“Next stop: space!” A weekend for exploring the universe

News

Published on : August 28th 2026

On the sidelines of the International Space Summit, the French Space Agency (CNES), European Space Agency (ESA) and Universcience are organizing an exceptional weekend that is entirely free and open to all! Come to the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026 for two days devoted to space exploration, discovery and adventure.

Explore space through exhibitions

At the event, discover the great space adventure thanks to:

Models of CNES and ESA satellites, rovers and space probes, with experts on site to explain the details of these extraordinary missions.
Virtual reality experiences: explore the International Space Station and behind the scenes of Ariane 6 at the Guiana Space Centre.
Demos and interactive experiences to learn about current and future space technologies.
A space dedicated to the EU’s space programmes, Galileo, Copernicus, IRIS² (in French) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA): from navigation and Earth observation to climate, telecommunications and security, discover how space transforms our daily lives.

Space, live from the Forum

All day long, a series of scientists, engineers and experts from the CNES and ESA will share their knowledge and answer questions from the public, on topics such as exploration, planetary defence, Earth observation, innovations and major space challenges. Professional astronauts will also make a special appearance to share their passion for space.

Young people take the stage

On Saturday at 2 pm, young people involved in CNES and ESA educational programmes will speak about their passion for space and learning journeys, during a special two-hour event dedicated to careers, dreams and challenges in the world of space.

Experiment, build, take off!

For young people between the ages of 4 and 15, SpatioLab (in French) space workshops will be offered all day, organized by the CNES and led by scientific educators from the organization Planète Sciences(in French).

Argominots: discover sea turtles and how they are protected through satellite monitoring. (ages 4-6)
Build your own orbital station: embark on an adventure where you’re in command of designing your own orbital space station. (ages 8-15)
Pilot your own Mars rover: design and pilot machines on planet Mars. (ages 8-15)

Plus:

Escape game – ISS mission: step into the shoes of a space team and act fast to locate and repair a mysterious air leak that’s threatening the safety of the International Space Station. (ages 12 and older)
Air rockets: who will launch their rocket the highest? (ages 8 and older)

A great opportunity to learn while having fun...and maybe even inspire future careers in space!

Two don’t-miss events

Mission Bellona

A team of astronauts is about to travel farther than ever before. They need you! Join their training school and face the mission’s challenges. The goal: to set foot on Mars.

At Astrolabo, on level 1 of the exhibition area, next to the Mission Spatiale (Space Mission) exhibit.
11 am and 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday (ages 6 and older)

Astro’folie

Create your sky map, identify meteorites, go to the Moon, explore the planets and meet Copernicus, Galileo, James Webb, Henrietta Leavitt and more... not to mention our Astromytho family!

At Astrolabo, on level 1 of the exhibition area, next to the Mission Spatiale (Space Mission) exhibit.
Continuously from 12 pm to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday (ages 9 and older)

And of course, the highlights of the Cité

While you’re there, take advantage of the Space Mission and Great Story of the Universe exhibits, the planetarium and its Full Dome festival.

You can also put on your cosmic detective cap and try to solve riddles in our Space Investigations booklet (“Enquêtes spatiales, mission au sommet”) throughout the weekend.