ESA Open Day 2026

on Friday, October 2nd, from 13:00 until 22:00

Come behind the scenes of Europe's Space Operations Centre (ESOC). Meet ESA experts, explore space missions, try hands-on activities, and discover what it takes to operate spacecraft from Earth – all in one day.

At a glance

Location: Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt

Event languages: Mainly German, with some contributions in English

Suitable for all ages

Access: Barrier-free

Pre-booking required: No tickets sold on site

Valid physical government-issued identity card or passport required for all visitors aged 16+(no electronic copies or photographs on mobile devices will be accepted)

Parking: ESA visitor car park closed – alternative parking required

Security notice: Bags or rucksacks larger than A4 are not permitted.

What to expect

Whether you're a lifelong space enthusiast or just starting your cosmic journey, there's something for everyone. Meet ESA experts and learn about space operations, Earth observation, missions into our solar system and beyond:

Short talks on topics such as space safety, astronomy, and planetary exploration
Special kids’ talks and science area with hands-on experiments introducing the wonders of space
Explore career opportunities at the Career Corner, including ESA jobs, young professional programmes and contracting companies
Try interactive exhibits and activities, such as virtual reality experiences and interactive touch tables
Live entertainment – stage shows and presentations
Food trucks and refreshments

…and so much more!

Suitable for all ages!

Impressions of the Open Day 2025 © ESA, S.Bohl

Book your tickets to the Open Day right here!

Unfortunately this event is already fully booked!

We can no longer offer you tickets.

You can find further information on visits at ESA here!

Discounts arevalid for: pupils, students, pensioners and holders of a severe disability card. Accompanying persons (marked ‘B’ or ‘H’ on the card) and children up to 6 years old must book a free ticket.

When booking, please provide the following information in full for each participant: first name and surname, date of birth, place of birth and nationality. The booking cannot be completed without this information!

Important information regarding booking

The event takes place from 13:00 to 22:00.

When booking you must select a 2,5-hour time slot. This is binding. Registration on-site opens 30 minutes in advance. Please arrive on time and leave the site by the end of your time slot.

Admission begins at 13:00, with entry every 30 minutes.

The last admission is at 19:00.

Please select your desired admission time when booking – this determines the start and end of your visit. Tickets are personalized and non-transferrable.

Notes on the event

The event will be held mainly in German, with some contributions in English.

Please note that the ESA visitor car park will be closed on the day of the event. You’ll find information on parking and further travel details below.

Access to the site is barrier-free.

Advance booking is required!

No tickets will be sold on site!

Tickets can only be purchased at the Darmstadt Shop in the Rathausfoyer (Luisenstr. 12) or via online advance booking.

Data protection

The personal data collected during booking is processed exclusively for the purpose of organising and managing the event, in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). Your data is protected by appropriate technical and organisational measures and will be deleted a certain period of time after the event has taken place.

For full details on how ESA handles personal data at events, please refer to the ESA privacy notice.

Media, photos & legal information

Reporting media will be present at the event and parts of it may be live-streamed. Photos or videos of you might be taken and used for information and reporting purposes. Please view the ESA privacy notice.

If you do not wish to be photographed and/or filmed, a visual marker to indicate this will be available at the entrance of the event.

If you wish to participate in the event as a member of the press, please contact us.

Safety instructions

Identification

All visitors aged 16 and over must bring a valid physical government-issued identity card or passport. Your ID will be checked against your registration details on arrival. Visitors who are not registered or whose details are incorrect will not be admitted.

Bag checks

Bags or rucksacks larger than A4 are not permitted. Smaller bags will be checked for dangerous objects at the entrance. There is no bag storage available, so please plan accordingly.

General Conduct

We want everyone to have a wonderful day and ask all visitors to treat each other and our staff with kindness and respect.

Please follow the instructions of security staff and event crew at all times.

Anyone behaving uncooperatively may be refused entry or asked to leave.

ESOC is a secure site with comprehensive video surveillance.

Smoking is only allowed in designated areas.

The following is not permitted

Bringing food and drinks to the event
the use of drones or selfie sticks
the bringing of pets (with the exception of service animals)
the use of scooters, bicycles or inline skates
the bringing of fireworks
the carrying of weapons

Please note that smoking is only permitted in designated areas.

Guests are allowed to bring personal food (for medical reasons, e.g. for diabetics, food allergies, etc.)!

ESA/ESOC reserves the right to cancel the event at any time for internal or weather-related reasons. The customer shall not be entitled to any compensation for costs incurred as a result.

On the day

Getting here

ESOC is located at Robert-Bosch-Straße 5, 64293 Darmstadt. The site is fully barrier-free.

By train

Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof is well connected by train, with frequent services from Frankfurt, Frankfurt Airport, and other major German cities. For timetables and tickets, visit the Deutsche Bahn website. Walking directions from Hauptbahnhof below.

By tram/bus

From Luisenplatz, the central transport hub in Darmstadt, take tram 4 or 9 toward Griesheim and get off at Maria-Goeppert-Straße. Alternatively, trams 2, 3 and 9 and buses H, F, FM, K and others stop at Hauptbahnhof. For timetables, visit the RMV website.

On foot

From Hauptbahnhof: Leave via the west exit (Weststadt) and cross Europaplatz diagonally to the left. Continue along Lise-Meitner-Straße until the road bends left. After about 50 metres, turn right onto Robert-Bosch-Straße. The entrance is on your right. About 10 minutes on foot.

From Maria-Goeppert-Straße: Cross Maria-Goeppert-Straße and take the first left down the pedestrian and cycle path. Then turn right onto Robert-Bosch-Straße. The entrance is on the opposite side of the street.

By bike

A limited number of bike parking spaces are available in the visitor parking lot at Robert-Bosch-Straße 2, directly across from the main entrance.

By car

ESOC is well connected to the motorway network via the A67 and A5. Please note that the ESA visitor car park will be closed on the day of the event and street parking is limited.

We recommend the following nearby car parks: