Maryland Celebrates International Dark Sky Week, April 13-20

International Dark Sky Week has been proclaimed in Maryland by Governor Wes Moore and in Annapolis by Mayor Jared Littmann. This celebration of the night sky is running from April 13-20, 2026. Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership (MBCP) was proud to support DarkSky Maryland in their proclamation request.

Light pollution impacts migrating birds by disorienting them and obscuring navigational clues like stars. For us, dark skies provide us a deeper appreciation of the night sky and the natural world—stars aren’t washed out, and the full grandeur of our galaxy is on display. To experience a dark sky, consider visiting some of Maryland’s incredible natural areas such as Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, one of the top dark sky viewing locations along the Eastern Seaboard. To help conserve our dark skies, consider turning off non-essential lights at night and reviewing your home’s nocturnal light footprint at darksky.org.