On May 30-31, 2026, the Planétarium opens its doors wide to host AstroFest, THE annual gathering for people who are passionate about the Universe! Under the theme “Living in Space”, Espace pour la vie invites you to the 6th edition of this free event, which takes place in a highly festive atmosphere.
Photo: Ville de Montréal – Espace pour la vie (Mathieu Rivard)
A rich and diverse program
Take part in dozens of free activities offered by the Planétarium team and more than twenty professional astronomy partners. Scientific activities and challenges for the whole family during the day as well as lectures, telescope viewings, and a DJ in the evening, there’s something for everyone whether you’re looking to take up astronomy, have fun, or expand your knowledge.
Life in space
For decades, humanity has maintained a continuous presence in space. Today, the hope of a possible return to the Moon—or even to more distant horizons—is rekindling our desire for space exploration. At the same time, our ever-deeper understanding of exoplanets allows us to imagine other habitable worlds.
Photo: Ville de Montréal – Espace pour la vie (Eva Blue)
A LOOK AT THE PROGRAM
Saturday, May 30 – 10 am to 10 pm
Sunday, May 31 – Noon to 5 pm
Free science activities for the whole family
A wide range of activities to choose from: creative workshops, information booths, mindboggling interactive experiences, stargazing, and much more!
Build your own Mars Mobile
Build a robot to transport a sample of Martian rock to the rocket using a few simple materials and your imagination.
Water rockets
Using a soda bottle, build and decorate your rocket, then launch it into the sky and bring it back home to continue your experiments.
The great stamp hunt
Go on a stamp hunt with a little travel journal in hand and make sure you don’t miss a thing at AstroFest.
Saturday, May 30, from 6 pm to 9 pm
Talks
The first comprehensive analysis of an asteroid, the discovery of exoplanets, and Canada’s role in space exploration are just a few of the fascinating topics that will be covered in talks given by several astronomy experts at the Chaos Theatre.
Short lectures and fun interactive quizzes will also be hosted throughout the evening at the AstroBistro, in a cozy and friendly atmosphere.
Photo: Ville de Montréal – Espace pour la vie (Mathieu Rivard)
Saturday, May 30, from 9 pm to midnight
Marshmallows, music, and telescopes
The hugely popular “Marshmallows and Telescopes” event is back! Come roast marshmallows between two stargazing sessions through the telescope. Enjoy an immersive experience combining music and astronomic imagery, hosted by a DJ in the Chaos Theatre.
In case of bad weather, outdoor activities will be cancelled.
The ROUGE 2100 exhibition is free of charge during AstroFest, from 9 am to midnight on Saturday, and from noon to 5 pm on Sunday.
The regular (paid) performance schedule at the Planétarium’s theatres will continue throughout AstroFest.
To see the full list of activities, visit: AstroFest 2026 – Life in Space