‘Star Trek’ Day Celebrates 55 Years of Trek With a Live Orchestra, Panels and More

For the second year in a row, Paramount+ (technically CBS All Access last year) is celebrating Star Trek Day, the anniversary of the broadcast of the pilot episode of the original Star Trek series, on September 8. And this year? F**k it, we’re doing it live.

Okay, fine, last year was also live, but the difference is that while the 54th anniversary of the broadcast of “The Man Trap” was a Zoom style celebration, this year’s 55th anniversary of Trek will still be streamed live, but it will also happen live at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Kicking off at 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET, and hosted by mainstays Wil Wheaton and Mica Burton, the two hour plus event will feature panels and reunions with casts throughout Star Trek history, as well as special “legacy moments” looking back throughout the franchise’s shows. And not only that, the whole thing will be accompanied by a live orchestra, conducted by composer Jeff Russo.

The panels themselves range from classic, to upcoming. Here’s a full rundown, as provided to Decider by Paramount+:

STAR TREK: PRODIGY, with series voice cast including Brett Gray and Dee Bradley Baker, along with executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman and co-executive producer/director, Ben Hibon.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, with series stars Wilson Cruz, Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander and co-showrunner and executive producer Michelle Paradise.

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, with series stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck, who will be joined by co-showrunners and executive producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers.

STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, with voice cast members Noël Wells and Eugene Cordero alongside series creator, showrunner and executive producer Mike McMahan.

STAR TREK: PICARD, with series stars Patrick Stewart and Jeri Ryan, co-showrunner and executive producer Akiva Goldsman and a special live performance from Isa Briones, singing “Blue Skies,” which was featured in the PICARD season one finale.

RODDENBERRY LEGACY PANEL, featuring a conversation with Gene Roddenberry’s son and the CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment, Rod Roddenberry, alongside Gates McFadden (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), LeVar Burton (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) and George Takei (“Star Trek: The Original Series”), as they discuss the “Star Trek” creator’s indelible impact on science fiction and culture.

Along with the announcement was a short video looking back — and forward — through the franchise, including what looks like an updated logo for the upcoming Discovery spinoff, Strange New Worlds:

Also probably worth noting? In order to join the festivities, you need to head to StarTrek.com/Day, which is currently streaming last year’s panels to get you hyped. But that’s not all as they say! In the US, you’ll also be able to stream for free on Paramount+, and Paramount+’s Twitch page. After their initial airing, the panels will be available on-demand on Paramount+’s YouTube Channel, and on Paramount+.

So get excited, Star Trek fans! Or, to quote Captain Pike: punch it.