France's Nuits des étoiles astronomy festivals set for August 2026

Two free public astronomy festivals will take place in France on August 7‑8, 2026. In Argelliers, the Association ALBE, supported by the town hall, will host evening sessions in the Jardin de Tranquille, offering telescope viewing of the Moon, planets and deep‑sky objects, astrophotography workshops, conferences and constellation‑spotting activities. The event is open to all ages, requires no reservation and will feature food stalls.

In Besançon, the Association astronomique de Franche‑Comté will organize a similar night in the park of the observatory, with telescopes, a mini‑conference, video projections and sky‑maps for families. The programme is free, runs from 21:00 to after midnight, and may be cancelled if weather is unsuitable. Both festivals are part of the national Nuits des étoiles series promoted by the French Astronomical Association.