When we think of the Northern Lights, we inevitably think of Iceland or Lapland… But it’s hard to imagine seeing them in France. But hold on to your hats, because in early 2026, a gigantic solar storm known as the ” cannibal ” could well make the aurora borealis visible throughout France…
Aurora borealis visible in France as early as 2026
It’s every astronomy enthusiast’s dream: to be able to see the Northern Lights at least once in your lifetime. It’s a rare phenomenon, which requires a number of conditions to be perfectly observed by the naked eye. According to the Centre national d’études spatiales, a major solar storm is due to occur in early 2026. This powerful geomagnetic storm is expected to create a rainbow of colors ranging from red to pink to green. An exceptional event of rare intensity, not seen for 22 years…
What’s more, according to the experts, the aurora could be most visible in the northern quarter of the country, particularly in Hauts-de-France, Normandy and Brittany (provided the skies are clear, CQFD!).
How to observe them?
The best place to observe them is as far away from light pollution as possible. Your camera or phone will help you catch the rays. To best immortalize this magical natural spectacle, you’ll need to take the photo in long exposure for at least 10 seconds. By the way, unlike eclipses, there’s no danger in admiring the Northern Lights with the naked eye. Only certain “tools”, such as radios and GPS systems, could be seriously disrupted by this energy flow.
Although no precise date has yet been announced, we do know that this kind of phenomenon, however intense, will not occur twice. For the next major solar storm visible in France , we’ ll have to wait… at least 11 years.