Star Trek Day 2023 Celebration Includes Strange New Worlds CBS Airings and Lower Decks Special Screenings

How will Trekkies celebrate Star Trek Day this year?

Star Trek Day 2023 poster

On September 8, 2023, fans around the world will celebrate Star Trek Day, a global event honoring the 57th anniversary of the original Star Trek series and the beloved sci-fi franchise as a whole, created by Gene Roddenberry. To mark this milestone, Paramount+, the CBS Television Network, and CBS Studios have prepared a day filled with special events, screenings, and giveaways for Trekkies, as they celebrate all things Star Trek. Read on to find out all the festivities happening on this year’s Star Trek Day.

Star Trek Day Special Program

On September 8th, Trekkies can watch the Star Trek Day special program. Hosted by Jerry O’Connell, who voices Commander Jack Ransom in Star Trek: Lower Decks, the special program is a salute to the franchise. It will feature segments that will look back at the most memorable Star Trek moments over the past 57 years; commemorate 50 years of Star Trek animation; pay tribute to Star Trek: Discovery, ahead of its fifth and final season; and drop an exclusive sneak-peek clip from the upcoming fourth season of Star Trek: Lower Decks.

The special will be available to watch for free globally on the following platforms:

Fans in the United States can also stream the special Paramount+, Pluto TV (Paramount+ Picks, STAR TREK, More STAR TREK, and Pluto TV Sci-Fi channels), and Mixable. It will also air on select local CBS affiliates, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Pop TV, Fave TV, and Smithsonian.com.

Star Trek Day | The Biggest Party In The Galaxy | Paramount+

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Special CBS Airings

As part of the Star Trek Day 2023 festivities, the first two episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will air on CBS back-to-back, starting at 8 pm ET/PT, on September 8. Check out the synopsis for the two episodes below:

Strange New Worlds (Episode 101, Series Premiere): When one of Pike’s officers goes missing while on a secret mission for Starfleet, Pike (Anson Mount) has to come out of self-imposed exile. He must navigate how to rescue his officer, while struggling with what to do with the vision of the future he’s been given. Teleplay by Akiva Goldsman; story by Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet; directed by Akiva Goldsman 

Children of the Comet (Episode 102): While on a survey mission, the U.S.S. Enterprise discovers a comet is going to strike an inhabited planet. The crew tries to re-route the comet, only to find that an ancient alien relic buried on the comet’s icy surface is somehow stopping them. As the away team tries to unlock the relic’s secrets, Pike (Anson Mount) and Number One (Rebecca Romijn) deal with a group of zealots who want to prevent the U.S.S. Enterprise from interfering. Written by Henry Alonso Myers & Sarah Tarkoff; directed by Maja Vrvilo

Star Trek: Lower Decks Special Screenings

Star Trek Day commemorates the Star Trek: The Animated Series 50th anniversary with an evening of cartoon comedy, including four specially selected episodes of the hit animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. Free of charge, these screenings will held in select cinemas across the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. Packed with sneak peeks and surprises, free concessions, and giveaways, the Star Trek Animated Celebration Screenings will take place in Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, St. Louis, Washington D.C., Vancouver, Calgary, and London. To attend the event, fans can register at http://gofobo.com/StarTrekAnimatedCelebration starting Thursday, August 24, at 12 p.m. ET.

Star Trek The Animated Celebration poster
Star Trek The Animated Celebration poster

Star Trek Day Merchandise Sale

Fans can also shop official Star Trek merchandise from curated Star Trek Day and Star Trek: The Animated Series collections at discounted prices at Shop.StarTrek.com on September 8. Fans can use the code STARTREKDAY for 25% off sitewide.

When did Star Trek Day start?

Star Trek Day logo
Star Trek Day logo

Star Trek Day is a relatively new holiday, first celebrated in 2020. It was created by CBS, the company that owns the Star Trek franchise, to celebrate the anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek: The Original Series on September 8, 1966.

The first Star Trek Day was celebrated with a variety of events and activities, including a live stream on CBS All Access (now Paramount+), a panel discussion with cast members from the various Star Trek series, and a charity auction. The day was also marked by social media campaigns and challenges, as fans around the world came together to celebrate their love of the franchise.

Since then, Star Trek Day has become an annual event, with more and more fans participating each year.

Sources: StarTrek.com