Celebrity chefs Marc Murphy, Rocco DiSpirito, Aaron May and Jon Ashton headline exclusive VIP dining experience and food science fireside chat
Five years after launching a one-of-a-kind celebration where culinary artistry meets space exploration, Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is taking Taste of Space to new heights with a lineup of celebrity chefs and an unforgettable weekend of food-focused experiences, 3 – 4 October 2026.
The fifth anniversary celebration will feature Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition 2026, highlighted by an exclusive VIP dining experience on Saturday 3 October, followed by a Chef/Astronaut Panel on Sunday 4 October. The weekend offers guests a rare opportunity to meet and interact with some of the most recognizable chefs from culinary television while experiencing Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in an entirely new way.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate five years of Taste of Space by bringing together two things that inspire curiosity and imagination: food and space exploration,” said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “This year’s Celebrity Chef Edition takes that experience to another level, giving guests an opportunity to get up close with some of today’s most exciting culinary personalities in a setting they simply won’t find anywhere else on earth.”
An Out-of-This-World VIP Dining Experience
On Saturday 3 October, guests age 21 and older can experience an exclusive evening beginning with champagne, passed hors d’oeuvres and opportunities to mingle, before heading into Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex® for an immersive, multi-course dinner.
Throughout the evening, celebrity chefs will bring each course to life through cooking demonstrations, offering guests a behind-the-scenes look at the culinary artistry behind their dishes. Guests will also have opportunities to meet the chefs, take photos and enjoy dessert following dinner.
The evening will feature celebrity chefs Marc Murphy, Rocco DiSpirito, Aaron May and Jon Ashton.
Tickets for the VIP Dining Experience are $499 per person, with limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Chef and Astronaut Tell All
The celebration continues on Sunday 4 October, with an intimate Chef/Astronaut panel at 11am, included with general admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Murphy, DiSpirito and May, along with a few astronauts, will share their personal preferences when it comes to food. Visitors who would love to know what a chef likes to eat when they are at home, or what favourite meal an astronaut misses when they are in space, can get answers at this moderator-led discussion that will unveil the inside scoop on things everyone wonders about but never gets the chance to ask. Following the discussion, guests will have the opportunity to meet the chefs and take photos.
A Culinary Adventure Throughout the Visitor Complex
The celebration also includes Taste of Space: Fall Bites!, running from 28 September – 8 November 2026, which will feature new menu items available for purchase at the eateries at the visitor complex.
With an Americana-inspired theme to honour the USA’s 250th birthday, Taste of Space: Fall Bites! gives guests another way to experience the intersection of food, exploration and the spirit of creative innovation. A selection of savoury seasonal items and sweet treats will include confit turkey, corncakes and apple fritter at the Orbit Cafe at the main Visitor Complex, or cassoulet-style pork shank and andouille and a jumbo apple streusel muffin at the Apollo/Saturn V Center’s Moon Rock Cafe.
For event details and tickets, visit the Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition event page at www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
