The world’s space community will converge on Sydney today with the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) set to transform the city into a festival of science and imagination.
From Monday, 29 September to Saturday, 4 October, more than 8,000 astronauts, scientists, engineers, and space leaders from over 90 countries will converge for the world’s premier space event.
With the theme “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth” the Congress is hosted by the Space Industry Association of Australia, and co-hosted by the NSW Government and Australian Space Agency. It is the first time the Congress has been hosted in Sydney, and just the third time it has been hosted in Australia.
To celebrate, Sydney will roll out a free, city-wide ’Space Week’, with immersive experiences that fuse art and science and showcase how space shapes our world today.
Across the city, space will take over some of the city’s most iconic places, with a 10-metre inflatable astronaut landing in Martin Place, while Chippendale will come alive with support from the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner’s Uptown District Acceleration Program and Neon Marketplace helping local businesses to turn into vibrant going-out hubs.
The Powerhouse Museum will deliver a special edition of the Sydney Science Festival, including HUMANS, a global project inviting visitors to record their personal messages for broadcast to deep space in 2027.
The week will include ’Space Day – Powered by LEGO® Play’ on Friday, 3 October, a free major public event during the school holidays. For one day only, ICC Sydney will open its doors to families and students, offering the chance to step into the shoes of explorers and innovators.
As part of Space Day, the NSW Department of Education will present its Young Space Explorers program – a major activation on Level 3 of ICC Sydney designed to inspire students through immersive, hands-on STEM learning.
Visitors will enjoy astronaut encounters, have a chance to drive moon rovers, experience VR spacewalks, robotics challenges, and hands-on STEAM workshops (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), delivered by the Australian Space Agency and NSWDepartment of Education.
Alongside the public celebrations, IAC 2025 will showcase the strength of NSW’s space industry, which is at the nation’s forefront of advanced manufacturing and innovation.
NSW companies are already developing satellites that have won international mission competitions, securing contracts in global markets, and pioneering technologies that are reshaping industries from agriculture to communications.
This innovation carves out new opportunities for NSW to be globally competitive in complex products, in line with the NSW Industry Policy and NSW Trade and Investment Strategy 2035.
“IAC 2025 Space Week will ignite curiosity and passion for space in our community, fostering the next generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators,” Director of IAC 2025 Sydney at the Space Industry Association of Australia Lisa Vitaris said.
“The event shines a spotlight on our growing Australian space industry, showcasing how space is critical for our everyday lives and how space can drive improved economic productivity.
“For many Australians, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the global space ecosystem from over eighty countries right on our doorstep, not to mention the ability to meet and greet over a dozen astronauts including our very own.”
More information on how to make the most of the full Space Week program, including Space Day, can be found at https://www.iac2025.org/space-day-registration/.
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