ESA Open Days 2026
Your chance to meet the European Space Agency
Every year, we open our doors to thousands of visitors from across the continent. At our Open Days, you won't just visit our establishments — you'll step inside the world of European space exploration. Get up close to our missions, meet the people behind them, and discover firsthand what it truly takes to reach beyond our planet. Our mission is to bring space closer to people. To spark imagination, deepen curiosity, and build connections across Europe. To show what space means for our shared prosperity, our technological ambitions — and the generation that will carry our continent forward.
Our Open Days are not just about space. They're about people — the ones who make it happen, and the ones who come to be inspired. From the very first Open Day — held at ESTEC in the Netherlands in 1970 - to last year's landmark edition celebrating 50 years of ESA, these events have grown into a moment for European citizens to come together, explore and be inspired by the power of space. And this year’s edition will not be different.
Our main establishments in Europe will each offer something unique, reflecting the full breadth of what the European Space Agency does:
19-20 September – ESA Headquarters, Paris, France
Step inside ESA's beating heart, join an interactive Council simulation and discover the missions and decisions shaping Europe's future in space.
25 September – ESA ESRIN, Frascati, Italy
Explore how ESA's Earth observation missions watch over our planet and bring real, measurable benefits to everyday life.
26-27 September – ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Visit ESA's largest establishment and meet the engineers and scientists turning bold ideas into tomorrow's technology.
2 October – ESA ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
Go behind the scenes at Europe's mission control centre and see how our teams guide spacecraft across the Solar System and beyond.
3 October – ESA ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
Join our astronomers as they unravel the mysteries of black holes, exoplanets and the far reaches of the Universe.
10 October – ESA ECSAT, Harwell Campus, United Kingdom
Find out how satellite telecommunications and integrated applications power the technologies we rely on every day.
- 6 establishments
- 8 opening dates
- 20k+ visitors expected
