World Space Week 2027 runs from Monday, October 4, to Sunday, October 10, 2027.
The United Nations fixed these dates in 1999, and they never change. In 2027, the week opens on the 70th anniversary of Sputnik 1, the first satellite.
This guide covers why the week falls on these dates, its themes, and how to take part.
Key takeaways
- World Space Week is October 4–10 every year; in 2027, it runs from Monday to Sunday.
- The UN General Assembly declared the week on December 6, 1999.
- October 4, 2027, marks 70 years since Sputnik 1, and October 10, 2027, marks 60 years since the Outer Space Treaty entered into force.
- The 2027 theme has not been announced; the 2026 theme was “Rocket Revolution.”
World Space Week 2027 at a glance
- Dates: Monday, October 4 – Sunday, October 10, 2027.
- Declared by: the UN General Assembly, December 6, 1999.
- Coordinated by: the World Space Week Association, with the UN.
- 2027 milestones: 70 years since Sputnik 1; 60 years since the Outer Space Treaty came into force.
- 2027 theme: not yet announced.
- Scale: described as the largest annual space event in the world.
Table of Contents
When is World Space Week 2027?
World Space Week 2027 is Monday, October 4, to Sunday, October 10, 2027. Unlike most awareness weeks, it follows fixed dates rather than a weekday rule, so only the days of the week change from year to year.
In 2027, the week lines up with a full Monday-to-Sunday calendar week, which is ISO week 40. Every October 2027 date is in the 2027 calendar, and the 2027 week numbers list shows each week’s dates.
Why is World Space Week on October 4–10?
World Space Week runs from October 4 to October 10 because those dates mark two founding moments of the space age. The UN General Assembly chose them when it declared the week on December 6, 1999 (Wikipedia).
| Date | Event | Anniversary in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| October 4, 1957 | The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first human-made satellite | 70th, on Monday, October 4, 2027 |
| October 10, 1967 | The Outer Space Treaty, the founding law of space, comes into force | 60th, on Sunday, October 10, 2027 |
2027 is the first round-number anniversary of both events in the same week since 2017. That makes the 2027 week a likely focus for space agencies, museums, and schools.
What is the World Space Week 2027 theme?
The 2027 theme has not been announced yet. The World Space Week Association usually picks each theme well ahead: the 2026 theme, “Rocket Revolution,” was made public by March 2026.
| Year | Theme |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Rocket Revolution |
| 2025 | Living in Space |
| 2024 | Space and Climate Change |
| 2023 | Space and Entrepreneurship |
| 2022 | Space and Sustainability |
| 2021 | Women in Space |
| 2020 | Satellites Improve Life |
| 2019 | The Moon: Gateway to the Stars |
For the 2025 theme, World Space Week Association President Dennis Stone said: “Ten people live in space today, but this number will grow” (Space.com).
How to take part in World Space Week 2027
Anyone can take part in World Space Week, and anyone can register an event. In 2019, the week counted over 8,000 events in 96 countries (Wikipedia), and the 2025 week reported nearly 50,000 activities across 102 countries (Pulse).
- Run or register an event: schools, clubs, and companies can add their activity to the official map on worldspaceweek.org.
- Go stargazing: find a dark spot and look for planets, the Moon, and the International Space Station passing overhead.
- Visit a planetarium or science museum: many run special shows and talks during the week.
- Teach a space lesson: use the yearly theme for a class project, such as building a model rocket or satellite.
- Mark the anniversaries: on October 4, 2027, look back at Sputnik 1 and 70 years of spaceflight.
Space days in 2027
World Space Week is the biggest of several UN space observances. In 2027, the others fall on these dates:
| Date | Observance | What it marks |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 12 | International Day of Human Space Flight | Yuri Gagarin’s first human spaceflight, April 12, 1961 |
| Wednesday, June 30 | International Asteroid Day | The Tunguska impact over Siberia, June 30, 1908 |
| Tuesday, July 20 | International Moon Day | The Apollo 11 Moon landing, July 20, 1969 |
| Monday, October 4 – Sunday, October 10 | World Space Week | Sputnik 1 and the Outer Space Treaty |
2027 also has a total solar eclipse on Monday, August 2, 2027. Other science and nature weeks are listed in the Awareness Calendar 2027.
World Space Week dates 2025 to 2031
World Space Week is always October 4–10. The table shows the days of the week for each year.
| Year | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday, October 4 | Friday, October 10 |
| 2026 | Sunday, October 4 | Saturday, October 10 |
| 2027 | Monday, October 4 | Sunday, October 10 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, October 4 | Tuesday, October 10 |
| 2029 | Thursday, October 4 | Wednesday, October 10 |
| 2030 | Friday, October 4 | Thursday, October 10 |
| 2031 | Saturday, October 4 | Friday, October 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When is World Space Week 2027?
World Space Week 2027 runs from Monday, October 4, to Sunday, October 10, 2027.
Does World Space Week change dates?
No, World Space Week is always October 4–10. Only the days of the week change each year.
Who started World Space Week?
The UN General Assembly declared World Space Week on December 6, 1999. The World Space Week Association coordinates it with the UN.
What is the theme of World Space Week 2027?
The 2027 theme has not been announced yet. The 2026 theme was “Rocket Revolution.”
Why does World Space Week start on October 4?
October 4 is the anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, the first human-made satellite and the start of the space age.
Is World Space Week a public holiday?
No, World Space Week is a UN observance, not a public holiday. Schools and offices stay open.
