National Museum of Natural History (MNHN - Naturmusée) has announced that the eigth edition of the City Nature Challenge (CNC) in Luxembourg, taking place from Friday 24 to Monday 27 April 2026. 

In a statement, the Naturmusée explained that the CNC is an annual four-day event that now extends to more than 500 regions on six continents in which cities around the world collaborate in a friendly competition to document nature.

The CNC was launched in 2016 by citizen science teams from the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. It invites participants worldwide to discover and submit photos of wild plants, animals and fungi using the free iNaturalist app.

The initiative is described as a global challenge aimed at determining which region collects the most data, contributing to a collective record of biodiversity. In 2025, more than 3.3 million observations were recorded worldwide. In Luxembourg, 251 participants collected 10,635 observations across 1,784 species. These data are reviewed by Naturmusée scientists before being integrated into international research databases, providing valuable insights for scientists and decision-makers.

The events taking place across the country as part of the CNC include a range of guided walks, workshops and biodiversity activities organised between 22 and 27 April 2026.

The events taking place across the country as part of the CNC:

On Wednesday 22 April 2026, the Musée national d’histoire naturelle will host “City Nature Challenge with Science Club”, an online preparatory session for participants aged eleven to eighteen, from 18:00 to 19:00. Registration is available via Expobooking.

On Friday 24 April 2026, the following activities are organised:

  • SICONA and ANF will host a biodiversity safari, “From dry to wet: insects and plants”, from 14:00 to 16:00 in Lorentzweiler (Beddelbësch). Registration via administration@sicona.lu or tel: 26 30 36 25;

  • CELL and CTF Mersch, with the support of the Œuvre, will organise an “Introduction to biodiversity inventories” workshop from 14:00 to 16:00 at the community garden in Mersch (Rue de Gosseldange). Registration via eisegaart@cell.lu;

  • IMS will organise a City Nature Challenge walk at Parc Dräi Eechelen from 16:00 to 17:30. Registration is available for IMS Luxembourg members;

  • Biologische Station SIAS and partners will host “Our animal neighbours in the garden” from 16:30 to 18:00 at Naturgaart Kiemert in Itzig. Registration via m.clemens@sias.lu or tel: 34 94 10 34.

On Saturday 25 April 2026, the following events will take place:

  • BIOVOIE ASBL will organise a biodiversity exploration walk in Bonnevoie from 09:30 to 12:00 (departure at 10:00) at the Kaltreis Community Garden. Registration via biovoie@mailbox.org;

  • CELL and Jardin du Breedewee will host “The power of aromatic plants” from 10:00 to 11:30 at the Breedewee Community Garden in Esch-sur-Alzette. Registration via eisegaart@cell.lu;

  • NPO, PNHS and NGPM will organise a botanical walk at Larochette Castle from 14:00 to 17:00. Registration via insekten@naturpark-mellerdall.lu.

On Sunday 26 April 2026:

  • CELL and Transition Minett will organise a biodiversity walk along the riverbanks and Capucines garden in Esch-sur-Alzette from 11:00 to 12:30. Registration via eisegaart@cell.lu;

  • CELL and Kinneksgaart will host “Discovering wild pollinators” in Mamer from 14:30 to 16:00. Registration via eisegaart@cell.lu.

On Monday 27 April 2026:

the Musée national d’histoire naturelle will organise a “Biodiversity lunchbreak” exploring species of the Rham plateau from 12:00 to 13:15, departing from the Naturmusée. Registration via Expobooking.