Grand Canyon Star Party 2026, June 6 - 13

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the best places in the world to enjoy pristine night skies.

 

 

Not able to attend Grand Canyon Star Party? No worries! We offer astronomy programs year-round! Check out our Upcoming Night Sky Events page.

 

Things to Know about the 2026 Star Party

• Attend this free, open to the general public, event. The park entrance fee, is good on both South and North rims for 7 days. No additional tickets or sign-up is required.

• The event begins at sunset, although the best viewing is after 9 pm and many telescopes come down after 11 pm; however, on nights with clear, calm skies, some astronomers continue sharing their telescopes into the night.

• Campground or lodging reservations are recommended.
• Dress warmly. Temperatures drop quickly after sunset—even during summer months.
• View an assortment of planets, double stars, star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies by night, and perhaps the Sun or Venus by day.
• Skies will be starry and dark until the moon rises the first night. It rises progressively later throughout the week of the Star Party.

Bring a Red Flashlight

Make your way safely: use a red flashlight; white flashlights and cell phone lights are discouraged on the telescope lot. Make a red flashlight by:

• Covering any flashlight with red cellophane; a limited supply of cellophane and rubber bands are available prior to the evening presentations at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
• Painting the flashlight lens with red nail polish or a red magic marker.
• For more on why red flashlights are helpful, and how the human eye works after dark, click here.

 

South Rim Star Party 2026

Events include nightly evening programs from special guest speakers at 8:00 pm outdoors, in the plaza in front of the Visitor Center. The speakers and program topics are listed below, To get a good seat arrive early —seating is limited. Bring a folding chair, or cushions to sit on.

The evening programs are followed by telescope viewing in the large lot behind the Visitor Center. Follow the red rope lights to the telescope lot.

Park rangers offer constellation tours at 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 pm. The evening program, constellation tours, and at least one telescope are wheelchair accessible.

Plan on driving your vehicle and parking in Visitor Center lots 1 through 4, since the last Village (Blue) Route shuttle is at 9:30 pm. Lot 4 provides the nearest accessible parking.

The South Rim Star Party is sponsored by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association.

Amateur astronomers from across the country volunteer their expertise and offer free nightly astronomy programs and telescope viewing during this special annual event.

 

Star Party Evening Programs (South Rim)

Presentations take place outdoors in the plaza in front of the Visitor Center. Presentations start at 8 pm. (Limited-capacity seating - so bring a folding chair or cushions to sit on.)

Saturday, June 6

What's Up in the Night Sky?

Learn about all the amazing phenomena one can see with the naked eye and through telescopes in an International Dark Sky Park!

David Eicher - Former Editor in Chief, Astronomy Magazine

Sunday, June 7

Protecting The Night

Discover the ways Northern Arizona is leading the way in protecting some of the best night skies on planet Earth.

Dr. Danielle Adams - Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition

Monday, June 8

Tour of the Universe: You are Here

Take a tour from planet Earth to the outer edges of the Universe in this dar out talk!

Dean Regas - Author, host of Looking Up podcast

Tuesday, June 9

Star Dance

Experience traditional dances from the Zuni Pueblo, including the Star Dance!

Cellicion Zuni Dancers

Wednesday, June 10

Hopi Cosmos

Learn about the Hopi cosmos through the lens of award-winning Hopi art.

Gerald Dawavendewa - Hopi artist

Thursday, June 11

Astronomy Talk

TBD

Dr. Logan Pearce, Astronomer, University of Michigan

Friday, June 12

Astronomy Talk

TBD

Laura-May Abron, Griffith Observatory

Saturday, June 13

Paiute Astronomy

Learn about the intricate and beautiful astronomy of the Southern Paiute peoples.

Autumn Gillard - Paiute astronomer, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah

 

Constellation Talks (South Rim)

Constellation talks happen every night of the event: 9, 9:30 and 10 pm

 

Telescope viewing on the veranda of Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim

Photo courtesy of Christian Schroll

North Rim Star Party 2026

Due to the Dragon Bravo Fire, there will be no Star Party on the North Rim in 2026.

Telescopes are set up on the porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge every evening. An astronomy related evening program will be presented at 7:30 pm in the auditorium of Grand Canyon Lodge. Check park bulletin boards for the evening program schedule.

Constellation talks are also given throughout the evening.

By day, look for solar telescopes set up at various locations.

The North Rim Star Party is sponsored by the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix, Arizona.

 

Star Party Evening Programs (North Rim)

North Rim Lodge Auditorium
Presentations start at 7:30 pm. (Limited-capacity seating)

Due to the Dragon Bravo Fire, there will be no Star Party on the North Rim in 2026.

 

Become a Volunteer in 2026

All amateur astronomers interested in sharing the skies with visitors are invited to participate. Whether you can volunteer for a few days or the whole event, you can help to enrich the lives of people from all over the world.

Find volunteer opportunities for day and night telescopic outreach, visual and imaging, laser guided constellation tours, demonstration toolkits and auditorium presentations. Registration as a volunteer is required and can be done through the following site:

• Sign up for the South Rim Star Party with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association.

 

Questions? E-mail

Rader Lane - Dark Skies Program Manager
Grand Canyon National Park

 

Future Star Party Dates

2026: June 6 - 13
2027: May 29 - June 5
2028: June 17 - 24
2029: June 2 - 9
2030: June 22 - 29
2031: June 14 -21
2032: June 5 -12
2033: June 18 - 25
2034: June 10 -17
2035: June 2 - 9

 

Star Party and Night Sky Videos

• Night Spoken Series
• Video Presentations from Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party 2020
• Video Presentations from Virtual Grand Canyon Star Party 2021
• North Rim Star Party Video by the Planetary Society

 

Duration:

4 minutes, 33 seconds

The 2022 Star Party will take place June 18-25 on both North and South Rims of the park. Here is some basic information about this event.

 

Duration:

1 minute, 40 seconds

Amateur astronomers from across the country volunteer their expertise and offer free nightly astronomy programs and telescope viewing.

 

Duration:

10 minutes, 4 seconds

Experience the mystery and wonder of Grand Canyon National Park's night sky with Astronomer Tyler Nordgren and Park Ranger Rader Lane. Explore the beauty of the night sky and learn what you can do to help preserve it.

 

Related Information

• Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Website
• Saguaro Astronomy Club Website
• Arizona State Parks - Upcoming Star Party Astronomy Events
• Night Skies at Grand Canyon National Park
• National Park Service - Night Skies
• Upcoming Night Sky Events at Grand Canyon