The Moon Village Association (MVA) and International Moon Day (IMD) Group, invites proposals to host the International Moon Day 2026 Main Event, to be held on 20 July 2026.
Proclaimed by the United Nations in 2021, International Moon Day is celebrated each year to raise global awareness of sustainable lunar exploration. The Main Event is the international focal point of IMD, gathering space professionals, government representatives, industry, academia, and the public to mark this occasion.
Past Main Events
Since its UN proclamation in 2021, the IMD Main Event has been celebrated in leading space locations worldwide, in partnership with prominent institutions:
- 2022 – Huntsville, Alabama, USA – hosted by Drake State Community & Technical College
- 2023 – Gwacheon, South Korea – hosted by the National Science Museum of Korea
- 2024 – Harbin, China – hosted by Harbin Institute of Technology and the Chinese Society of Astronautics
- 2025 – Dubai, UAE – hosted by the University of Dubai
Each edition has drawn strong participation from space professionals, institutions, and the public, highlighting the global significance of International Moon Day.
About the Event
- Date: 20 July 2026 (single-day event, up to 5 hours)
- Format: In-person with livestream to ensure global participation
- Attendance: Up to 100 participants on site, with hybrid participation supported
- Program: Keynotes, panel discussions, outreach activities, and celebration of lunar exploration milestones
Host Responsibilities
The selected host will be responsible for:
- Securing and funding the venue and all local logistics (venue rental, catering, audiovisual, signage, etc.)
- Covering costs through own resources and/or sponsorships (no registration fees will be charged to participants)
- Ensuring facilities suitable for hybrid participation
- Supporting participation of international guests (e.g., visa facilitation, hotel information, local transport)
- Coordinating media and outreach in cooperation with the IMD Group
- Holding monthly coordination calls with the IMD team until the event date
- Engaging with local stakeholders (government, space agency, industry, academia) to maximize visibility
Note: Hosts are encouraged to seek external sponsorship. A small contribution (approx. 10%) from sponsorship revenues should be allocated to support IMD Group activities.
Benefits for the Host
While there is no direct financial support from MVA/IMD, hosting the Main Event offers significant international visibility by bringing a UN-proclaimed space celebration to the host country, strengthening connections with global and local stakeholders.
Proposal Requirements
Interested hosts should provide:
- Proposed venue and location (accessibility, facilities, capacity)
- Plan for covering costs (own resources and/or sponsorship strategy)
- Experience in organizing international events and potential institutional partners
- Local support available (staff/volunteers, links with government/space organizations)
Submission Deadline
Proposals must be submitted by 1 November 2025 (midnight CEST) to: info@internationalmoonday.org and CC glafki.antoniou@internationalmoonday.org
The selected host will be announced on 4 December 2025, during the Closing Ceremony of the 9th Global Moon Village Workshop & Symposium in Turin, Italy.