Neil deGrasse Tyson Brings “The Search for Life in the Universe” to San Diego Civic Theatre

Single-night appearance set for Feb. 19, with tickets sold through official venue channels

San Diego Theatres is scheduled to present an onstage talk by astrophysicist and science communicator Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson titled “The Search for Life in the Universe” on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the San Diego Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego.

The event description indicates Tyson’s presentation is structured around how scientists look for conditions that could support life beyond Earth. The program begins with Mars and expands outward to broader efforts to identify potentially habitable worlds, including the search for liquid water and other indicators used in modern planetary science. The topic then culminates in the question of intelligent life, framed as a scientific inquiry that extends beyond the Solar System.

What the program covers, based on published event materials

As advertised, the talk centers on the scientific process behind evaluating whether a planet or moon could support life. The framing emphasizes a progression from nearby targets—such as Mars—to more distant planets, reflecting how current astronomy and planetary science approach the question through observation, detection methods, and ongoing exploration efforts.

• Review of Mars as an early focal point in the modern search for habitability
• Discussion of the broader hunt for habitable planets
• Focus on liquid water as a key factor in assessing potential life-supporting environments
• Extension of the search to the possibility of intelligent life

“Beginning with Mars, we review the ongoing effort to search for habitable planets, liquid water, and life in the cosmos. Culminating in the search for intelligent life, whether or not it already exists on Earth.”

Ticketing, age rules, and venue policies

San Diego Theatres lists the San Diego Civic Theatre as the venue and notes that all attendees, regardless of age, must have their own ticket. VIP packages are listed as available. The runtime is not specified in event listings.

San Diego Theatres states that SanDiegoTheatres.org and Ticketmaster.com are the official authorized sources for tickets for events at the San Diego Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre. The organization also describes event-day ticket office operations as cashless, with in-person sales available on event days only and opening several hours before performances.

For entry, San Diego Theatres publishes a bag and security policy that limits bag size to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches and notes a list of prohibited items that includes weapons, outside food or beverages, laptops, tablets, signs, noisemakers, mace or pepper spray, and oversized bags. The policies also state that patrons are subject to security screening and that the venues do not provide an area to check bags or personal items.

Getting there

The San Diego Civic Theatre is located at 1100 Third Avenue. Regional transit information for the event highlights the venue’s proximity to multiple trolley and bus routes for attendees planning to use public transportation.

The appearance adds a major science-focused lecture event to the Civic Theatre calendar, with the program positioned as a live, general-audience presentation built around the scientific search for life beyond Earth.