AstroFest 2026 - Life in Space

On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, the Planétarium de Montréal invites you to its AstroFest, THE annual event for people who are passionate about the Universe!

Join us for a series of free activities offered by the Planétarium team along with several partners, under the theme Life in Space.

Check the detailed schedule of the program.(opens in a new tab)

A rich and diverse program

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, the program is sure to captivate you.

Food offer ($) on the AstroFest site.

At the AstroFest Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31

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.

Science activities for the whole family

• Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm
• Sunday, noon to 5 pm

In a festive atmosphere, take up scientific challenges, get into arts and crafts, participate in workshops, or do some stargazing alongside more than twenty partners who are coming to celebrate their passion for astronomy.

Don’t miss these activities:

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.

Observing the Sun

• Saturday: 10 am to 8 pm
• Saturday: noon to 5 pm

Weather permitting

The Sun will be in a period of high activity. Take this opportunity to observe striking phenomena on its surface using specialized telescopes.

Saturday, May 30 | Evening program

Lectures at the Chaos Theatre from 6 pm to 9 pm

(Schedule subject to change)

6 pm and 7:20 pm

Auriane Egal, Radio-Canada Scientist of the Year | Planétarium de Montréal

Learn about the work of Auriane Egal, an astrophysicist, scientific advisor at the Planétarium de Montréal, and curator of the museum’s meteorite collection. She will explain how she coordinated the first comprehensive analysis of an asteroid—from its detection in space, to its entry into the atmosphere, to the recovery and study of its fragments on Earth.

6:40 pm

Frédérique Baron | Center for research in astrophysics of Quebec (CRAQ)

Journey to new worlds

Let’s set out to explore exoplanets beyond our solar system. We’ll visit a number of fascinating worlds to see if we could live there.

8 pm

Kumi Jinadasa, Project Engineer and Mission Manager | Canadian Space Agency

Canada in Space: From the International Space Station to Artemis II

The Artemis II mission, during which astronaut Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian to take part in a lunar mission, is part of Canada’s long history in space.

Lectures at the AstroBistro

6 pm to 9 pm (every 20 minutes)

Astronomy on Tap Montreal offers engaging talks and interactive quizzes in a cozy and friendly atmosphere.

Marshmallows, music, and telescopes

9 pm to midnight

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 telescope observation activities will be canceled, but indoor activities will go ahead as scheduled.

Free makeup application (nonstop activity)

• Saturday: 10 am to 8 pm
• Sunday: Noon to 5 pm