El Montsec and Andorra Comapedrosa to Host the International Starlight Meetings in 2026 and 2027

The Starlight Foundation has announced the host destinations for the upcoming International Starlight Astrotourism Meetings, one of the most important events in the global astrotourism sector. The El Montsec Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination, located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the province of Lleida, will host the 2026 edition, while the Andorra Comapedrosa Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination, in the Principality of Andorra, will host the event in 2027.

The decision follows a highly competitive selection process that attracted fourteen applications from territories committed to protecting the night sky and promoting astrotourism. According to the communication sent by the Starlight Foundation to participating destinations, the exceptional quality of the proposals required the application of prioritization criteria in order to determine the final hosts.

The Foundation also wished to acknowledge the efforts of all participating territories. “The quality, commitment, and enthusiasm demonstrated by every application have been truly remarkable,” the organization stated, emphasizing that all candidate destinations proved fully capable of hosting international events of this scale.

The Foundation further announced that the call for applications to host a future Regional Starlight Meeting in the Americas remains open while the final details of the selection process are being completed.

The International Starlight Astrotourism Meeting

The International Starlight Astrotourism Meeting is an annual event that brings together certified Starlight territories, Starlight-trained monitors and guides, and professionals linked to astrotourism. Over several days, institutional representatives, experts, tourism companies, and science communicators share experiences, analyze the challenges facing the sector, and work together on new strategies for developing astrotourism and protecting the night sky.

Since its first edition in 2018, the Starlight Meeting has established itself as one of the leading international gatherings for astronomical tourism professionals. Throughout the years, it has brought together destination managers, public authorities, scientists, and businesses around a common goal: promoting starlight tourism as a driver of sustainable development and a tool for preserving the night sky.

Previous host destinations have included territories strongly committed to night-sky quality and astrotourism development, such as Gredos (Castile and León), Menorca (Balearic Islands), El Olivar Monastery (Aragon), Évora(Portugal), Fuencaliente de La Palma (Canary Islands), Cuenca (Castile-La Mancha), and most recently Cee (Galicia) and Soria (Castile and León).

Starlight Meeting in Soria / Credit: Starlight Foundation

El Montsec: A European Benchmark for Dark Skies

The Montsec region, located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the province of Lleida, is one of Europe’s most established astrotourism destinations. In 2013, the Starlight Foundation awarded the territory the Starlight Tourist Destination certification, which was later complemented by its designation as a Starlight Reserve following confirmation of the exceptional quality of its night sky.

Since then, municipalities throughout the region have developed a long-term strategy to protect dark skies and promote astronomical tourism. Public lighting upgrades, the training of Starlight Astronomical Monitors, and the organization of outreach activities have made Montsec an international benchmark for the relationship between astronomy, tourism, and environmental protection.

One of the main driving forces behind this development is the Parc Astronòmic del Montsec (PAM), which combines facilities dedicated to both public outreach and scientific research. The complex includes the Centre d’Observació de l’Univers (COU), devoted to bringing astronomy and space science closer to the public, as well as the Montsec Astronomical Observatory (OAdM), focused on astrophysical research and university-level training.

Parc Astronòmic del Montsec / Credit: Parc Astronòmic del Montsec (PAM)

Andorra Comapedrosa: One of Europe’s Darkest Skies

The host of the 2027 International Starlight Meeting will be the Andorra Comapedrosa Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination, located in the parish of La Massana. The territory received its dual Starlight certification in 2023 after the extraordinary quality of its night sky was confirmed, particularly within Comapedrosa Natural Park, home to the area designated as a Starlight Reserve.

The certification recognizes not only the quality of the dark sky but also the territory’s capacity to develop sustainable astrotourism experiences. The Andorra Comapedrosa Starlight project combines environmental protection with a strong tourism infrastructure, including the facilities of the Pal Arinsal Mountain Resort and several astronomical observation sites.

The development of astrotourism in the area has also been accompanied by Starlight Astronomical Monitor training programs, aimed at consolidating a tourism offering based on science communication and night-sky observation.

La Massana, Andorra / Credit: Alex Roig (@astrocatinfo)

Two Veteran Astrotourism Territories

Both Montsec and Andorra Comapedrosa have a long-standing presence within the Starlight network. Both territories have hosted Starlight Astronomical Monitor courses and developed projects that integrate science, education, and sustainable tourism around astronomical observation.

The selection of these destinations reinforces the role of certified territories as drivers of astrotourism development, a growing activity that combines the protection of the night sky with new opportunities for sustainable tourism and science outreach.

The Starlight Foundation congratulates El Montsec and Andorra Comapedrosa on their selection as hosts of the upcoming International Starlight Meetings. Foundation Director Antonia Varela expressed her appreciation by stating:

"We would like to sincerely thank all the territories that submitted their candidacies for the enthusiasm, effort, and dedication they invested in their proposals. We encourage all of them to continue participating, with the goal of ensuring that the Starlight Meetings and other forums promoted by the Foundation progressively reach the entire Starlight territory."