Free to join. No obligations.No musical skills needed.
Ring for what matters.
Ring for someone you love. Something you hope for. Ring to remember, to celebrate, to heal—or simply to play together. You choose what your bell means.
Share the moment.
At the global moment of the Solstice, bring whatever bell you have. Meet neighbors, welcome someone new, and join people around the world in ringing and listening together.
Take hope home.
A shared memory, a new connection, or a little more hope. What you take home is yours—a reminder of this moment together, carried into the days ahead.
Greg Niemeyer is a data artist and Professor of Media Innovation in the Department of Art Practice at UC Berkeley. He's the former director and co-founder of the Berkeley Center for New Media. He started out with studies in Classics and Photography in Switzerland and switched to new media when he moved to the Bay Area in 1992.
Niemeyer's work is data-driven: Large datasets and data streams are raw materials for visual and sonic experiences. They act as mirrors, reflecting to us what we don't see about our essential resources (air, water, care) from novel points of view. These patterns hold the hope that we can learn something new about what is to come and that we can evolve from the impossible present to more possible futures.
Mark co-founded Blue Lobsters Creative, two technology companies, and serves as a faith leader in Marin County, California, alongside his wife, Lynn. He is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and the author of the recently published Life Equations: Formulas for a Life That Adds Up.
Mark has always been drawn to ideas that bring people together through creativity, curiosity, and wonder. Bells do something extraordinary: a simple sound can invite us to pause, remember, grieve, heal, celebrate, and recognize what connects us.
And in the spirit of Solstice Bells, he is currently learning to make a bell by hand in a workshop in Oakland, California.
Darren Zhu is a synthetic biologist, Carillonist and creative technologist in San Francisco with a B.A. in Biology from Yale University. He is a Thiel Fellow who has worked on several synthetic biology startups, including Hexagon Bio, Enevolv, and Synbiosys. Darren has directed research and creative projects supported by the Gates Foundation, Ethereum Foundation, Protocol Labs, Berggruen Institute, UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art, NEW INC at the New Museum, and the Digital Architectures Lab in Tokyo.
Ronald Rael is a designer, activist, trained architect, author, and Eva Li Memorial Chair in Architecture at the University of California Berkeley. He served as the Chair of the Department of Art Practice, where he holds a joint appointment and previously served as Chair of the Department of Architecture, Director of the Masters of Architecture program, and the Director of the Masters of Advanced Architectural Design program in the College of Environmental Design.
The London Design Museum awarded his creative practice, Rael San Fratello, (with architect Virginia San Fratello), the Beazley Award in 2021 for the design of the year, one of the most prestigious awards in design internationally. In 2014 his practice was named an Emerging Voice by The Architectural League of New York—one of the most coveted awards in North American architecture. In 2016 Rael San Fratello was also awarded the Digital Practice Award of Excellence by The Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA).
Sudhu Tewari is an electro-acoustic composer, improvisor, and bricoleur in sound, kinetic, and interactive art. He holds a B.A. in Music from Sonoma State University, an M.F.A. in Electronic Music and Recording Technology from Mills College, and a Ph.D. in Cultural Musicology from UC Santa Cruz.
His passion for design, re-design, and recuperation has led to the creation of experimental musical instruments, kinetic sculptures, interactive installations, audio electronics, and wearable sound art. Sudhu can be heard playing improvised music with Fred Frith as Normal, and with Jordan Glenn and Matt Robidoux as flatways.
Dr. Tewari is Workshop Technician in the instrument building program at Mills College, and teaches art and design at California College of the Arts and UC Berkeley, and bell casting at the Crucible.
On December 21, 2026, you can join an event anywhere in the world to celebrate the power of light and sound to bring us together.
Find your local solstice time, join a gathering near you, or create one of your own.
ONE MOMENT · EVERYWHERE
Where is Your Winter Solstice?
The December solstice happens at the same instant around the world. Enter your city to find your local date and time.
DECEMBER SOLSTICE 2026
December 21 · 20:50 UTC
Winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. One moment to ring together.
How a Solstice Bells Gathering Works
At the heart of every Solstice Bells gathering are three simple questions and a nine-minute participatory musical meditation on light, sound, and hope.
The three questions invite us to reflect on why we gather, whom or what we ring for, and what we hope to carry forward.
01
I Gather To…
Connect, celebrate, heal, give thanks, or stand with others.
02
I Ring For…
Someone or something I want to remember, honor, celebrate, or hold in hope.
03
I Bring Home…
A hope, an intention, a renewed connection, or something I want to carry into the coming year.
Where Can a Solstice Bells Gathering Take Place?
Almost anywhere!
A home or garden
A school or university
A sanctuary or other sacred space
A hospital or care community
A concert hall or community center
A public square or park
Near a Bell Tower
Beneath the stars
There is no minimum number of participants. One person and one bell can make a meaningful Solstice Bells gathering.
A Few Practical Suggestions
Choose a Bell Steward. This is the person who helps coordinate your gathering and welcome participants.
Choose your location. Find a place where people can gather comfortably.
Prepare the music. Make sure the nine-minute composition can be heard clearly.
Gather your bells. Any kind of bell or suitable ringing instrument is welcome.
Make room for reflection. Create an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome to participate, speak, or remain quiet.
Five Steps to Your Solstice Bells Gathering
1. Welcome: Why Do You Gather?
Begin by welcoming everyone and asking:
“Why do you gather today?”
You might invite participants to share their reasons for gathering, or offer a poem, quotation, or reflection.
