German cities participate in Earth Night 2026 initiative

Several German cities are participating in the Earth Night 2026 initiative to raise awareness about light pollution and energy consumption.

In Mannheim, various municipal facilities, institutions, and companies will turn off their lights starting at 10:00 PM on Friday, September 11. Participating sites include the Kunsthalle, the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, the Luisenpark, and the telecommunications tower. While some essential safety lighting will remain active, many decorative and non-essential lights will be extinguished for the night. The city has also encouraged residents to participate by turning off unnecessary lights at home.

In Amberg, the city will participate by turning off the monument lighting on three historic buildings—the town hall, the Basilica of St. Martin, and the pilgrimage church on Mariahilfberg—between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Mayor Michael Fritz highlighted the event as a way to demonstrate the city's commitment to climate protection and resource conservation. The Earth Night initiative, organized by ‘Paten der Nacht’, aims to sensitize the public to the impact of artificial light on insects and the environment.