Enjoy a special presentation of the Yuri’s Night episode of Miles From Tomorrowland with commentary from the Art Director — Max Miceli.
April 11, 2026
A Triple Human Spaceflight Anniversary
Los Angeles 2026
Thank you for celebrating with us at one of the most iconic science landmarks on Earth. We were joined by astronauts, scientists, artists, and space enthusiasts in a full day of inspiration, immersive experiences, and unforgettable views — free and open to the public.
Date
Saturday, April 11
Location
Griffith Observatory
Time
12 PM—10 PM
12 PM—11 PM *VIP
Admission
Free – $500
65th
Anniversary
Gagarin's Historic Flight
On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space — orbiting Earth aboard Vostok 1 and changing our understanding of what’s possible forever.
45th
Anniversary
Space Shuttle Program
The shuttle era opened the door to routine access to space — from building the ISS to deploying Hubble, these missions defined a generation of exploration.
25th
Anniversary
Yuri's Night
A quarter century of celebrating human spaceflight — bringing together communities on every continent to look up, dream big, and honor our shared journey to the stars.
Featured Keynotes
Keynote Speakers
World-class voices in exploration, science, and storytelling — taking the stage at the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater.
Jannicke Mikkelsen
Cinematographer & Polar Explorer
The Norwegian cinematographer behind the first crew to orbit over both the Earth’s north and south poles. Jannicke will share the breathtaking footage and stories from her historic polar orbit mission.
Ron Garan
NASA Astronaut, Fighter Pilot, and Humanitarian
A long-duration ISS astronaut, Ron was aboard the International Space Station for the 50th anniversary of Gagarin’s historic flight. He brings an unmatched perspective on the overview effect and humanity’s future in space.
Special Guests
On Stage & On Site
Tim Russ
Actor, Director, Musician, and Star Trek Icon
Best known as Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, Tim Russ is a multi-talented actor, director, and musician whose work continues to inspire generations of science fiction fans.
Rod Roddenberry
Media Executive, Producer, and Space & Science Advocate
CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment, Rod Roddenberry carries forward the visionary legacy of Star Trek, championing storytelling, science, and a more hopeful future for humanity.
Frank White
Space Philosopher, Author, and Overview Effect Pioneer
Author of The Overview Effect, Frank White is a pioneering space philosopher whose work redefines how humanity understands Earth, space, and our shared future in the cosmos.
Ron Rosano
Commercial Astronaut, Astronomy Educator, and Spaceflight Advocate
Commercial astronaut and lifelong educator Ron Rosano combines firsthand spaceflight experience with decades of outreach, inspiring audiences around the world to explore and understand the universe.
Bonnie Gordon
Actress, Voice Artist, and Nerd Culture Musician
Voice of Star Trek: Prodigy’s ship computer, Bonnie Gordon is a multi-talented performer who brings together acting, music, and fandom culture to create unforgettable, geek-inspired experiences.
Talks & Programming
The Stage Lineup
Sessions run at the top of every hour from 12 PM to 9 PM in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. The Feature Program begins at 7 PM.
Max Miceli
Presentation
“Miles From Tomorrowland” Yuri’s Night
Amy Shira Teitel
Talk
The Human Side of Spaceflight
An engaging look at the personalities behind historic space missions, highlighting humor, creativity, and unexpected moments from early human spaceflight.
Chris Huie
Talk
From Helicopters to Spaceflight
Chris shares his journey to becoming an engineer — from working on helicopters to flying on a Virgin Galactic test flight to space.
Astronaut Panel
Panel
Perspectives from Space: Featuring Virgin Galactic Astronauts
Andy Sadhwani shares an engineer’s perspective on the experience of suborbital flight, along with his journey aboard Virgin Galactic’s Galactic07 mission, while Ron Rosano reflects on decades of inspiring others and his own path to space aboard the Galactic04 mission.
Jason Achilles
Talk
The First Sounds of Mars
A personal account of working with NASA JPL on the microphone component of the Perseverance rover’s EDLCAM system — the instrument that captured the first recorded sounds from the surface of Mars.
Bonnie Gordon
Performance
25th Anniversary Tribute Song
A special musical performance celebrating 25 years of Yuri’s Night — a one-of-a-kind tribute to the community and the spirit of exploration.
Space Ambassadors
Meet The Ambassadors
Look for the red sash. These leaders and changemakers in the space industry will be on site to connect with guests, share their work, and answer your questions.
Amy Shira Teitel
Spaceflight Historian, Author, and Science Communicator
Spaceflight historian and creator of The Vintage Space, Amy Shira Teitel brings the stories behind humanity’s journey to space into vivid, accessible focus through books, documentaries, and digital media.
Nadine Nicole
Actress, Storyteller, and Space Advocacy Leader
Actress and The Expanse star Nadine Nicole blends storytelling with purpose, using her platform to inspire connection, empower communities, and expand access to the transformative power of space.
Larry Nemecek
Star Trek Historian, Author, and Franchise Consultant
Known as “Dr. Trek,” Larry Nemecek is a leading Star Trek historian and author who brings decades of insight, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes access to fans around the world.
Jason Achilles
Musician, Composer, and Space-Inspired Audio Artist
Los Angeles-based musician Jason Achilles creates cinematic, space-inspired soundscapes that blend analog rock with the awe and energy of exploration beyond Earth.
Andy Sadhwani
Commercial Astronaut and Propulsion Engineer
Commercial astronaut and propulsion engineer Andy Sadhwani is helping shape the future of spaceflight—both by building the rockets and by flying beyond Earth himself.
Kalpana Pot
Performer, Science Communicator, and Storytelling Artist
Performer and science communicator Kalpana Pot brings storytelling and science together, transforming complex ideas into engaging, accessible experiences that inspire curiosity and exploration.
