Star Trek 60th anniversary celebrations are taking place across the United States and around the world on September 8, 2026, marking six decades since the original series first reached television audiences. The milestone has brought together classic episodes, restored films, new programming, fan events, television specials and major anniversary projects.
The date carries special meaning because the original Star Trek premiered on September 8, 1966, with “The Man Trap.” That broadcast introduced American viewers to the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise and established the foundation for one of television’s most enduring science-fiction franchises.
Six decades later, Star Trek remains a major part of popular culture. The 2026 anniversary program reflects both the franchise’s long history and its continuing presence across television, streaming, animation, film, publishing, games and fan experiences.
For U.S. viewers, September 8 is the centerpiece of a celebration that has already included theatrical events, convention appearances and new releases. Several additional activities will continue beyond the anniversary date.
September 8 Marks the Original Star Trek Premiere
The anniversary is tied directly to the original television debut.
NBC broadcast “The Man Trap” on September 8, 1966. Although it was not the first episode produced during the show’s development, it became the first episode shown to the public.
William Shatner played Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy portrayed Spock and DeForest Kelley played Dr. Leonard McCoy. The original cast also included Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, George Takei as Sulu, James Doohan as Scotty and Walter Koenig as Chekov.
The series created by Gene Roddenberry introduced viewers to the Enterprise and its five-year mission of exploration.
The 60th anniversary therefore returns to the date that began that television journey.
Star Trek Day has become an annual celebration of the franchise’s September 8 debut. In 2026, the occasion carries additional importance because the original premiere occurred exactly 60 years earlier.
U.S. Theaters Are Showing Restored Star Trek Films
One of the largest anniversary activities for American fans is happening in movie theaters.
More than 750 theaters across the United States are participating in a special Star Trek theatrical event from September 4 through September 8.
The program features newly restored 4K presentations of the first four Star Trek movies. Each film is paired with an episode from the original television series.
The schedule includes:
- September 4: Star Trek: The Motion Picture — The Director’s Edition, paired with “The Changeling”
- September 5: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan — The Director’s Cut, paired with “Space Seed”
- September 6: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, paired with “Amok Time”
- September 7: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, paired with “The City on the Edge of Forever”
- September 8: A Star Trek Day marathon featuring all four film-and-episode pairings
The theatrical program gives fans a chance to see major Star Trek films in restored presentations while also revisiting episodes from the original series.
Participating theaters are also offering limited-edition Enterprise-themed popcorn vessels and commemorative drink cups while supplies last.
That combination of classic television and theatrical releases makes the anniversary celebration particularly significant for longtime fans.
Los Angeles Hosts Star Trek Under the Stars
Los Angeles is hosting a special outdoor event on September 8.
“Star Trek Under the Stars” is taking place at the Autry Museum of the American West. The program begins with “The Man Trap,” connecting the event directly to the original 1966 premiere.
The evening also includes an advance screening of “Orders of Magnitude,” an episode from the fourth season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The event features fan-focused activities, including photo opportunities, food trucks, anniversary giveaways and appearances connected with the franchise.
The choice of location also gives the celebration a strong connection to Los Angeles, where Star Trek has remained closely associated with television and entertainment production for decades.
For fans attending in person, the event offers a combination of original-series history and current Star Trek programming.
CBS Is Bringing Star Trek to Daytime Television
CBS is also recognizing the anniversary through two of its established daytime programs.
The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal are airing special Star Trek-themed episodes on September 8.
The Price Is Right features Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Romijn plays Number One, while Peck portrays Spock.
The episode includes Star Trek-inspired prizes and an audience filled with fans of the franchise.
Let’s Make a Deal is also celebrating with a Star Trek-themed program featuring fans, prizes and memorabilia.
Both episodes are available on CBS, with streaming access through Paramount+.
The specials give Star Trek a presence beyond its dedicated science-fiction programming. They also connect the 60th anniversary with mainstream American daytime television.
Star Trek: Scouts Begins Its Second Season
New animation is another important part of the anniversary schedule.
Star Trek: Scouts returns for its second season on September 8 through YouTube.
The animated series follows JR, Sprocket and Roo as they train to become future Starfleet Explorers.
The program provides a younger audience with another entry point into the Star Trek universe. Its focus on friendship, curiosity and exploration reflects themes that have remained central to the franchise since the original series.
Launching the second season on September 8 gives the series a direct place within the 60th anniversary schedule.
It also means the anniversary is not limited to older Star Trek productions. New material is arriving alongside classic episodes and films.
Strange New Worlds Is Part of the Anniversary Year
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is also playing an important role in the 2026 celebration.
The show’s fourth season premiered on Paramount+ on July 23. The 10-episode season is releasing weekly through September 24.
The series follows Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise during the period before the events of the original Star Trek series.
That setting makes the program especially relevant during the 60th anniversary year.
Strange New Worlds uses characters and elements associated with the earliest Star Trek era while presenting them through a modern television production.
The fourth-season finale is scheduled for September 24. The series will then return for a fifth and final season.
As a result, Strange New Worlds remains one of the key current Star Trek productions during the anniversary period.
San Diego Comic-Con Celebrated Six Decades of Star Trek
The anniversary received another major U.S. celebration at San Diego Comic-Con in July.
