institute explain what that means for aurora in Lapland this winter.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htf-hero-meta\">\n<div class=\"htf-meta-author\">\n<div class=\"htf-avatar\">J&amp;A<\/div>\n<div><strong>Joona &amp; Alla<\/strong>Rovaniemi, Finland<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<span class=\"htf-dot\">\u00b7<\/span> November 10, 2026 <span class=\"htf-dot\">\u00b7<\/span> 9 min read <span class=\"htf-dot\">\u00b7<\/span> Updated for winter 2026\u20132027<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-hero-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6b2a3099-d2d9-4ea3-b3a6-5fa1f7cfa029.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Lights 2026\u201327 and the Solar Cycle \u2014 Hungrytravelfamily\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<!-- ARTICLE + SIDEBAR -->\n<div class=\"htf-wrap\"><!-- BODY -->\n<article class=\"htf-body\">\n<style>\n.htf-press{margin:32px 0;padding:26px 28px;border-radius:10px;background:#0d2018;color:#e9efe6;font-family:Inter,sans-serif;}\n.htf-press .htf-press-eyebrow{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#C8A45A;margin:0 0 8px;}\n.htf-press .htf-press-title{font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:24px;line-height:1.25;color:#fff;margin:0 0 10px;}\n.htf-press p{margin:0 0 12px;line-height:1.6;color:#d8e8d0;}\n.htf-press ul{margin:0 0 14px 18px;padding:0;color:#d8e8d0;line-height:1.6;}\n.htf-press a.htf-press-btn{display:inline-block;margin:4px 10px 0 0;padding:12px 20px;border-radius:6px;background:#C8A45A;color:#0d2018;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;}\n.htf-press a.htf-press-btn.alt{background:transparent;color:#fff;border:1px solid #C8A45A;}\n.htf-press-mini{margin:22px 0;padding:14px 18px;border-left:4px solid #C8A45A;background:#f7f3ea;border-radius:6px;font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:#3b4a41;}\n.htf-press-mini a{color:#2D5A3D;font-weight:700;}\n.htf-quotes{margin:36px 0;padding:26px 28px;border-radius:10px;background:#f7f3ea;border:1px solid #eee6d8;font-family:Inter,sans-serif;}\n.htf-quotes .htf-press-eyebrow{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#C8A45A;margin:0 0 12px;}\n.htf-quotes blockquote{margin:0 0 16px;padding:0 0 0 16px;border-left:3px solid #2D5A3D;font-family:'Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:19px;line-height:1.45;color:#2D5A3D;}\n.htf-quotes .htf-quote-by{font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#5b6b62;margin:-8px 0 16px 19px;}\n.htf-sources{margin:32px 0;font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#5b6b62;}\n.htf-sources h3{font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-size:13px;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#2D5A3D;margin:0 0 8px;}\n.htf-sources ol{margin:0 0 0 18px;padding:0;line-height:1.6;}\n.htf-data-table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:20px 0;font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-size:15px;}\n.htf-data-table th{background:#2D5A3D;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:10px;}\n.htf-data-table td{border-bottom:1px solid #eee6d8;padding:10px;vertical-align:top;}\n.htf-data-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#faf7f0;}\n<\/style>\n<!-- HTF-PRESS-V1 -->\n<p>Many stories about the northern lights contain a sentence that goes: \"The sun is at its most active this year, so this is the best time ever to see them\" or, the opposite, \"the peak has passed, so the lights are fading.\" Both are too simple for a place like Lapland.<\/p><p>We are Joona and Alla, a couple living in Rovaniemi, and we both work in tourism marketing in Lapland. This page uses the actual published sunspot data and forecasts from NOAA and the explanations of Finnish researchers to set out what the solar cycle means for a winter 2026\u201327 trip, and what it does not.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htf-tldr\">\n<div class=\"htf-tldr-label\">Short answer<\/div>\n<p>Solar Cycle 25 peaked in late 2024 and is now declining, but the Sodankyl\u00e4 Geophysical Observatory says geomagnetic activity tends to stay high in the descending phase, and that at Lapland's latitude the weather and light pollution matter more than the cycle. Winter 2026\u201327 should still be an active aurora season. A guided trip such as <a class=\"htf-book-link\" href=\"https:\/\/widgets.bokun.io\/online-sales\/0b19e4e0-915f-4bf5-89a2-8a18269ae599\/experience\/791195\" rel=\"noopener\">this northern lights evening at a campfire<\/a><span class=\"htf-pill\">5% off \u00b7 HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5<\/span> still depends on clear sky.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<!-- HTF-PRESS-MINI -->\n<div class=\"htf-press-mini\"><strong>Journalist or TV producer?