Cosmic Phenomenon Captivates Americans: Northern Lights Reign Supreme

According to a recent survey, the northern lights have emerged as the top travel experience Americans are eager to witness in 2026. The survey, commissioned by Icelandair, polled 3,000 U.S. residents aged 16 and older, and found that 43% of them are planning to visit a dream destination next year.

Remarkably, over 34% of respondents named seeing the aurora borealis as their biggest bucket-list item, outpacing other popular experiences like visiting the Grand Canyon and the Roman Colosseum. The cosmic light show holds cross-generational appeal, ranking as the top destination for age groups ranging from 16-24 to 55 and above.

The timing of this surge in northern lights interest is no coincidence. The sun is currently in the solar maximum phase of its 11-year cycle, meaning the aurora borealis is at its most active through 2026. This celestial phenomenon, caused by the interaction between solar particles and the Earth's magnetic field, is best viewed in high-latitude locations close to the poles, such as Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Canada.

With the northern lights topping the list of must-see experiences, it's clear that Americans are increasingly drawn to the wonders of the natural world when planning their travels for the year ahead.