The Star Trek Universe presentation brought together performers connected with different periods of the franchise.
George Takei, Michael Dorn, Robert Picardo, Cirroc Lofton, Connor Trinneer, Doug Jones, Michelle Hurd, Jerry O’Connell, Christina Chong and Karim Diane were among the Star Trek talent represented during the event.
The cast and creative team behind Strange New Worlds also participated.
The convention appearance highlighted the breadth of the franchise. Instead of concentrating on one series, the presentation brought together people associated with different generations of Star Trek.
That approach has become a major feature of the 2026 anniversary celebrations.
A Global Vulcan Salute Is Marking Star Trek Day
Fans around the world are also participating in a coordinated Vulcan Salute celebration.
The initiative culminates in London with an official Guinness World Records attempt involving people performing the Vulcan Salute at the same time.
The Vulcan Salute is one of the most recognizable symbols associated with Star Trek.
The gesture was popularized by Leonard Nimoy’s portrayal of Spock and has remained part of Star Trek fandom for decades.
The worldwide event allows fans who cannot attend a U.S. celebration to participate in the anniversary.
It also demonstrates how Star Trek’s fan community has grown far beyond the show’s original American television audience.
Star Trek Reaches the International Space Station
The 60th anniversary also includes a real-world space connection.
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is marking Star Trek Day aboard the International Space Station with the Captain’s Delta badge associated with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Special content created from orbit is being released on September 8.
The connection reflects one of Star Trek’s defining ideas: exploration.
The original series imagined humanity traveling beyond Earth and encountering new worlds. Six decades later, astronauts continue to conduct scientific research in space while Star Trek remains part of the cultural conversation surrounding exploration.
The International Space Station connection gives the anniversary a distinctive link between science fiction and real spaceflight.
National Parks Are Part of the Anniversary Celebration
The 2026 anniversary also includes a partnership with the National Park Foundation.
The initiative encourages fans to explore America’s national parks and connect the franchise’s themes of discovery with real-world destinations.
Digital and social content highlights natural landscapes, dark skies and outdoor exploration.
Star Trek is also working with DarkSky International on an initiative focused on preserving night skies and natural landscapes.
These programs give fans ways to participate outside traditional entertainment venues.
The focus remains closely connected to exploration, one of the central concepts that has defined Star Trek since its beginning.
A New LEGO Enterprise Bridge Set Arrived in September
The anniversary is also being marked through new collectibles.
The LEGO Group and Paramount Products & Experiences released the LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge set on September 1.
The 1,701-piece set recreates the bridge and transporter room from the original series.
The collection includes eight Starfleet minifigures representing Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Sulu, McCoy, Chekov, Chapel and Scotty.
The set gives collectors a physical recreation of one of the most recognizable locations in Star Trek history.
Its release just one week before September 8 places it directly within the anniversary celebration.
Star Trek Continues Beyond September 8
The 60th anniversary is not ending with Star Trek Day.
Several confirmed events remain scheduled for later in 2026.
Star Trek will receive the Franchise of the Year Award at the 2026 Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame ceremony in New York City on September 29.
The franchise will also appear at New York Comic Con on October 10. The Star Trek Universe panel will feature Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and a preview connected with its upcoming second season, along with anniversary appearances.
A dedicated Star Trek Magic: The Gathering set is scheduled for November 13.
The collaboration brings Star Trek characters and elements into the popular tabletop card game.
Another anniversary publication, Star Trek Timelines, is scheduled for release on November 17 and covers characters, stories and alternate realities from across the franchise.
These projects show that the anniversary celebration extends well beyond the central September 8 date.
Six Decades of Star Trek Reach a Major Milestone
The 60th anniversary is a major moment because Star Trek has continued to evolve across generations.
The original series lasted three seasons, but its characters and ideas continued through feature films, television series and animated productions.
The franchise later introduced Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks and other productions.
Its history now spans multiple generations of viewers.
The 2026 celebration reflects that history without limiting the anniversary to nostalgia.
Classic episodes are returning to theaters while new programming continues to reach audiences through streaming and digital platforms.
That balance gives the milestone its distinctive character.
The 60th Anniversary Is Being Celebrated Across Multiple Formats
For U.S. fans, September 8 offers several ways to mark the occasion.
Movie theaters are presenting restored films. CBS is airing themed daytime programs. Paramount+ continues its current Star Trek programming. YouTube is launching the second season of Star Trek: Scouts.
Fans can also participate through special events, collectibles and anniversary activities.
The celebrations connect the original 1966 series with productions released more than half a century later.
That connection remains at the heart of the 2026 milestone.
Star Trek began with a television crew traveling through space aboard the Enterprise. Sixty years later, that ship, its characters and its central ideas remain recognizable to audiences across the United States and around the world.
The anniversary also gives longtime viewers a chance to revisit the original series while introducing newer fans to the material that started everything.
With additional programming, convention appearances, collectibles and special releases continuing through the rest of 2026, the anniversary represents more than a single day on the calendar.
It is a year that brings together six decades of Star Trek history while keeping the franchise visible across television, streaming, theaters, digital entertainment and fan communities.
How are you celebrating the Star Trek 60th anniversary? Share your favorite Star Trek memory and stay tuned for the latest confirmed updates.