Italy in space
ESA School Days 2027 at ESRIN in Frascati: dates and applications
The ESA School Days 2027 will take place from 15 to 19 March at ESA ESRIN in Frascati, with online applications from December and up to 50 students per school.
In brief
The ESA School Days return in 2027 at ESA ESRIN in Frascati from 15 to 19 March, with five free days of workshops and space activities for Italian primary and lower secondary schools.
Key points
- The ESA School Days 2027 take place from 15 to 19 March 2027 at ESA ESRIN in Frascati.
- Online registration opens at the beginning of December 2026 on the dedicated ESA page.
- Year IV and V primary classes and years I, II and III of lower secondary school are eligible.
- The primary school programme runs from 15 to 17 March, while lower secondary schools are hosted on 18 and 19 March.
- Each school can register up to 50 students and priority goes to schools that have never participated.
- Participation is free, sessions are in Italian and results are sent by e-mail to the referring teachers.
This article is based on press releases from the organizations mentioned.
ESA published an announcement on 14 October 2026. The ESA School Days 2027 will return to ESA ESRIN in Frascati from 15 to 19 March 2027. ESRIN is the European Space Agency centre dedicated to Earth Observation programmes. As reported in ESA’s official communication, the event reopens the doors of the centre to hundreds of students from all over Italy. Schools must mark the dates and prepare their application: the registration form will be available at the beginning of December.
What the ESA School Days are and where they take place
Once a year, ESA ESRIN opens its doors to students for five full days of discovery, experimentation and learning. The goal is to bring young people closer to the world of space. It also aims to show that scientific research and space exploration are already part of everyday life.
The programme is built on presentations, workshops and hands-on activities. Girls and boys discover how ESA’s satellites, technologies and data help to better understand the planet. These resources are used to protect the environment and respond to emergencies. They also help prepare for future challenges. It is a direct link to the mission of the Frascati centre, the European heart of Earth Observation.
How to apply: dates, recipients and procedure
The application must be completed online through a registration form. ESA will publish the form at the beginning of December on the page dedicated to the initiative. Participation is free of charge and all sessions will be held in Italian.
Students in years IV and V of primary school and years I, II and III of lower secondary school can apply. The calendar distinguishes between the two school levels. Primary schools will have their programme from 15 to 17 March 2027. Lower secondary schools will be hosted on 18 and 19 March. Schools must therefore carefully check the window corresponding to their level before submitting their application.
Selection criteria and communication of results
Places are limited, so ESA applies precise selection criteria. ESA wants to offer the opportunity to as many schools as possible: each school, identified by the main campus’s administrative code, will be able to register up to 50 students. On priority, ESA is explicit:
Priority will be given to schools that, according to the database at our disposal, have never taken part in previous editions: this criterion will be decisive and will take precedence over all others.
Places may remain available. In that case, admission is extended to schools that have already participated, following a chronological order. Those whose last participation is furthest in the past come first. Results will be communicated to the referring teachers, at the e-mail address indicated in the application, in the weeks following the application deadline. For further information, ESA indicates the contact communication.esrin@esa.int.
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