FORUM: ''Light for a sustainable future.'' International Day of Light 2026. Today, we will commemorate the anniversary of physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman's first successful operation of the laser in 1960. The celebration provides also an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy. The broad theme of light will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality, and peace. The major goals are to Improve the public understanding of how light and light-based technologies touch the daily lives of everybody, and are central to the future development of the global society; To Build worldwide educational capacity through activities targeted on science for young people, addressing issues of gender balance, and focusing especially on developing countries and emerging economies; To Highlight and explain the intimate link between light and art and culture, enhancing the role of optical technology to preserve cultural heritage; To Enhance international cooperation by acting as a central information resource for activities coordinated by learned societies, NGOs, government agencies, educational establishments, industry, and other partners; To Emphasize the importance of basic research in the fundamental science of light, the need for investment in light-based technology to develop new applications, and the global necessity to promote careers in science and engineering in these fields. To Promote the importance of lighting technology and the need for access to light and energy infrastructure in sustainable development, and for improving quality of life in the developing world; and To Raise awareness that technologies and design can play an important role in the achievement of greater energy efficiency, in particular by limiting energy waste, and in the reduction of light pollution, which is key to the preservation of dark skies. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #lightday2026, #Photonics, #LightbasedTechnologies, #Light, #16May, #InternationalDayofLight.
EVENTS: On May 16th, we will celebrate the ninth celebration of the UNESCO International Day of Light 2026, one of the most anticipated science events on the global calendar of United Nations observances. Since its inception in 2018, over 3200 activities and events have taken place in more than 100 countries, reaching and inspiring millions worldwide. We would like to thank you all for the hard work that has made the International Day of Light such a success. As you will see from our global calendar, activities are being organised worldwide for 2026, and we look forward to some fantastic celebrations. Indeed, some have already taken place! One of the unique features of the International Day of Light is its ability to bring together diverse communities, and this is reflected in the tremendous range of topics that will be celebrated, including science and technology, lighting and lighting quality, astronomy, education, and more! In addition, 16 May is also the United Nations International Day of Living Together in Peace, and we encourage organisers of events on 16 May to consider including broader discussions of this theme as well, perhaps linking with the cultural association of light as a symbol of inclusion and hope. If you haven’t planned any activities yet, remember that the International Day of Light celebrations do not all need to take place on 16 May itself. While many will naturally be organised around that date and during the week that follows, events at any time of the year can receive an association with the International Day of Light. Please register your events as soon as you can, and remember that we have simplified our registration form in case you are organising multiple events. As usual, the website contains useful information about all aspects of event organisation. Also, feel free to review past events for inspiration as well. Many people find this extremely useful as a way to get started. We appreciate just how much work and commitment go into organising such events, so don't hesitate to let us know if you wish us to highlight your plans via our newsletter. This can be a great way to give you some well-deserved recognition! And if you may be involved in organising a technical or science-themed conference this year, why not think about including a special session related to outreach, education, or training? Our experience is that such sessions are very enthusiastically attended and provide a great forum for meeting new collaborators. And once again, we acknowledge the continued commitment and support from the Steering Committee and other partners. Information about our partnership and how to get involved and how to Register to participate!
CIE Webinar for the International Day of Light.
The CIE invites you to join its upcoming special webinar entitled Lighting the Way: Finding Balance Between Safety, Beauty, and the Night Sky on the topic of light pollution, in celebration of the International Day of Light 2026 (16 May). The webinar will take place on Friday, May 15, 2026 from 15:00 - 16:30 CEST. This webinar will bring together various perspectives on current practice and emerging priorities in light pollution, highlighting developments in policy, regulation, scientific research, and municipal and regional initiatives. The session will provide an opportunity to hear different viewpoints, learn what is happening in practice, and reflect on how these developments relate to existing CIE work and relevant CIE publications. It will also facilitate exchange between experts to support CIE’s guidance, recommendations, and potential future publications, while identifying topics and gaps that may benefit from further attention in current and future CIE activities. By linking real-world practice with CIE outputs, the session aims to inform and guide ongoing and future CIE work in this area. CIE President Dr. Jennifer Veitch will open the webinar with an introduction to CIE's work on this topic. This will be followed by contributions from invited experts, and the webinar will conclude with a 30-minute discussion and Q&A session joined by outdoor lighting expert(s) from CIE Division 4: Transportation and Exterior Applications. The webinar will feature CIE experts Prof. Matej Kobav (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; CIE NC Slovenia), presenting Slovenia’s light pollution regulation and its effects in practice; Prof. Carolin Liedtke (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences – HAW Hamburg, Germany; CIE NC Germany), presenting the DARKER SKY project within the EU Interreg North Sea Region Programme; as well as updates from the Horizon Europe project PLAN-B, which investigates light pollution and its effects on terrestrial biodiversity, jointly presented by project experts Prof. Karolina Zielińska-Dąbkowska (Gdansk University of Technology, Poland) and Prof. Mike Wood (University of Salford, UK). The perspectives presented will also be reflected on by Prof. Steve Fotios (Associate Director of CIE Division 4), opening the discussion for audience interaction.