<\/strong> We live in Rovaniemi and work in tourism marketing here \u2014 we are available for interviews, filming and local research. <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/press\/\">See our press page<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:hungrytravelfamily@gmail.com?subject=Media%20request%20%E2%80%93%20Hungrytravelfamily\">email us<\/a>.<\/div>\n<!-- HTF-BOOK-CTA -->\n<div class=\"htf-bk-cta\">\n<div class=\"htf-bk-cta-text\">\n<p class=\"htf-bk-eyebrow\">Book direct \u00b7 5% off with code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5<\/p>\n<p class=\"htf-bk-title\">Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire<\/p>\n<p class=\"htf-bk-sub\">Live dates and prices open right here on this page \u2014 you book directly with the local operator. From \u20ac99 per adult.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"bokunButton htf-bk-btn\" data-src=\"https:\/\/widgets.bokun.io\/online-sales\/0b19e4e0-915f-4bf5-89a2-8a18269ae599\/experience\/791195?partialView=1\" data-href=\"https:\/\/widgets.bokun.io\/online-sales\/0b19e4e0-915f-4bf5-89a2-8a18269ae599\/experience\/791195\" disabled>Check dates &amp; book \u2192<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"htf-toc\">\n<div class=\"htf-toc-label\">In this guide<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">Where we are in the cycle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">What NOAA forecasts for the next winters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">The 2019 forecast versus what happened<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">What the cycle means for aurora in Lapland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">Cloud and light pollution matter more<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s6\">Using space weather forecasts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s7\">What to expect in 2026\u201327<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s8\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"s1\">Where we are in the cycle<\/h2>\n<p>The solar cycle is the roughly eleven-year rise and fall in the number of sunspots. We use NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) data, which publishes the observed international sunspot number from the Royal Observatory of Belgium's SILSO\/SIDC and a prediction for Solar Cycle 25. SWPC also tracks a second index, the 10.7 cm radio flux, which follows the same cycle; we use the sunspot number because it is the figure most often quoted in the press. Sunspot numbers count spots and groups of spots on the sun's visible surface, and the \"smoothed\" value is a long moving average that removes month-to-month noise.<\/p>\n<table class=\"htf-data-table\">\n<tr><th>Measure<\/th><th>Value<\/th><th>Period<\/th><th>Source<\/th><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Peak of the 13-month smoothed sunspot number<\/td><td>about 161<\/td><td>October 2024<\/td><td>SWPC \/ SIDC<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Average of the monthly sunspot numbers<\/td><td>about 154.5<\/td><td>Calendar 2024 (our average)<\/td><td>SWPC \/ SIDC<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Average of the monthly sunspot numbers<\/td><td>about 123.5<\/td><td>Calendar 2025 (our average)<\/td><td>SWPC \/ SIDC<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Smoothed sunspot number<\/td><td>88.6<\/td><td>April 2026 (latest smoothed value)<\/td><td>SWPC \/ SIDC<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Monthly sunspot number<\/td><td>60.3 (September), 45.7 (October)<\/td><td>2026, preliminary<\/td><td>SWPC \/ SIDC<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>SWPC marks the most recent six months of monthly values as preliminary, and individual months are noisy, so one low month does not by itself show the decline has accelerated. The overall picture is clear, though: the smoothed number peaked in autumn 2024 and has fallen since. The Sodankyl\u00e4 Geophysical Observatory (SGO) said in its FAQ in August 2026 that Solar Cycle 25 was turning to its descending phase.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s2\">What NOAA forecasts for the next winters<\/h2>\n<p>SWPC's updated prediction for Cycle 25 is published monthly. The table shows its central estimate of the smoothed sunspot number for mid-winter months, with the inner uncertainty band SWPC publishes.