Solstice Bells Project

We live in a time of extraordinary fragmentation and isolation. Never before have we been so technologically connected, yet so many people feel alone. Each day we are reminded of what divides us—socially, environmentally, politically—and far less often of what unites us.

Solstice Bells is a global invitation to join a shared moment of hope.

On the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2026, people everywhere are invited to ring a bell—any bell—at the exact moment when darkness reaches its greatest extent and the Earth begins its return toward the light.

Together, we will become a global chorus, marking humanity's collective turn toward the light.  

The Solstice Bells Documentary follows individuals and communities as they prepare for this shared global moment—the stories they carry, the traditions they inherit, the losses they have endured, the hopes they hold, and the reasons they choose to participate.

Whether you are sounding a meditation bell in Kyoto, ringing church bells in Oulu, Finland, performing with a handbell choir in Chicago, bringing students together in Seoul, marking the solstice around a fire in the Scottish Highlands, or ringing a single bell from an apartment balcony in Mexico City, we would love to hear your story.

At the heart of Solstice Bells is a new musical composition by Darren Zhu, created specifically for this global performance. Inspired by the changing relationship between the Earth and the sun, the composition transforms the rhythms of light into music that anyone, anywhere can play.

The timing of each bell strike follows the changing length of daylight throughout the year, creating a living composition shaped by the movement of our planet through space. Across continents and cultures, participants become part of a shared global performance.

Handbells and bicycle bells. Temple bells, hospital bells, school bells, and dinner bells. Bell towers and carillons.  No musical training is required. You can ring a single bell or join the composition. Everyone is welcome.