Southern Canadians have had the chance to witness vibrant neon-colored night skies over the past two years due to increased solar activity. However, the display of northern lights is expected to diminish as the sun enters a calmer phase of its 11-year cycle.
The best opportunities to see the auroras will continue to be in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut, where the auroral oval, a ring of light encircling the magnetic poles, is most prominent. Southern regions of Canada, including parts of Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, may experience fewer aurora displays as solar activity decreases.
The sun undergoes a cycle of high solar maximum and low-activity solar minimum phases. Currently, the sun is transitioning from the maximum phase towards the minimum, expected around 2031. Despite still being relatively active, the sun’s activity is declining as it moves towards the minimum phase.
During the solar maximum, characterized by coronal mass ejections, flares, and geomagnetic storms, vivid northern lights are more frequent. However, auroras can be observed almost nightly around the 60th parallel regardless of solar activity levels.
The prime time to witness the auroras is between September and April, with particularly bright displays around the spring and autumn equinoxes. As solar activity decreases, the intensity of auroras seen in the past two years may diminish, and the optimal viewing window will gradually decrease.
Tourism in the Yukon has capitalized on the solar maximum period between 2023 and 2025, with the northern lights attracting tourists, especially from the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia. The territory generated $484 million from tourism in 2025, with the northern lights being a significant draw for visitors.
While the Northwest Territories and Yukon heavily promote aurora viewing, Nunavut focuses more on showcasing its Inuit culture, landscapes, and wildlife to tourists. However, as the solar maximum phase fades, Nunavut may also consider promoting itself as a prime location for northern lights viewing.
In the Northwest Territories, the northern lights are a common sight, with Yellowknife boasting up to 240 nights of aurora displays annually. The northern lights play a crucial role in driving tourism revenue, filling accommodations, restaurants, and supporting local businesses.
As the solar cycle shifts, tourism operators in these regions continue to attract visitors interested in experiencing the mesmerizing spectacle of the northern lights, regardless of the changing solar activity levels.