This webinar is part of the CIE project “Understanding Science – Understanding Light”, which aims to make scientific knowledge on light accessible and relevant to the public. Learn more about the speakers and the topics they will present here. REGISTER HERE or Contact Seda Gasparyan; Communications Officer, International Commission on Illumination; Email: seda.gasparyan@cie.co.at
International Day of Light at the Multimedia University of Kenya
The Multimedia University of Kenya Optical Society will be holding a celebration of the International Day of Light (IDL) on 29th May 2026. Building on the tremendous success of their event for IDL 2025 - which drew 320 attendees, 4 companies, 7 universities, and 4 high schools - this year’s planned event will be even larger. Activities will include hands-on optics demonstrations, Internet of Things (IoT) competitions, lab tours at the National Institute of Optics and Lasers (NIOL), and industry exhibitions.
Officially founded and registered in October 2023, the Multimedia University of Kenya Optical Society is anchored in Kenya’s first BSc in Applied Optics and Lasers, which was launched in 2016. In just three years, the society has grown into a recognised student chapter under Optica (since February 2024) and SPIE (since March 2025). A major highlight of IDL 2026 will be the official launch of the Women’s Chapter, a dedicated initiative to bridge gender gaps in STEM through mentorship and targeted outreach to girls’ schools. This launch reaffirms the Chapter's commitment to inclusivity and scientific leadership in East Africa.
Contact: Kipkemoi Elvis Samuel; President, Multimedia University of Kenya Optical Society
Laboratory Technologist, National Institute for Optics and Lasers; Email: ekipkemoi@mmu.ac.ke
Illuminating Impact Symposium with Unite to Light
Unite to Light is a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit organisation that provides solar-powered lighting and charging solutions to people around the world living without access to electricity. Indeed, over 700 million people still live without reliable access to electricity, yet it is widely known that access to clean, affordable light and energy is critical to improving health, education, and prosperity. Since its founding in 2010, Unite to Light and its partners have distributed over 275,000 solar lights and chargers to more than 80 countries, aiming to address key needs in education, maternal and child health, disaster response, and homelessness support.
For the International Day of Light 2026, Unite to Light will host the Illuminating Impact: Thought Leadership Summit on May 15 at the Direct Relief Headquarters in Santa Barbara, focusing on discussing aspects of innovation, collaboration, and leadership at the intersection of light, sustainability, and global impact. The summit will convene climate and clean energy leaders, global health and education experts, philanthropists and impact investors, and local government and business leaders, creating a unique platform for cross-sector dialogue and partnership. Registration for in-person and online attendance is at this link.
Contact Kate Stevens; Unite to Light; Email: kate@unitetolight.org
Who will be The Daylight Award 2026 laureates?
As The Daylight Award approaches its 2026 announcement, anticipation is building around the new laureates who will join a distinguished group of previous recipients in the categories of Daylight Research and Daylight in Architecture. Awarded biennially, The Daylight Award honours individuals whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of daylight and its impact on life on Earth. Previous laureates, from pioneering researchers to visionary architects, have contributed to shaping a growing, interdisciplinary dialogue that connects science, design, and the built environment. The laureates will be revealed on Saturday, 16 May 2026, marking the UNESCO International Day of Light. The official award ceremony will take place in Copenhagen on 27 May 2026 and will be livestreamed globally, offering audiences the opportunity to experience the laureates’ lectures and join the ongoing conversation on the role of daylight in our lives. Who will shape the next chapter of The Daylight Award story?; Mark the date and follow the announcement at thedaylightaward.com
Contact Jadrana Curkovic; The Daylight Award Communication; Email: jadrana@thedaylightaward.com
A Libyan National Node for the International Day of Light.