<\/p>\n<table class=\"htf-data-table\">\n<tr><th>Month<\/th><th>Central estimate<\/th><th>Inner uncertainty band<\/th><\/tr>\n<tr><td>November 2026<\/td><td>83<\/td><td>74 to 89<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>February 2027<\/td><td>84<\/td><td>72 to 90<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>February 2028<\/td><td>56<\/td><td>48 to 68<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>February 2029<\/td><td>31<\/td><td>22 to 38<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>February 2030<\/td><td>16<\/td><td>8 to 26<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>The numbers come from SWPC's predicted-cycle data file, downloaded on 10 November 2026. SWPC says Solar Cycle 26 is expected to begin sometime between January 2029 and December 2032, and does not yet publish a prediction for it. Note that the recent observed monthly values (60.3 and 45.7) are below the forecast central estimate of about 83, which is a reminder that the forecast has real uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s3\">The 2019 forecast versus what happened<\/h2>\n<p>A NOAA, NASA and ISES panel predicted in 2019 that Cycle 25 would reach a maximum of 115 in July 2025, with a range of 105 to 125 and a peak somewhere between November 2024 and March 2026. According to the SIDC series in SWPC's file, the smoothed number actually peaked at about 161 in October 2024, so the cycle was stronger and a little earlier than the panel forecast. SWPC replaced the panel prediction on its website with an updated one in February 2025. This matters for journalists because \"forecasters expected a modest cycle\" is out of date: the cycle turned out clearly stronger than the 2019 panel expected.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s4\">What the cycle means for aurora in Lapland<\/h2>\n<p>The key point is that the aurora at high latitudes does not simply follow sunspot numbers. SGO's FAQ states that geomagnetic activity tends to reach its maximum in the <em>descending<\/em> phase of the cycle, that geomagnetic storms are then common and make auroras often visible because of Lapland's high-latitude location, and that during the maximum and descending phases seeing auroras in Lapland is more about weather and light pollution than about the aurora.<\/p>\n<p>SGO also says that even during the minimum phase of solar activity the probability of seeing northern lights in Lapland is rather good, although the auroras then tend to stay mostly in the northern sky, as quiet arcs. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) puts it in terms of place: in the far north of Lapland three nights in four are aurora nights if the sky is clear, and in Sodankyl\u00e4 every second night. Those figures are not tied to the solar maximum.<\/p>\n<p>SWPC describes its cycle prediction as giving a rough idea of how often space weather storms of all kinds will occur, and storms are what push the aurora further from the poles. NOAA's aurora page says that when space weather activity increases, the aurora extends equatorward, and during large events it can be seen far from the poles. In our view, at Rovaniemi's latitude the practical difference between a strong and an ordinary year is more about how spectacular the best nights are than about whether you can see anything on a clear night.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s5\">Cloud and light pollution matter more<\/h2>\n<p>NOAA is explicit that the skies must be clear and dark. The most common reason visitors do not see the aurora is cloud, not the sun. If your night is overcast, a solar maximum does not help, and if it is clear, a quiet sun still often shows an arc. We say more about this in <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/lapland\/northern-lights-odds-rovaniemi-what-the-data-says-month-by-month\/\">our post on northern lights odds in Rovaniemi<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This is also why our advice is to plan several nights. In our experience the biggest single improvement a traveller can make is to give themselves more chances, and to choose guides who move to clear skies. A guided evening such as <a class=\"htf-book-link\" href=\"https:\/\/widgets.bokun.io\/online-sales\/0b19e4e0-915f-4bf5-89a2-8a18269ae599\/experience\/791195\" rel=\"noopener\">the campfire northern lights tour<\/a><span class=\"htf-pill\">5% off \u00b7 HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5<\/span> is one example; it is from \u20ac99 per adult (checked November 2026; prices change, so check before booking). Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.