The monumental opening celebration will feature world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, legendary rock musician and STARMUS co-founder Sir Brian May, and internationally acclaimed soprano Sarah Brightman. The iconic vocalists and instrumentalists are set to perform alongside the Las Palmas Symphony Orchestra and the STARMUS All Stars Band. Bringing together legendary voices from across the distinct worlds of classical music, rock, and live performance, the concert promises to be one of the most ambitious and memorable musical events in STARMUS history.
The evening will also include special guest appearances by celebrated keyboardist Rick Wakeman and violinist Rusanda Panfili, with additional performance artists to be announced in the coming months. STARMUS was originally co-founded by astrophysicist Garik Israelian alongside Queen guitarist Brian May. Over the years, the gathering has built a massive global reputation for blending cutting-edge scientific discussion with world-class artistic collaborations.
The concert kicks off a multi-day program in Tenerife, with the full festival running from 17 October through 22 October 2026. This special anniversary lineup offers a rare opportunity for audiences to witness collaborative performances between definitive masters of different musical genres, all set against the backdrop of the Canary Islands. Tickets for the full STARMUS VIII festival, including the star-studded opening celebration concert, are available now and can be booked directly through the official event platform at the festival’s dedicated website.