STARMUS VIII — THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH
From Nobel Prize Laureates and NASA Astronauts to Music Legends: STARMUS VIII Unites the World’s Greatest Minds in a Historic Celebration of Science, Music and Humanity
Tenerife & La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | 17–22 October 2026
From the iconic sound of Sir Brian May’s legendary Red Special guitar and the extraordinary voices of Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman to the groundbreaking discoveries of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, from NASA’s Artemis II astronauts preparing for humanity’s return to the Moon to historic tributes to Stephen Hawking and Jane Goodall, STARMUS VIII — The Search for Truth brought together an extraordinary constellation of scientific minds, legendary musicians, explorers and visionary thinkers for six unforgettable days in the Canary Islands.
Held across Tenerife and La Palma from 17 to 22 October 2026, the eighth edition of STARMUS transformed the islands into a global stage for scientific discovery, artistic excellence and some of the most important conversations shaping humanity’s future.
Founded by astrophysicist Dr. Garik Israelian and legendary Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May, STARMUS once again demonstrated its unique ability to bridge science, music and society, bringing complex scientific ideas to audiences through extraordinary encounters, performances and shared experiences.
This year’s festival marked two defining milestones: the 10th anniversary of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication and the inauguration of the Jane Goodall Earth Medal, establishing a powerful connection between humanity’s ambition to explore the universe and its responsibility to protect the planet we call home.
Two Historic Medals, One Shared Vision
A decade after the establishment of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, STARMUS celebrated its remarkable legacy by recognizing individuals whose achievements have transformed public understanding of science.
The 2026 honorees included the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission, internationally acclaimed filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott, renowned physicist and science communicator Professor Brian Cox, and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Geoffrey Hinton, widely recognized as the “Godfather of AI.”
In another landmark moment, STARMUS introduced the inaugural Jane Goodall Earth Medal, honoring exceptional contributions to environmental conservation, biodiversity and the protection of life on Earth.
The first recipients included internationally influential climate leader Christiana Figueres and Sir Brian May, together with the Save Me Trust, in recognition of their commitment to environmental protection and wildlife conservation.
The festival also placed the next generation of changemakers in the spotlight. Spanish STEM communicator and innovator Valeria Corrales received the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior, while 11-year-old British wildlife presenter and environmental advocate Aneeshwar Kunchala was honored with the Jane Goodall Earth Medal Junior.
Together, the two medals represented a defining philosophy of STARMUS: our quest to understand the universe and our responsibility to preserve life on Earth are inseparable.
The Symphony of Stars: When Music Meets the Universe
Science and music came together in spectacular fashion during The Symphony of Stars, the festival’s extraordinary opening celebration at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The concert brought together some of the world’s most celebrated musical talents, headlined by legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, internationally acclaimed soprano Sarah Brightman and Queen guitarist Sir Brian May.
The remarkable lineup also included Rick Wakeman, Rusanda Panfili, Dino Jelusick, Belén López, Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Ric Fierabracci, Marco Minnemann, Carmen Acosta and Stuart Morley, accompanied by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Las Palmas and the Reyes Bartlet Vocal Group.
Combining extraordinary voices, powerful instrumental performances and orchestral music, the celebration captured the essence of STARMUS: the ability of art to communicate the wonder of science and bring people together through a shared sense of curiosity and discovery.
Another major highlight was the world premiere of Rick Wakeman’s Echoes from Black Holes, a new musical work dedicated to Professor Stephen Hawking. The performance honored the legacy of one of history’s greatest scientific minds, translating the mysteries of the cosmos into an unforgettable musical experience.
Nobel Laureates, Astronauts and the World’s Leading Thinkers
Beyond the spectacular concerts and medal ceremonies, STARMUS VIII brought together an exceptional assembly of scientists, explorers, environmental leaders and innovators for a series of conferences addressing some of the greatest questions and challenges of our time.
