Brian May, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman headline Starmus Festival in Tenerife this week

Tenerife is preparing to welcome some of the biggest names in international music and science this week as the world-famous Starmus Festival returns to the Canary Islands from 17th to 22nd October 2026, bringing a programme of live concerts, celebrity appearances and special events.

Queen guitarist Sir Brian May, world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli and soprano Sarah Brightman are among the headline performers, with the festival's spectacular opening concert taking place in Santa Cruz on Saturday (17th October).

Meanwhile, the Pirámide de Arona auditorium, situated on the Golden Mile in Playa de las Americas, will host a special concert by legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman, alongside three days of appearances by internationally recognised scientists, astronauts and other special guests.

For residents and holidaymakers, the festival offers a rare opportunity to experience world-class entertainment and meet some of the leading figures in space exploration and scientific discovery without leaving Tenerife.

Andrea Bocelli, Brian May and Sarah Brightman live in Concert

The festival's opening concert, Symphony of Stars, will take place on Saturday at 7pm in the port area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The concert will bring together three internationally acclaimed performers:

• Andrea Bocelli, the Italian tenor whose performances have attracted audiences around the world.
• Sir Brian May, legendary guitarist of Queen and co-founder of the Starmus Festival.
• Sarah Brightman, the internationally celebrated soprano known for her classical crossover performances.

They will be joined by an orchestra from Gran Canaria and the Starmus All Stars band, combining rock, classical music and orchestral performances in one of Tenerife's biggest musical events of the year.

The evening will also feature the presentation of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication and the Jane Goodall Earth Medal, recognising outstanding contributions to science and environmental awareness.

Individual concert tickets have been advertised from €99, with booking information available through the official Starmus website.

Rick Wakeman brings an exclusive concert to Playa de las Americas

One of the most exciting events for residents and holidaymakers in southern Tenerife takes place on Sunday (18th October), when Rick Wakeman, the legendary keyboardist of progressive rock band Yes, performs at the Pirámide de Arona auditorium.

Wakeman will present the world premiere of Echoes from Black Holes, a specially commissioned musical work created exclusively for Starmus VIII.

The performance combines Wakeman's distinctive keyboard compositions with a chamber ensemble featuring strings, flute and oboe, accompanied by specially created visual projections inspired by black holes and the Universe.

The organisers describe it as a one-off performance, making it a particularly unusual opportunity for music fans in Tenerife.

The concert is scheduled for Sunday evening, with the latest main festival programme listing an 8pm start. Admission is included with Starmus festival registration.

A welcome reception with live music is also scheduled to follow at the same venue.

Three days of world-famous guests at the Pirámide de Arona

From Monday 19th to Wednesday 21st October, the Pirámide de Arona will become the main conference venue for Starmus VIII, welcoming Nobel Prize winners, astronauts and some of the world's best-known scientific personalities.

Among the confirmed participants are British physicist and television presenter Professor Brian Cox, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and Nobel Prize-winning artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton.

Three astronauts from the Artemis II Moon mission — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen — are also among the announced guests.

The programme will explore subjects ranging from space travel and the search for life beyond Earth to artificial intelligence, climate change and the future of humanity.

Conference sessions are scheduled between 2pm and 6pm each day, giving residents and visitors in southern Tenerife the opportunity to attend without travelling to Santa Cruz.

Access to the main conference programme is through festival registration, rather than general admission to the auditorium.

More music, stargazing and free family activities

The entertainment continues on Tuesday 20th October with the Starmus Star Party, featuring a live concert, guided stargazing through professional telescopes and a welcome reception with tapas. The precise location has not yet been publicly disclosed.

Starmus is also organising a free Science Camp in the metropolitan area, with interactive exhibitions, live demonstrations, workshops and evening music performances. This offers families an opportunity to enjoy part of the festival without purchasing a full conference pass.

The festival concludes on Thursday 22nd October in La Palma with Space Station Earth, a closing concert associated with composer Ilan Eshkeri. The organisers say the event will be open to the public, subject to venue capacity.

Tickets for the opening concert and festival registrations are available through the official Starmus website. Concert-only tickets and full festival passes are separate booking options, and admission to Rick Wakeman's performance is included with festival registration.