From astro-travel to after dark art installations, the night sky is being embraced by cities eager to bolster their economy and ignite an awesperience for visitors to remember.

Noctourism is a travel trend that Booking.com predicts will take off in 2025. Per their fall 2024 survey, two-thirds of travelers report seeking “dark sky destinations,” where 72% want to starbathe and 59% are after once in a lifetime cosmic events.

DarkSky International, a global committee dedicated to tackling light pollution, has recently awarded certain destinations with the Dark Sky accreditation recognizing their night sky quality. In February 2025, Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park received the International Dark Sky Reserve—Réserve Internationale de Ciel Etoilé (RICE) label, and in October 2024, AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserves was named Saudi Arabia’s first International Dark Sky Park. These destinations aim to draw the attention of stargazers, astronomers, and astro-tourists.

Cities are also looking to attract night owls with impressive light experiences. In Milan, artist Es Devlin created the ‘Library of Light’ kinetic installation set in the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery. The circular sculpture is made of luminous bookshelves containing over 2,000 books and featuring a curved panel displaying the text of words recited by the installation, all readings from the books on display. In an interview with Wallpaper magazine, Devlin describes the night experience as a truly “magical moment,” because of how playful the shadow of the illuminated structure is against the courtyard walls. Visitors can catch the mesmerizing library sculpture from April 7 to May 4.

NOCTURNAL A canopy of light CREDIT Gary P Hayes Photography DIGITAL
NOCTURNAL Railway with lit up Three Sisters and stary night CREDIT Gary P Hayes
NOCTURNAL Illuminated Skyway with stary night Gary P Hayes

Nocturnal, Katoomba, Australia. 1. Canopy of light, 2. Railway with the Three Sisters and starry night, 3. Illuminated Skyway with starry night. Photography by Gary P Hayes.

Nighttime art experiences like this are on the rise: in Birmingham, United Kingdom, a night walk lit up by five art installations called Light Cycles was on display during January and February. Similarly, in Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Australia, an after-dark experience called Nocturnal returns for its second year after a sold-out debut season. Running from April 3 to May 11, Nocturnal is described as a “sensory experience” inspired by its World Heritage location. Visitors can expect to see various luminous art installations including a holographic lyrebird basking in the moonlight and a uniquely lit forest walk said to highlight the “secret of the trees.”

Whilst some destinations such as Saudia Arabia rely on a night-time economy due to extreme temperatures in the day, others are striving to give people new reasons to stay out. A new survey by YouGov and hospitality group Little Door & Co reported 45% of Londoners are retiring homebound before midnight, with 55% of 18-45-year-olds saying they are ending the night early because there is nowhere to go. Similarly, a recent New York Times piece shared concern for the US capital’s iconic status as a 24-hour city, as fewer venues stay open into the small hours. Now some cities are eager to attract a new generation with after dark events that don’t only light up the evening sky, but also promote a nocturnal economy.

Main image: Nocturnal, Katoomba, Australia. Rainforest boardwalk with starry night. Photography by Gary P Hayes.

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