Grand Canyon Star Party

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.

View the latest from NPS updates here.