Starmus Festival Announces 2026 Return to Canary Islands
Exactly ten years after STARMUS and Professor Stephen Hawking gathered at the Royal Society to launch the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, the world’s most important science and music festival returns to this historic venue to announce key updates. Starmus VIII, ‘In Search of Truth’, will take place in Tenerife and La Palma from 17 to 22 October 2026.
A Celebration of Science and Culture in the Archipelago
In autumn 2026, Tenerife and La Palma will host the most ambitious edition of STARMUS to date: a celebration of science, art, music, exploration, and the shared responsibility we hold for the future of our species and our planet. In the words of Migdalia Machín, Councillor for Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands: “Starmus 2026 places the Canary Islands at the centre of the global dialogue between science, innovation, and culture. For our archipelago, it is an honour, and a great responsibility, to host an international event that inspires, connects knowledge, and brings science closer to citizens.”
Rosa Dávila, President of the Tenerife Island Council, similarly expressed: “Tenerife has been and will continue to be a fundamental pillar in the realisation of this event, not only as a venue but as a home for science and culture. Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to ensure STARMUS continues to grow and that our islands become a global reference for scientific outreach. This year, with the 10th anniversary of the Stephen Hawking Medal and the presentation of the new Jane Goodall Earth Medal, we reaffirm our commitment to science, the protection of the planet, and the future of humanity.”
A Unique Global Forum for Truth
Over the last decade, STARMUS has grown into what international media have defined as a “truly out-of-this-world festival”: a meeting where dozens of Nobel laureates, legendary astronauts, pioneering scientists, technology leaders, and world-renowned artists share the same stage. It is a space where disciplinary boundaries dissolve and ideas flow freely, from the depths of the cosmos to the frontiers of human creativity. This STARMUS is a meeting of global thinkers to debate one of humanity’s most urgent missions: the search for scientific and moral truth in a turbulent world. As Stephen Hawking once said of STARMUS: “In a world beset by so many terrible problems and so lacking in solutions, STARMUS offers a ray of hope.”
Honouring Two Visionary Legacies
STARMUS VIII in 2026 will provide the opportunity to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the STARMUS Stephen Hawking Medal, honouring a decade of creators, scientists, storytellers, musicians, filmmakers, and communicators who have carried forward Hawking’s vision, inspiring the world to look up, question deeply, and celebrate the power of science.
Furthermore, the festival will present the STARMUS Jane Goodall Earth Medal, a global award that recognises the most influential voices working to protect our planet, defend biodiversity, and redefine humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Approved and blessed by Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, and her own family, this new medal becomes a powerful extension of the STARMUS mission. If the Hawking Medal celebrates those who communicate the wonders of the universe, the STARMUS Jane Goodall Earth Medal honours those who defend the life flourishing on our planet. Together, the two medals form a unified arc of human responsibility: from the cosmos that surrounds us to the living world that accompanies us.
The Enduring Influence of Jane Goodall
Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a UN Messenger of Peace who passed away in 2025, is considered one of the most influential scientists of the modern era. Her pioneering work with chimpanzees transformed our understanding of intelligence, emotions, family, and the deep connections shared by all living beings. Far beyond her discoveries, Jane became a global symbol of hope. Her legacy includes the Jane Goodall Institute, a global organisation with offices in 30 countries dedicated to research, conservation science, education, animal welfare, and community-led development.
Jane Goodall played a fundamental role within STARMUS as part of its Advisory Board. Awarded the Hawking Medal, she was a keynote speaker and a beacon of inspiration. Her messages impacted attendees at the last edition in La Palma, where she was especially moved following the 2021 volcanic eruption. In private conversations with STARMUS director and co-founder Garik Israelian and its vice president and assistant, Mary Lewis, Jane gave her blessing to create an environmental and humanitarian medal in her name.
Uniting Cosmic and Planetary Visions
Garik Israelian announced this new medal: “Ten years ago, Stephen Hawking joined us to launch a medal that inspired millions to look to the stars. Today, with the blessing of Jane Goodall and her family, we launch a medal that calls us to protect the Earth. STARMUS VIII will unite these two visions—the cosmic and the planetary—in a festival dedicated to the search for truth.”
Sir Brian May, co-founder of STARMUS, added: “Jane Goodall and Stephen Hawking are two human spirits who changed how we see the world: one by looking at the stars, the other by reminding us of the urgent need to protect the life under our feet and the need for true humanity in science. Bringing their legacies together at STARMUS is something deeply moving and necessary for our time.”
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