PARIS, Feb 26 – The European Space Agency (ESA), France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) and electronic music organiser Cercle announced on Thursday a partnership for the 2026 Cercle Festival, marking the first collaboration between Europe’s leading space institutions and a global music event.

The festival, scheduled for May 22–24, 2026, will take place at the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace in Paris-Le Bourget, a site steeped in aviation and space history. Organisers said the partnership aims to combine science, exploration and artistic creation, while engaging new audiences with space-related themes.

“This collaboration reflects our ambition to build bridges between science and culture,” ESA and CNES said in a joint statement. “By linking space exploration with contemporary music, we can reach international and intergenerational communities.”

The event will feature three stages set beneath iconic aircraft and space landmarks – the A380, Concorde and Ariane rocket – with performances by artists including Eric Prydz, ARTBAT, Ben Böhmer, ANNA, Kölsch, Lane 8, Michael Bibi and Adriatique. An immersive “space dome” will host talks with astronauts and scientists, exhibitions and virtual reality experiences.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, currently aboard the International Space Station, is expected to deliver the festival’s symbolic opening address from orbit.

The 2026 edition follows a sold-out 2024 festival that drew audiences from more than 100 countries. Organisers said the expansion to three days underscores Cercle’s growing international reach.