Samuel Stubblefield
Multidisciplinary Artist, Composer, and Experiential Technologist
Multidisciplinary artist Samuel Stubblefield creates immersive, data-driven experiences that fuse art, technology, and science—revealing the hidden connections between humanity, nature, and the universe.
Sarah Al-Ahmed
Astrophysicist, Science Communicator, and Planetary Radio Host
Astrophysicist and Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed brings the human story of space exploration to life, connecting audiences with the people and missions shaping our future beyond Earth.
Christopher Huie
Commercial Astronaut and Aerospace Engineer
Commercial astronaut Christopher Huie represents the next generation of space explorers—combining engineering expertise with firsthand experience flying beyond Earth.
Space Activations & Exhibits
Explore. Discover. Play.
Interactive exhibits and activations from space-focused organizations on the Observatory lawn. Come ready to ask questions and get hands-on.
- Education
California Science Center
An astronaut simulation experience — step into the shoes of a space explorer and discover what it takes to live and work beyond Earth.
- Education
Columbia Memorial Space Center
Get your photo taken in an EVA space suit and explore 25-foot inflatable Space Shuttle while you learn about the shuttle program and its legacy.
- Technology
Griffith Observatory
Explore the cosmos through the massive lenses of Griffith’s public telescopes while you learn from experts and ask questions about space.
- Education
ISS-Above
Learn about the International Space Station and view live tracking data — see exactly where the ISS is overhead in real time.
- Education
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Prototypes, demonstrations, and live space science Q&A with the team behind NASA’s most ambitious missions — from Mars rovers to interstellar probes.
- Education
Space For Teachers
Kids can design and decorate their own spacecraft, and explore Project Hail Mary Challenge materials along with other conceptual crafts with realtime data.
Kids & Families
Activities For Young Explorers
This year featured hands-on activities designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
Decorate Your Own Spacecraft
Hosted by Space for Teachers. Kids design and decorate their own spacecraft to take home — a creative, hands-on building activity.
Artificial Gravity Demonstration
Project Hail Mary meets real science. Explore rotating spacecraft concepts using scale models on a turntable with real-time acceleration data from Databot™ sensors.
Astronaut Glovebox
Presented by the California Science Center. Try manipulating objects with limited dexterity — simulating the challenge of performing everyday tasks while wearing a spacesuit.
Miles From Tomorrowland
Enjoy a special presentation of Disney's Miles From Tomorrowland, complete with commentary from the Art Director, Max Miceli, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the design of the series.
Club For The Future Postcards
Kids create messages or drawings that will be flown to space on a Blue Origin New Shepard mission — and returned stamped "Flown to Space." A keepsake from beyond the atmosphere.
Astronaut Meet & Greet
Meet a real astronaut in person. Opportunities for book signing, photos, and questions about life in space — an unforgettable experience for explorers of all ages.
Public Telescope Viewing
Griffith Observatory's legendary telescopes will be open for celestial observation. Learn from experts and ask questions about the objects you see in the sky above.
Scavenger Hunt
Explore Griffith Observatory and learn about their incredible exhibits while earning points along the way. Prizes available!
Special Awards
Recognizing Extraordinary Contributions
Spirit of Yuri's Night Award
A prestigious award given each year to an individual or team that uses music and art to make space cool and accessible — celebrating those who inspire the world to look up and dream big.
J.E.D.I Space Award
Created by Dr. Sian Proctor — the first African-American woman to pilot a spaceship. This annual honor recognizes a space community member, organization, or company actively working to create a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive space future.
VIP Experience
Rise Above The Observatory
For guests who want to go deeper, linger longer, and experience Yuri’s Night from the inside. The VIP experience is an elevated journey woven throughout the entire event — set against one of the most breathtaking backdrops in the world.
Feature Presentation — 7:00 PM
NASA Astronaut Ron Garan shares his experience aboard the ISS during the 50th anniversary of Gagarin’s flight. Cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen presents footage from the first polar-orbiting crew.
Plus additional special guests. Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater.
Reserved Theatre Access
Priority entry and reserved seating for all keynotes and featured talks — no waiting, no lines.
Hosted VIP Reception
Hosted wine and beer bar with passed appetizers by Wolfgang Puck. A relaxed atmosphere with speakers, ambassadors, and fellow VIP guests.
After-Hours Observatory
VIP-only access to the 12-inch Zeiss telescope, as well as galleries and extended activations without the crowds.
Meaningful Connections
Dedicated time with astronauts, scientists, space leaders, ambassadors, and community members passionate about space.
Tickets
Choose Your Experience
General admission is free and open to the public. Upgrade for reserved seating, VIP access, and an unforgettable evening under the stars.
General Admission
Access to the observatory and more!
FREE
-
Observatory galleries & exhibits
-
Exterior Exhibits
-
Gunther Depths of Space Gallery & Edge of Space
-
Ahmanson Hall of the Sky
-
Wilder Hall of the Eye
-
Public Telescopes
-
Select Keynotes in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater
Yuri’s Night LA is free and open to the public during regular observatory hours—no ticket required. Keynote presentations are first come, first served as space is limited.
VIP Experience
Elevate your Yuri's Night!
$
500
-
All General Admission Access
-
Reserved Seating & Early Access to Keynote Presentations
-
Admission to VIP Reception
-
After-Hours Access to Telescope and Museum
-
Networking w/ VIP Guests, Speakers, and Ambassadors
-
Extended Programming Through 11:00 PM
-
Reserved Parking Included (Starting at 5:00 PM)
Recommended
Program Only
Enjoy the show!
$
275
-
All General Admission Access
-
Reserved Seating & Early Access to Keynote Presentations
-
Reserved Parking Included (Starting at 5:00 PM)
Our Sponsors
In partnership with
© 2026 the spacekind foundation