The Hague Events
Various events will be taking place during the week of the congress that we wish to highlight. Public activities take place in Open Amare, the publicly accessible ground floor of the Amare venue.
Public events & activities
The Hague Planet Trail
Following the footsteps of early pioneers, The Hague Planet Trail allows you to explore the city and the Solar System to scale. Infused with historical backgrounds and interesting scientific facts, this city walk highlights The Hague's planetary allure and brings the Solar System into a tangible perspective.
Becoming Red Dust
Immerse yourself in the fascinating art installation 'Becoming Red Dust', developed by artist Hung Lu Chan, to experience what it feels like to be dust lofted by the winds on planet Mars.
Planetary Art Exhibit
Strolling through Open Amare you can view the 'Planetary Art Exhibition' with the works of artists, amateur observers, and scientists alike. Part of the exhibited works are linked to the Dwarf Planet Symphony.
Dwarf Planet Symphony (10 September)
The first version of "The Dwarf Planets" was composed for piano in 2009. The unique character pieces were named after the (candidate) dwarf planets known at the time, whose cultural mythologies resonated with the music. They have been performed frequently by various pianists. The concert combines music with poems and art to create an even stronger connection between music, astronomy, and mythology.
Educational activities
Now in its 6th edition, "EPSC Goes Live for Schools" connects scientists from around the world with local school communities. During the EPSC week of 6–11 September 2026 get ready to explore the planets of our Solar System, to learn the latest in planetary science, but also to ask your questions to early career researchers and more.
Some of the activities organized at the Amare venue include:
- "Cosmic interviews" where students meet female researchers in person;
- Stop-motion movie creation;
- Interactive workshop with Mars rover prototypes by Tumbleweed.
As well as in-person visits of scientists to schools around The Hague during the conference and an online program the week after.
The educational activities are organized by Lecturers Without Borders (LeWiBo) and supported by Europlanet Society, EPEC, ESERO Education NL, Tumbleweed Mars, Amare and Open Amare.
Events for conference participants
Various community events are organized during EPSC. We warmly recommend checking EPEC’s EPSC 2026 events page and the following activities below.
Guided tours of Huygens' Hofwijck
The 17th-century multi-talented Christiaan Huygens was born, lived, and died in the same neighbourhood where EPSC 2026 takes place. Just a few kilometres away, in the town of Voorburg, lies Hofwijck, the modest estate of the Huygens family. On Tuesday, 8 September, the Huygens Museum - Hofwijck will host a special programme exclusively for EPSC participants. Details on the program, times, and how to get there can be found via the registration page:
Eclipse around Europe
Discover the eclipse through the eyes of the EPSC community and share your own! August 2026 brought a beautiful celestial event with the solar eclipse visible across most of Europe, at least partially. Relive this unique moment and share your own experience of it with the rest of the EPSC 2026 attendees! Go to the Europlanet stand to print your photo of the eclipse and pin it to our giant map of Europe to create a European snapshot of this event.
Collaborative Art Piece
Bring your creativity to EPSC2026 and contribute to a colourful planetary science art mosaic! EPSC 2026 attendees are invited to contribute to a collaborative art piece during the congress week. Head to the Europlanet booth to pick up all that you need to contribute to building a unique mosaic focused on planetary sciences.
Planetary science pub quiz at brewery The Prael
EPEC and NPP are organising a pub quiz for EPSC participants on Tuesday 8 September’ evening at brewery The Prael. Teams will be formed on the spot to encourage new connections and embed career-stage diversity.
Europlanet Early-Career EPEC Science Flash - Roulette
Science Roulette is going to be a fun science communication challenge where participants create 2 slides teasing their research using anything from serious figures to memes and absurd visuals. The Twist? You will not present your own slides, but instead you will improvise a live 3-minute talk on someone else’s slides with no prior context.
Queer networking lunch
EPSC organizes a "Queer networking lunch" to create a supportive space where LGBTQ+ individuals can find and connect with peers. All members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome to bring their own lunch and join the networking event on Thursday 10 September.