<\/p>\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"bokunButton htf-bk-inline\" data-src=\"https:\/\/widgets.bokun.io\/online-sales\/0b19e4e0-915f-4bf5-89a2-8a18269ae599\/experience\/791195?partialView=1\" data-href=\"https:\/\/widgets.bokun.io\/online-sales\/0b19e4e0-915f-4bf5-89a2-8a18269ae599\/experience\/791195\" disabled>Check dates and prices for the campfire tour \u2192<\/button>\n\n<h2 id=\"s6\">Using space weather forecasts<\/h2>\n<p>NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center and the FMI both publish space weather forecasts and aurora outlooks. SGO cautions that apps based on geomagnetic activity can miss the quiet arcs that are typical in Lapland, which are often visible even when an app shows a low number. We use apps as a prompt to step outside and look, not as a reason to stay in. A forecast that says \"low activity\" is not a guarantee of nothing; a forecast that says \"high activity\" does not guarantee you will see it if clouds cover the sky.<\/p>\n<p>Journalists asking whether to film in a particular week should be told the honest version: the cycle sets the background, forecasts help with a few days' notice, and the cloud forecast decides the night. If you are on a tight schedule, plan more nights than you think you need.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s7\">What to expect in 2026\u201327<\/h2>\n<p>Putting the sources together, we would say this about winter 2026\u201327, as our own summary and not a forecast:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The sun is past its peak but still active; SWPC's central estimate for the winter is a smoothed sunspot number in the low 80s.<\/li>\n<li>SGO says the descending phase brings frequent geomagnetic storms, so there is no reason to expect a poor aurora year.<\/li>\n<li>The deciding factors for any trip are cloud cover and distance from light pollution.<\/li>\n<li>FMI's best months for aurora, February\u2013March and September\u2013October, do not change because of the cycle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We are happy to help journalists with local context; the details are on our <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/press\/\">press page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"s8\">FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3>Has the solar maximum passed?<\/h3>\n<p>The smoothed sunspot number peaked at about 161 in October 2024, according to the SIDC series in NOAA SWPC's data, and has declined since. SGO said in August 2026 that Cycle 25 was turning to the descending phase.<\/p>\n<h3>Will there be fewer northern lights in 2026\u201327?<\/h3>\n<p>Not necessarily. SGO says geomagnetic activity tends to be highest in the descending phase, and that in Lapland weather and light pollution matter more than the cycle.<\/p>\n<h3>When is the next solar maximum?<\/h3>\n<p>SWPC says Solar Cycle 26 is expected to begin between January 2029 and December 2032, and does not yet publish a prediction for its maximum.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I see the northern lights at solar minimum?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. SGO says the probability in Lapland is still rather good, but the auroras tend to stay mostly in the northern sky.<\/p>\n\n<!-- HTF-QUOTES -->\n<div class=\"htf-quotes\"><p class=\"htf-press-eyebrow\">Quotable \u00b7 free to use with credit<\/p><blockquote>\u201cThe solar cycle sets the background for the northern lights, but in Lapland it is cloud that decides whether you see them on a given night.\u201d<\/blockquote><p class=\"htf-quote-by\">\u2014 Joona &amp; Alla, Hungrytravelfamily, Rovaniemi<\/p><blockquote>\u201cWe would not describe winter 2026\u201327 as a poor year for aurora just because the peak of the cycle has passed; the researchers in Sodankyl\u00e4 say the descending phase is often active.\u201d<\/blockquote><p class=\"htf-quote-by\">\u2014 Joona &amp; Alla, Hungrytravelfamily, Rovaniemi<\/p><blockquote>\u201cThe best way to use a space weather app is as a reason to step outside and look, not as a reason to stay in.\u201d<\/blockquote><p class=\"htf-quote-by\">\u2014 Joona &amp; Alla, Hungrytravelfamily, Rovaniemi<\/p><p style=\"font-size:14px;color:#5b6b62;margin:0;\">Please credit \u201cJoona &amp; Alla, Hungrytravelfamily (hungrytravelfamily.com)\u201d. Need a fresh quote or an interview? <a href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/press\/\">Contact us<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<!-- HTF-BOOK-CALENDAR -->\n<div class=\"htf-bk-cal\">\n<h3>Live dates and prices for Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire<\/h3>\n<p>Pick a date below to see real-time availability. Enter <strong>HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5<\/strong> at checkout for 5% off.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bokunWidget\" data-src=\"https:\/\/widgets.bokun.io\/online-sales\/0b19e4e0-915f-4bf5-89a2-8a18269ae599\/experience-calendar\/791195\"><\/div>\n<noscript>Please enable JavaScript in your browser to book.<\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<!