Celebrating 30 Years of European Satellite Navigation
Background
In 2025, Europe celebrated a remarkable milestone: 30 years of European satellite navigation. Three decades of innovation, collaboration and pioneering spirit that laid the foundation for systems such as EGNOS and Galileo, which today guide millions of people around the world. It was a moment of pride, reflection and forward thinking. More than 600 guests – including staff, industry partners and representatives from the European Commission – came together for the occasion. The celebration took place at the ESA ESTEC site in Noordwijk, a familiar location for Congress by design. That familiarity made us the natural partner to help shape this special moment.
Noordwijk
Location
2
Shows
600
Attendees
Live
Format
By design
To define the essence of this unique celebration, we organised a meeting design session with ESA. Using creative methods such as “crossing the line”, we uncovered the core message and, together with our partner Obsession, developed a concept that honoured both the history and the future of satellite navigation. The result was a programme divided into five chapters, telling the story of navigation – from a compelling monologue by Galileo Galilei and his ‘imagined’ great-great-granddaughter Celeste, to a news show featuring impressive projections and interviews. In collaboration with a show director, the concept was further developed into a powerful, immersive show that culminated in the unveiling of the name of ESA’s LEO-PNT mission: Celeste. With her passion for space exploration, Anna Gimbrère was the perfect host to bring this story to life. The event was complemented by a photo exhibition showcasing the thirty most significant moments in the history of European satellite navigation. Originally planned as a single show, the strong interest led to two performances: one for ESA staff and one for invited guests, each followed by a reception and dinner. Flexibility proved essential. As ESA ESTEC is not originally designed as an event venue, its sports hall was completely transformed into an intimate black box setting. Together with AV partner Solid Rental, we overcame technical challenges and created a space that immersed guests in the experience from the very first moment – beginning with a star-lit tunnel at the entrance.
Result
The celebration of 30 years of European satellite navigation became a memorable moment that united pride, emotion and connection. Over 600 attendees experienced a show that not only celebrated Europe’s rich navigation heritage, but also looked firmly to the future. Guests felt recognised, employees saw their passion reflected, and even senior leaders were visibly moved. The transformation of a sports hall into a high-end theatre highlighted the power of creative event design and demonstrated that large-scale impact is possible through thoughtful and inventive planning. It was an unforgettable celebration that raised the bar for future anniversaries.