For example:
Martin Luther King Jr.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
Leonard Cohen — Anthem
Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack, a crack in everything That's how the light get in.
Thich Nhat Hanh — Inviting the Bell
“Body, speech, and mind in perfect oneness, I send my heart along with the sound of this bell. May the hearers awaken from forgetfulness, And transcend all anxiety and sorrow.”
An invitation to pause, breathe, and listen deeply to the sound of a bell as it gradually fades into silence.
Solstice Bells welcomes your own cultural traditions, stories, and creativity. Participants may reflect silently, share responses aloud, or write their thoughts on a card.
Before the music begins, invite participants to consider:
“For whom or what do you ring your bell?”
Perhaps for someone you love. Someone you miss. A community in need. Peace in our world. A new beginning. Or something you wish to celebrate or hold in hope. Participants may share their responses or simply hold their intentions quietly. Every bell has a story. Every person has a reason to ring.
3. Listen and Ring: A Composition Written by Light
At the center of every Solstice Bells gathering is A Composition Written by Light, a nine-minute participatory musical meditation inspired by the changing rhythm of daylight throughout the year.
The experience takes us on a journey through twelve months. Each month features approximately 30–40 seconds of music, with opportunities to ring bells, followed by ten seconds of silence.
As the music unfolds, we invite you to remember moments from the past year. People you have loved. Changes you have experienced. Times of joy. Times of sorrow. Moments that surprised you. Moments that changed you.
After the musical meditation, invite participants to consider one final question:
“What will you bring home?”
Perhaps gratitude. Perhaps courage. A renewed commitment to kindness. A memory you want to honor. A connection you want to strengthen.
Or a new hope for the year ahead.
You might invite people to share a word, write down an intention, or simply carry their reflection with them.
The sound of the bells will fade, but what they awaken within us can continue.
5. Share Your Bell Story with the World
Every bell has a story. We want to hear yours!
Solstice Bells is creating a global exhibit and digital storytelling project to capture and share the people, places, and moments that bring our worldwide celebration to life.
We invite you to share your story through photos, videos, reflections, or creative expressions. Together, we can create a portrait of hope and human connection from around the world.
Would you like to participate? Let us know! We can also provide resources to help you capture and share your Bell Story.
Ready to Participate?
Find your local solstice time, discover a gathering near you, or create your own.
Find Your Solstice Bells Gathering
Approved gatherings will appear here as hosts confirm their plans.
A world of bells. Our gathering map is taking shape.
This type of bell can be cast only since the introduction of 3D printers. It is based on the amount of daylight we gain and lose on any given day of the year. Because of its asymmetric, rotating oval design, it will have two fundamental tones.
A first look at the proposed design for Solstice Bells, shown in motion.
The Solstice Bell Prototype printed at 50% scale in PLA.
THE PROTOTYPE
Taking shape.
The prototype brings Ron Rael’s design into physical form. The bell will be cast by Sudhu Tewari.
LISTEN · RING · TOGETHER
A shared composition.
Your bell is part of the music.
Darren Zhu’s composition turns the changing length of daylight into music. Your latitude and the rhythms of the year shape when your bell rings—so each place becomes a distinct voice in a shared performance.
EARTH’S RHYTHMS, HEARD TOGETHER
A composition written by light.
As daylight changes quickly around the equinoxes, bell strikes become more frequent. Near the solstices, the pace grows spacious and contemplative.
You can ring a single bell or follow the composition. Both belong in the chorus.
BERKELEY · AUDIENCE C · EDITION 5
Explore the audience score.
Try the existing visual score to get a feel for listening and ringing together.
At Solstice Bells, we're on a mission to unite the world through light and sound with a global event on December 21, the Winter Solstice.
From a single bell rung in a small village to thousands of voices joining across continents, we believe that simple acts of connection can create something extraordinary.
Your generosity helps bring this vision to life. Every gift supports the music, gatherings, storytelling, and partnerships that make Solstice Bells possible.
Giving levels
First Chime
$25–$499
Bellwether
$500–$999
Bell Ringer
$1,000–$4,999
Ring Leader
$5,000–$9,999
Bell Founder
$10,000+
Eight Ways Your Gift Makes a Difference
01
Support a Solstice Bells Gathering
Help communities around the world come together to celebrate, remember, reflect, and welcome the light.
02
Put Bells in People's Hands
Provide bells to communities, schools, and gathering places so more people can take part in this shared global moment.
03
Bring Music to the World
Support the creation, recording, and sharing of original music that connects participants across cultures and continents.
04
Connect Artists Across Borders
Bring musicians, artists, and storytellers together to create new collaborations and shared experiences.
05
Help Communities Tell Their Stories
Provide digital storytelling resources so participants can capture and share the people, places, and moments that make their gatherings meaningful.
06
Reach Communities Around the Globe
Help us invite and equip communities in places where opportunities for connection, celebration, and shared artistic experiences may be limited.
07
Make Participation Accessible
Help remove practical barriers so more communities can participate, regardless of their resources.
08
Build a Global Movement of Hope
Support the people, partnerships, and creative resources needed to grow Solstice Bells into an enduring global tradition.
Our shared goal.
Raised so far
Our goal
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Every Sound Matters. Every Gift Makes a Difference.
Whether you give $25 or $25,000, you're helping create a moment when people around the world can come together, remember what connects us, and welcome the light.
Joining is free. Connect with a global community of hopeful people and meet others to mark the solstice—a turning point in our shared journey on Earth.
No musical skills needed, no obligations. Solstice Bells has no organizational affiliation. Come as you are.