-- HTF-PRESS-BOX -->\n<div class=\"htf-press\">\n<p class=\"htf-press-eyebrow\">For journalists, TV &amp; podcast producers<\/p>\n<p class=\"htf-press-title\">Working on a story about northern lights and the solar cycle?<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re Joona &amp; Alla \u2014 we live in Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle and both work in tourism marketing in Lapland. We can help with:<\/p>\n<ul><li>On-camera interviews and expert comments in English (Joona also speaks Finnish)<\/li><li>Story research, real prices and location ideas in Rovaniemi and Finnish Lapland<\/li><li>Filming days and contacts with local husky, reindeer, snowmobile and northern lights operators<\/li><\/ul>\n<p>Send your outlet, topic, dates and deadline \u2014 we try to reply within 24 hours.<\/p>\n<a class=\"htf-press-btn\" href=\"mailto:hungrytravelfamily@gmail.com?subject=Media%20request%20%E2%80%93%20Hungrytravelfamily\">Email a media request<\/a><a class=\"htf-press-btn alt\" href=\"https:\/\/hungrytravelfamily.com\/blog\/press\/\">Press &amp; media page<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<!-- HTF-SOURCES -->\n<div class=\"htf-sources\"><h3>Sources &amp; further reading<\/h3><ol><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swpc.noaa.gov\/products\/solar-cycle-progression\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Solar Cycle Progression and prediction data (NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/services.swpc.noaa.gov\/json\/solar-cycle\/observed-solar-cycle-indices.json\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Observed solar cycle indices, JSON data file (NOAA SWPC; SILSO\/SIDC sunspot numbers)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/services.swpc.noaa.gov\/json\/solar-cycle\/predicted-solar-cycle.json\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Predicted solar cycle, JSON data file (NOAA SWPC)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swpc.noaa.gov\/phenomena\/aurora\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aurora (NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sgo.fi\/Data\/Optical\/allskyFAQ.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aurora FAQ (Sodankyl\u00e4 Geophysical Observatory, University of Oulu)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi\/northern-lights\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Northern lights (Finnish Meteorological Institute)<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n<!-- HTF-RELATED-POSTS-V1 -->\n<style>\n.htf-related-wrap{max-width:1100px;margin:-20px auto 30px;padding:0 20px;font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;}\n.htf-related-wrap .htf-related-eyebrow{text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:3px;font-size:12px;color:#C8A45A;font-weight:600;text-align:center;margin:0 0 10px;}\n.htf-related-wrap h2.htf-related-title{font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-weight:600;font-size:32px;color:#2D5A3D;text-align:center;margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.2;}\n.htf-related-wrap .htf-related-sub{font-size:15px;color:#5b6b62;text-align:center;margin:0 0 32px;font-style:italic;}\n.htf-related-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:24px;}\n.htf-related-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid #eee6d8;border-radius:6px;overflow:hidden;transition:transform .25s ease,box-shadow .25s ease;display:flex;flex-direction:column;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;}\n.htf-related-card:hover{transform:translateY(-4px);box-shadow:0 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SGO said in August 2026 that Cycle 25 was turning to the descending phase.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Will there be fewer northern lights in 2026\u201327?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Not necessarily. SGO says geomagnetic activity tends to be highest in the descending phase, and that in Lapland weather and light pollution matter more than the cycle.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"When is the next solar maximum?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"SWPC says Solar Cycle 26 is expected to begin between January 2029 and December 2032, and does not yet publish a prediction for its maximum.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can I see the northern lights at solar minimum?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. SGO says the probability in Lapland is still rather good, but the auroras tend to stay mostly in the northern sky.\"}}]}<\/script><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Northern lights in 2026\u201327 and the solar cycle: NOAA data, Sodankyl\u00e4 researchers and FMI on what Lapland travellers should really 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