Among the distinguished participants were Nobel Prize laureates Donna Strickland, Michel Mayor, May-Britt Moser, John C. Mather and Ferenc Krausz, alongside pioneering artificial intelligence researcher Geoffrey Hinton.
The program also featured internationally renowned psychologist and bestselling author Steven Pinker, leading marine ecologist and environmental scientist Jane Lubchenco, climate leader Christiana Figueres, space entrepreneur Kam Ghaffarian, and celebrated astronauts Chris Hadfield, Julie Payette and Sian Proctor, among many others.
From the revolutionary potential and ethical challenges of artificial intelligence to quantum physics, space exploration, climate change and biodiversity, the discussions explored the scientific discoveries and decisions that will shape the future of civilization.
Under the theme The Search for Truth, the festival placed scientific evidence, critical thinking and intellectual curiosity at the center of conversations about humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Artemis II: Inspiring a New Generation of Explorers
One of the most anticipated highlights of STARMUS VIII was the participation of three astronauts from NASA’s historic Artemis II mission: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.
As humanity prepares for a new era of lunar exploration, their presence offered audiences a rare opportunity to engage with the people at the forefront of the journey back to the Moon.
During a special public appearance at the STARMUS Science Camp, the astronauts shared their experiences, perspectives and ambitions, inspiring young people to imagine their own futures in science, engineering and space exploration.
The festival also featured To the Moon and Beyond, a special conversation between Artemis II pilot Victor Glover and former International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield, bringing together two remarkable perspectives on human spaceflight and the future of exploration.
The STARMUS Science Camp extended the festival’s impact beyond the main conference halls, opening the world of scientific discovery to families, students and the wider public through interactive experiments, masterclasses, demonstrations and direct encounters with scientists, astronauts and science communicators.
By connecting young audiences with some of the world’s leading scientific minds, STARMUS reinforced its commitment to making science accessible, engaging and inspiring for generations to come.
La Palma: A Spectacular Finale Beneath the Stars
The final chapter of STARMUS VIII unfolded on La Palma, an island internationally recognized for its exceptional astronomical observing conditions and scientific significance.
A special scientific gathering at the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), one of the world’s largest optical telescopes, brought together distinguished participants including Christiana Figueres, Julie Payette, May-Britt Moser, Valentín Martínez, Alicia B. Adams, Aneeshwar Kunchala and STARMUS co-founder Dr. Garik Israelian.
Against the extraordinary backdrop of one of the world’s leading astronomical observatories, the gathering celebrated the spirit of scientific exploration and the human desire to understand our place in the cosmos.
The festival culminated in Los Llanos de Aridane with a special closing concert by internationally acclaimed composer Ilan Eshkeri, whose music provided a fitting finale to six remarkable days of discovery, inspiration and artistic expression.
The Search for Truth: A Mission for Humanity’s Future
At a time when misinformation, rapid technological transformation and environmental challenges are reshaping the world, the message of STARMUS VIII carried particular urgency.
The festival’s theme, The Search for Truth, was more than a celebration of scientific achievement. It was a reminder that evidence, knowledge and critical thinking are essential to understanding our world and making responsible decisions about its future.
Humanity cannot separate its ambitions in space from its responsibilities on Earth. The same scientific curiosity that drives us to explore distant galaxies must also inspire us to understand and protect the extraordinary planet from which that journey begins. Looking outward and caring for our home are not competing ambitions, but two essential parts of the same mission.
Through groundbreaking scientific discussions, historic Honors, extraordinary musical performances and opportunities for public engagement, STARMUS VIII demonstrated that science is not confined to laboratories, universities or observatories. It belongs to everyone.
More than an international festival, STARMUS VIII became a powerful celebration of human imagination, intellectual courage and our collective ability to shape a better future.
As the curtain fell on STARMUS VIII in La Palma, one message remained: the search for truth knows no boundaries. It begins with curiosity, advances through discovery and carries with it a responsibility not only to understand the universe, but to protect the world we call home.
