Franchise commemorating Star Trek's 60th anniversary with a series of initiatives, including Lego sets and a YouTube series
As Star Trek turns 60, the beloved sci-fi franchise is gearing up for an unforgettable year-long celebration. The theme for this milestone anniversary is "Space for Everybody," symbolising a future of hope, exploration, and boldness.
The celebration kicks off on New Year's Day with a float in the Rose Parade in California, featuring the upcoming new series "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," set to launch in early 2026 on Paramount+. The float will reflect the values of hope, inclusivity, exploration, and unity that Star Trek has always stood for.
Paramount has partnered with Lego for the first time to bring Star Trek to life, citing shared values of imagination, exploration, and building a better tomorrow. This partnership will result in a variety of Lego sets, adding a fun and interactive element to the celebration.
In addition to the Rose Parade float, the celebration includes fan-centric projects such as new shows, Lego sets, and even a Star Trek cruise. The cruise is scheduled to set sail in late February, filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences in celebration of the franchise's 60th anniversary. Notable Star Trek actors, including Shatner and Walter Koenig, will join the voyage.
One of the new shows unveiled during the celebration is "Star Trek: Scout," an original, animated YouTube-first series created by Nickelodeon Digital Studio in association with CBS Studio. This is the first preschool extension of the franchise, following three 8-year-old friends as they train to become future Starfleet Explorers.
The first two episodes of "Star Trek: Scout" were released on Monday, with the rest scheduled to roll out into the next year. Another series, "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," also made its debut during a Comic-Con event in late July, featuring actors Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti. This series centres on a group of young cadets navigating their responsibilities and personal relationships while becoming Starfleet officers.
The sci-fi franchise began with a TV series created by Gene Roddenberry that debuted in 1966, and it has since expanded to include multiple TV shows, films, and books. The 60th anniversary celebration was announced on Star Trek Day, which is the franchise's 59th anniversary.
To delve deeper into the Star Trek universe, a new scripted podcast, "Star Trek: Khan," was released on Monday. This podcast chronicles Khan's descent into the iconic villain introduced in the 1982 film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." New episodes will air weekly.
With new shows, podcasts, a cruise, and Lego sets, Star Trek fans have much to look forward to as the franchise celebrates its 60th anniversary. The theme of "Space for Everybody" encapsulates the hope and inclusivity that has made Star Trek a beloved part of pop culture for six decades.
