Sydney Science Festival 2025

2025 might already feel like science fiction. But the city is about to get a peek at the next generation of space exploration and discovery with the return of the Sydney Science Festival. This year, the special edition festival coincides with the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) for IAC 2025 Space Week held in Sydney.

Sydney Science Festival is presented annually by the Powerhouse Museum, and this year it spans workshops, talks and hands-on experiences by international scientists and creatives shaping the future of our connection to space. Over one week, learn more about the new race to get to space with a mix of free and ticketed events across the city, from Parramatta to Ultimo. Plus, there’s an opportunity to send a message into the cosmos.

In 2027, it will be 50 years since the Golden Record time capsule was taken into space by Voyager 1. To commemorate it, the Humans project is collecting voices from around the world, creating a more diverse representation of humanity to transmit into the galaxy via deep-space broadcast in September 2027. And you can be part of it at Sydney Science Festival this year. On October 3 and 4, you can record your voice message for deep space at the Humans project in person at the International Convention Centre and at Parramatta Town Hall.

The coinciding IAC 2025 Space Week brings astronauts from all over the world to Sydney, making for a jam-packed Science Festival program with headline talks and rare opportunities to meet the people shaping humanity’s future in space.

At headline event Space Now, international leaders in space exploration come together for a discussion on the latest advancements, insights and innovations in a rapidly evolving field. Or hear about life and science in zero gravity at a forum of global astronauts from agencies such as Nasa and Axiom, hosted by Katherine Bennell-Pegg – the first astronaut qualified under the Australian flag. There’ll also be a chance to shake hands with astronauts from around the world at a public meet-and-greet in Parramatta’s Centenary Square on Saturday October 4.

If you prefer the fantastical side of space, head to a sci-fi world-building workshop by author Rehan Khan and designer Peter Gould; they’re launching a sci-fi book trilogy at the festival. At Phive in Parramatta Square, you can also drop in on a spacesuit patch-making workshop with Australian spacesuit engineers from Metakosmos.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Powerhouse. Sydney Science Festival runs from September 27 to October 4 at various locations across Sydney. Tickets and more information are available online.