“La nuit est belle!” 2026
Starting on the evening of Friday, 9 October, CERN will participate in the sixth edition of “La nuit est belle !”. Thanks to this initiative, turning off or dimming street lighting in the middle of the night has become common practice across the Geneva canton. For this edition, “La nuit est belle !” invites the public […]
From 9 to 11 October, CERN will be taking part in the sixth edition of "La nuit est belle !" in Geneva. The initiative encourages the switching off or dimming of street lighting in the middle of the night, a practice that has become widespread in the Geneva canton. This year's theme for "La nuit est belle !" is water, focusing on rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and landscapes shaped by water.
CERN will join the initiative by turning off the lights of the Globe, Science Gateway Portal, Gate E, and the roads and parking lots on the Meyrin and Prévessin sites, starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, 9 October. These lights will also be switched off on Saturday, 10 October, with the exception of safety lighting. The SPS, LHC surface sites 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7, and BE1 area will similarly be dimmed until Monday morning, again except where lighting is necessary for safety.
CERN employees are encouraged to contribute to the event by switching off their computers, monitors, and lights when they leave the facility. This is not only a good energy-saving practice but also promotes biodiversity at night. Cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to ensure they are visible in the dark, while drivers are advised to stay vigilant.
Additional activities are planned across the local area from 9 to 11 October. To follow the event live, use the hashtag #lanuitestbelle on social media or visit the event website for more information and to register for activities.
Written by urgent.news from CERN's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
