Visit Northumberland is thrilled to announce that Dan Monk, Director of Astrophotography at Kielder Observatory, has been shortlisted as England’s next Tourism Superstar. 

VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar competition, now in its 14th year, seeks out champions working in tourism who provide fantastic experiences for visitors, as well as showcasing the variety and quality of England’s tourism offer, businesses and destinations.  Dan Monk, alongside 9 other finalists, individuals or teams, was selected from dozens of submissions from Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs), destinations, employers and colleagues.

Dan Monk said, “I’m extremely proud and grateful to be nominated as a finalist. Northumberland’s dark skies mean a great deal to me, and being able to photograph them and encourage others to experience the magic of the night sky is a true privilege.”

Dan is the living embodiment of Northumberland’s leadership in astrotourism. As Director of Astrophotography at Kielder Observatory, he champions the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, the largest protected night sky area in Europe, and has transformed stargazing into one of England’s most distinctive visitor experiences. As a registered charity, Kielder Observatory exists to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds with astronomy and science, and Dan plays a central role in turning that mission into memorable, hands-on experiences for visitors, alongside a team of astronomers. 

Leigh Venus, Chief Executive of Kielder Observatory, said, “Dan makes Kielder what it is for so many people. He’s brilliant with visitors, has an incredible artistic eye, and a rare talent for turning the night sky into something you can actually feel connected to. Being shortlisted is a proper credit to him and to the whole team as incredible advocates for the cosmos and our region."

Dan’s work truly goes above and beyond and has put Northumberland’s dark skies on the map, and his astrophotography has featured in Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later, in the Daily Mail amongst other media outlets, and he shares his imagery to his large social media following. 

Andrew Fox, chair of Visit Northumberland, commented, “Dan Monk exemplifies the qualities of a Tourism Superstar. His creativity, passion, and engaging personality have positioned him as an ambassador for Northumberland’s visitor economy and its world-class dark skies. Dan’s ability to inspire visitors and connect them with the cosmos - and with Northumberland - makes him an outstanding candidate. 

“This is a fantastic achievement, not only for Dan, but for Northumberland and the North East as a whole, and we wholeheartedly encourage everyone to vote for Dan and hopefully take him all the way to win the title of Tourism Superstar 2026.” 

The finalists will now go on to compete for the title of Tourism Superstar 2026 decided by a public vote.  The public will be able to vote for Dan on VisitEngland’s website from early February when the competition officially opens.

Voting will run until the end of English Tourism Week which in 2026 takes place from the 13-22 March.