EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. —Everyone around the world is invited to take a closer look at moths and other nighttime biodiversity during National Moth Week, July 18-26, 2026. National Moth Week is an annual, volunteer-driven celebration encouraging people of all ages to observe, photograph and document moths while contributing to a global citizen science project. Moths are important pollinators as well as a major food source for birds, bats and other animals, among other ecological roles. The data collected during National Moth Week contributes to our understanding of these insects’ diversity, distribution and ecology worldwide.

Held each year during the last full week of July, National Moth Week brings together individuals, families, schools, nature centers and environmental organizations to celebrate the beauty, diversity and ecological importance of moths. Participants can join an existing event or host their own, from backyard porch-light observations to guided public moth nights and are encouraged to register their events online so they appear on the official global event map on the website at https://nationalmothweek.org/event-map/

Mothing, the practice at the heart of National Moth Week, can be as simple as leaving an outdoor light on and checking nearby surfaces after dark. Participants are encouraged to photograph the moths they find and share their observations through partner citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist and Project Noah, to assist scientists in better understand moths. Partner organizations and their sites can be found at https://nationalmothweek.org/partners/.

Founded in 2012, National Moth Week has grown from a grassroots effort in New Jersey into an international citizen science initiative, with registered events now taking place annually in all 50 U.S. states and dozens of countries worldwide. The project is operated entirely by volunteers and is a program of the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, a New Jersey-based nonprofit organization.

Event participation is free and open to everyone. Organizers interested in hosting public events are encouraged to register early so their events appear on the interactive map in time for the celebration. Both public and private events, including small gatherings with family and friends, are welcome. Fill out the appropriate form found on the website at https://nationalmothweek.org/elementor-23117/ to register an event.

Along with scientific observation, this year’s National Moth Week spotlights the “Moths in Art” theme. Organizers invite the public to share moth-themed artwork on social media using the hashtag #MothWeek26Art.

More information about National Moth Week, including how to participate and how to register an event, is available at https://nationalmothweek.org.

Media Contact:

Joyce Pearl

joyce.pearl.friendsebec@gmail.com