Tenerife is in for a busy week of music and science, with the Starmus Festival returning from 17 to 22 October and bringing some seriously big names to the island.
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and soprano Sarah Brightman are among the headline performers, while astronauts, Nobel Prize winners and leading scientists will also be taking part.
The festival opens in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Saturday, 17 October, before the action moves south to Playa de las Américas for a special performance by legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman.
For anyone interested in music, space or simply seeing a few famous faces, there’s quite a lot going on.
Andrea Bocelli, Brian May and Sarah Brightman open the festival
The opening concert, Symphony of Stars, takes place in the port area of Santa Cruz on Saturday at 7pm.
The line-up includes:
- Andrea Bocelli, the internationally acclaimed Italian tenor.
- Sir Brian May, Queen guitarist and co-founder of Starmus.
- Sarah Brightman, the celebrated soprano known for her classical crossover performances.
They’ll be joined by an orchestra from Gran Canaria and the Starmus All Stars band, combining classical music, rock and orchestral arrangements.
The evening will also include presentations of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication and the Jane Goodall Earth Medal, recognising contributions to science communication and environmental awareness.
Tickets for the concert have been advertised from €99, with booking information available through the official Starmus website.
Rick Wakeman brings a world premiere to the south
Sunday, 18 October, sees Rick Wakeman take to the stage at the Pirámide de Arona auditorium on the Golden Mile in Playa de las Américas.
The legendary keyboardist will present Echoes from Black Holes, a specially commissioned work created for Starmus VIII.
The performance combines Wakeman’s keyboard compositions with a chamber ensemble featuring strings, flute and oboe, accompanied by visual projections inspired by black holes and the Universe.
The concert is scheduled to start at 8pm, according to the latest programme information supplied by the organisers.
Admission is included with Starmus festival registration, and a welcome reception with live music is scheduled to follow at the same venue.
It’s a rather different Sunday evening from the usual dinner and a stroll along the promenade.
Astronauts, Nobel Prize winners and big questions
From Monday, 19 October, to Wednesday, 21 October, the Pirámide de Arona becomes the main conference venue, hosting an impressive collection of scientific and space-related guests.
Those announced include:
- Professor Brian Cox, British physicist and television presenter.
- Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut.
- Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize-winning artificial intelligence pioneer.
- Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen, announced participants from the Artemis II Moon mission.
The conference programme will cover subjects including space exploration, the search for life beyond Earth, artificial intelligence, climate change and humanity’s future.
Sessions are scheduled from 2pm to 6pm each day. Access to the main conference programme requires festival registration rather than a standard auditorium ticket.
Stargazing and activities for families
The programme also includes events beyond the main concerts and conferences.
On Tuesday, 20 October, the Starmus Star Party is scheduled to feature live music, guided stargazing using professional telescopes and a reception with tapas. The precise location has not yet been announced in the information provided.
Families will also have the chance to visit a free Science Camp in the metropolitan area, with interactive exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops and evening music performances.
The festival concludes on Thursday, 22 October, in La Palma with Space Station Earth, a closing concert associated with composer Ilan Eshkeri. The organisers say it will be open to the public, subject to venue capacity.
How to take part
Starmus runs from 17 to 22 October 2026, with events in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Playa de las Américas and La Palma.
Concert tickets and full festival passes are separate booking options, so check the details carefully before buying. Rick Wakman’s performance is included with festival registration, according to the supplied programme.
For tickets and registration information, visit the official Starmus website.
With world-class musicians sharing the programme with astronauts and some of the biggest names in science, Starmus offers a week that’s a little different from the usual Tenerife events calendar.