Bibliotheca Alexandrina closes planetarium from 28 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 17:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Bibliotheca Alexandrina will close its Planetarium Theatre from 28 September to 1 October 2026 for upgrades to the projection system. The change affects the science attraction in Alexandria, Egypt, while the wider complex remains a library, cultural centre and event venue.
Planetarium Theatre closure runs from 28 September
The operator says the Planetarium Theatre will be closed from Monday, 28 September 2026, through Thursday, 1 October 2026. The stated reason is an upgrade to the projection system, making the closure a direct access change for visitors planning a show during those four days.
The closure notice sits alongside details of Science Festivity 2026, which takes place from 26 to 28 September 2026 on the Plaza and at the Conference Center. The programme is aimed at school and university students, families and individuals with special needs, and the organiser states that admission is free with prior registration. The Planetarium Science Center notice places the festivity and the closure at the same Alexandria complex.
How the closure fits Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The planetarium is not a separate city attraction but part of a connected architectural complex beside Alexandria’s historic eastern harbour. An official architectural account describes the planetarium as a sphere linked to the main plaza, the Conference Center and the library building below the public space.
The main building was designed by the Snøhetta Hamza Consortium and is formed around a circular structure inclined towards the sea. Its external granite wall carries letters from approximately 120 writing systems, while the complex also contains specialised libraries, museums, exhibition areas, research institutes and a Conference Center. The official Alexandria location and design record places the institution beside the University of Alexandria campus in Shatby, overlooking the Mediterranean.
The timing links a short technical closure with a science programme that reaches the Plaza before the theatre shuts. Visitors therefore encounter an active public programme from 26 to 28 September 2026, followed by four days when the Planetarium Theatre itself is unavailable.
Visiting Bibliotheca Alexandrina: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Planetarium Theatre is closed from 28 September to 1 October 2026. Science Festivity 2026 runs from 26 to 28 September 2026 on the Plaza and at the Conference Center.
- The restriction applies to the Planetarium Theatre and its projection-system upgrade. The notice does not announce a closure of the entire library complex, its museums or its other facilities.
- The site is in Shatby, Alexandria, beside the University of Alexandria Faculty of Arts campus and overlooking the Mediterranean. The complex includes the Plaza, the Conference Center, the library and the planetarium.
- The architectural layout connects the planetarium with the Plaza through tunnels or bridges, while the main library contains cascading reading levels and specialised library areas.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Bibliotheca Alexandrina
What has changed at Bibliotheca Alexandrina?
The Planetarium Theatre will be closed from 28 September to 1 October 2026 for upgrades to its projection system. The notice concerns the theatre rather than the entire Alexandria complex.
Where is Bibliotheca Alexandrina and how do you get there?
It is in Shatby, Alexandria, beside the University of Alexandria Faculty of Arts campus and overlooking the Mediterranean. The complex contains the library, Plaza, Conference Center and planetarium.
When does Science Festivity 2026 take place at Bibliotheca Alexandrina?
Science Festivity 2026 runs from 26 to 28 September 2026 on the Plaza and at the Conference Center. The organiser states that admission is free with prior registration.
