The thirty-sixth annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 6, through Saturday, June 13, 2026, on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. National parks such as Grand Canyon are protective havens for some of the last remaining dark skies in the United States.
The event is sponsored by the National Park Service, Grand Canyon Conservancy, and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association. Amateur astronomers from around the world will volunteer their telescopes and expertise for the enjoyment of park visitors. Dozens of telescopes will offer views of planets, double stars, star clusters, nebulae, and distant galaxies. By day, keep an eye out for solar telescopes pointed at the sun. Weather permitting, expect spectacular views of the universe.
Due to impacts from the Dragon Bravo Fire, the North Rim Star Party will not take place in 2026.
South Rim events
On the South Rim, events include a nightly slide show from a special guest speaker at 8 p.m. in the Canyon Visitor Center Plaza. The list of speakers can be found on the park’s Star Party website. The talks are followed by free telescope viewing behind the building. Green-laser constellation tours will be offered nightly at 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 p.m.
Parking is available in Lots 1 through 4, or visitors may arrive by the free Village Route shuttle bus. The last Village Route bus leaves the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 9:30 p.m. To get a good seat for the speaker presentation, arrive early. Telescope viewing is best after 9:00 p.m. and continues well into the night; visitors may arrive any time after dark.
A light source is recommended for the walk to the viewing area, but white lights are not permitted on the Telescope Lot. Give your eyes time to dark-adapt, or use a red flashlight, easily made by covering any flashlight with red cellophane.
Here’s more information on the Grand Canyon Star Party.
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