We are very pleased to highlight the newly established Libya National Node, led by the Research Center of Optical Fibers and Lasers at the College of Electrical and Electronics Technology (CEET) in Benghazi. In recent years, researchers within CEET have organised a range of workshops and hands-on sessions for both students and professionals, including collaborations with the Man-Made River Project that was built to transport groundwater from underground aquifers in the Sahara Desert to coastal cities where the majority of the population is concentrated. Building on this momentum, a 20-hour postgraduate training course on optical fibre networks will run throughout April 2026, with field training and visits to optical fibre deployments in Benghazi planned for May. More general outreach activities aimed at young students and the general public have focused on simpler experiments illustrating the basic properties of light, and also describing the rich heritage of Arabic contributions to optical science through pioneers such as Ibn Al-Haytham. These initiatives reflect the national commitment to strengthen optics and photonics capacity in Libya, and align with the global mission of the International Day of Light to promote education, and the longer-term goals of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development.
Contact Dr. Mohamed Elgaud; Director of the Center of Research and Technical Studies; Coordinator of the Research Center of Optical Fibers and Lasers, CEET; Email: elgaud@ceet.edu.ly
Lighting the Sound in Albany, Australia.
Running for nine nights over three weekends in March 2026, the coastline and sky of the portside city of Albany/Kinjarling in Western Australia were transformed by Lighting the Sound, a dramatic and immersive large-scale light-art installation. Designed and implemented by Finnish light artist Kari Kola together with arts and cultural organisation FORM, the work was co-designed with Menang Elders and the Albany community. Lighting the Sound embodies the Menang-first approach and principles of reconciliation central to the Albany 2026 vision. Rooted in the wisdom of the Menang (or Bloodroot) plant, from which the region’s First Nations people take their name, this initiative celebrates tens of thousands of years of unbroken connection and creates the opportunity for Menang people to tell their story. The visual language of the work drew from the bloodroot plant - its vivid pigments, earthy hues, and elemental strength. These natural colours formed the basis of the installation that drew an audience of 10's of thousands into stillness, reflection, and awe.
Contact Kari Kola; Email: kari@karikola.com
Celebrating 200 years of Photography.
It was around 1826-1827 that the French inventor Nicéphore Niépce captured what is generally considered to be the first surviving photograph, le Point de vue du Gras, a view from a window of a country estate in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes. The image was created by a process that Niépce had invented around 1822, using a camera obscura to project an image onto a pewter plate thinly coated with bitumen. The bitumen hardened in areas strongly exposed to light, but remained soluble in areas more weakly illuminated, such that it could be washed away to reveal an image. Photography has since revolutionised virtually every area of society - in science and technology, art, culture, education, family life, politics, and more. By giving us the ability to freeze moments in time, photography has fundamentally transformed how we document and share our human experience.
Throughout 2026 and 2027, a number of celebrations of the photography bicentenary will take place, including a major national initiative in France coordinated by the French Ministry of Culture. Of course, this is also an opportunity for the International Day of Light community to engage, since many partners already include photography and photography competitions in their activities. For example, events in 2026 could launch local campaigns encouraging students to explore photography, perhaps leading to exhibitions to take place for the International Day of Light in 2027. And from an educational and scientific perspective, photography reveals the universe on every scale, whether it be everyday natural phenomena or the remarkable techniques of astrophotography and microscopy. There are several possibilities of wonderful events to organise, so if you are planning something, please let us know.
Contact International Day of Light with the Email: contact@lightday.org
Physics Without Frontiers in Pakistan
Physics Without Frontiers (PWF) is a capacity-building program run by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) that supports physics education and research in developing and under-resourced regions by connecting local teachers and students with the international scientific community. Through building local groups trained in particular areas of physics, the programme supports schools and universities and helps communities to organise public outreach events. For the International Day of Light 2026, the Active Learning in Optics (ALO) group at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan, held a PWF activity at the Women University Mardan from March 30 - April 1, bringing together students, researchers, and international experts to promote advanced learning in optics and photonics amongst women in the region. Topics covered quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and quantum optics and in addition, two Salam Centennial Lectures were given as part of the celebrations at ICTP, recognising the centennial of Abdus Salam who would have turned 100 on 29 January 2026.
Contact: Imrana Ashraf at the Active Learning in Optics at Quaid-i-Azam University; Email: iashraf@ictp.it.
We encourage you to visit the social media and the official channels: IDLOfficial on X/Twitter, InternationalDayOfLight on Instagram, InternationalDayOfLight on Facebook, International Day Of Light on LinkedIn, and @idlofficial.bsky.social on Bluesky for further contents.
The IDL2026 Newsletter Archive
The IDL2026 Newsletter Archive
- 20 April 2026: April Newsletter
- 23 March 2026: March Newsletter
- 28 January 2026: January-February Newsletter
- 12 November 2025: November Newsletter
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