Polar night 2026–27 in Northern Norway and Svalbard

When is the polar night in Northern Norway and Svalbard?

The further north, the earlier it starts and the longer it lasts. It starts in Longyearbyen on 27 October, in Honningsvåg on 21 November and in Reine not until 10 December. In Bodø and Ørnes the sun rises every day.

The dates are for a flat, open horizon. They come from the sun calculation our app uses for every spot. Other sources can differ by a day. Mountains often hide the sun for longer, so many towns celebrate its return only when it can be seen from town. Each region name in the table links to its aurora forecast.

Is it dark all day during the polar night?

Not on the mainland. The sun stays below the horizon, but around midday there are a few hours of twilight, often with a deep blue light. In Tromsø the twilight lasts about 4 h 30 min on the shortest day, 21 December. Only on Svalbard is it dark around the clock for weeks.

How many hours a day is it dark in December?

In December it is dark enough for aurora for 15⁠–⁠16 hours a day on the mainland, even where there is no polar night. We count the hours when the sun is at least 12° below the horizon.

Can you see the northern lights during the polar night?

Yes, when the sky is clear. In Tromsø on 21 December it is dark enough for aurora from about 15:45 to 07:45 Norway time, so you can start looking in the afternoon.

In Northern Norway the aurora can be overhead even when the Kp index is only 1 or 2, so you do not need a storm. Clear sky and darkness decide most nights.

Tonight's aurora forecast for Tromsø

When is the polar night on Svalbard?

In Longyearbyen the polar night lasts from 27 October to 15 February, 112 days. From 13 November to 29 January it is dark around the clock. Even at midday the sun is more than 6° below the horizon, and the sky only brightens a little in the south.

In December it is dark enough for aurora for about 21 hours a day, and aurora can shine around midday too. See tonight's aurora forecast for Svalbard.

Is there polar night in Bodø?

No. Bodø lies just too far south, so the sun rises every day. On the shortest day, 21 December, it is up for about 50 min. In Ørnes it is up for about 1 h 45 min. Lofoten, a little further north across the Vestfjord, has a short polar night. In Svolvær it lasts from 7 December to 5 January.

Aurora forecast by region

Each region page has tonight's forecast hour by hour, its viewing spots and its dark hours month by month.

All 128 viewing spots in Northern Norway and Svalbard

Last updated: 1 November 2026