On a winter night befitting a voyage into the unknown, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy made its highly anticipated premiere at the American Museum of Natural History. It transformed one of New York City’s most iconic cultural institutions into a gateway to the future. The “blue” carpet was rolled out for celebrities from throughout the Star Trek Universe and beyond. They gathered for the first look at the newest addition to the franchise.
The event was held on January 6, 2026, just nine days before Star Trek: Starfleet Academy airs worldwide. Paramount+ broadcast the event live on YouTube, hosted by Celia Rose Gooding from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
A Very, Very Bad Guy
Gooding, who plays Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, lit up the premiere with her big smile and glowing personality. She took us through the newest members of the Star Trek family.
She began with Paul Giamatti, who plays the villain Nus Braka. Giamatti is the winner of a Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globes. He’s best known for his roles in Saving Private Ryan (1998), Man on the Moon (1999), Sideways, Cinderella Man, and The Illusionist (2006).
“I’m a very very bad guy – I’m an angry, Unhappy Man. (Nus) is Deadly serious – there is no joking about this man at all!”
Paul Giamatti
Legacy & Culture
Next, Celia spoke with Holly Hunter, who plays Chancellor Nahla Ake in Starfleet Academy. The Chancellor will also captain the USS Athena, a vessel meant to provide cadets with real field experience.
“I have such respect for the legacy of Star Trek and for Kate Mulgrew who started the template of having a woman being in a leadership role like this.”
Holly Hunter
Karim Diané stepped up to the microphone next. He plays the Klingon character Jay-Den Kraag, who will allegedly show audiences an alternative side to Klingon culture. Bella Shepard also joins the Star Trek family as Genesis, the daughter of an admiral who has post-academy dreams of commanding. With season 2 already in production, she explains that a very “personal episode” surrounding her character is coming up.
Kerrice Brooks and George Hawkins took time to speak with Celia Rose Gooding about their characters, Sam and Darrem.
“Sam is a very sweet girl, and she has good intentions.”
Kerrice Brooks
Their Own Unique Path
Producers Alex Kurtman and Noga Landau were also in attendance and gave insight on the newest series. “These are just kids at the start of their journey,” said Kurtzman. He explained how, through this journey, each character will learn about themselves and find their own unique path in Starfleet. They both described season one of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as “new, sexy, adventurous, fun, emotional and scary”!
British actress and comedian Gina Yashere is joining the crew as Lura Thok – a half-Klingon half-Jem Hadar hybrid. She spoke to Celia about her personal motto, “Enjoy the Journey.” Her qualities of pushing through obstacles and staying the course show in her upcoming character.
We Will Bring the Fight
WWE wrestling star Becky Lynch will also be on the bridge of the USS Athena. The night before the premiere, she won the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Perhaps we’ll see her bring some WWE into the 32nd century!
“Don’t mess with the bridge crew…don’t mess with the Starfleet Academy! Don’t come at us if you’re not ready to fight! We will bring the fight, and we will win!”
Becky Lynch
Lastly, Zoe Steiner and Sandro Rosta will be classmates Tarima Sadal, a betazoid, and Caleb Mir. Not much is known about these characters, but both are described as having unique journeys and perspectives through Starfleet Academy.
Veteran’s and More
Veterans from the Star Trek universe were also in attendance. These included Kate Mulgrew, Tawny Newsome, Michelle Hurd, Melissa Navia, David Ajala, and Ethan Phillips. Other notable guests, such as Bill Nye, who is a life-long Star Trek fan, also came to see the launch of the latest installment.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will be bringing back several Star Trek alumni, such as Tig Notaro, Mary Wiseman, and Robert Picardo.
A Super Fan Beams Down
Trek Central’s previously featured Super Fan Katie Nickolaou took a break from meteorology and travelled to New York City for the premiere.
“The premiere was absolutely incredible! You couldn’t ask for a better venue than the American Museum of Natural History. Being able to watch the show in a room full of people who care so deeply about it, it was simply magical. Everyone was locked in from the moment the screen lit up to the final end credits. While watching the episode, it was so much fun to hear the audience’s live reactions! There were several points where the entire room erupted with laughter, and others where we were outright cheering! It was incredible!
One of the things that really stood out to me about the episode was the use of color in it. The lighting, the set design, the costumes, it all just had a warm resonating light to it. It’s such a visually stunning show to watch, and I can’t wait for everyone to get to see it! After the screening concluded, many of the actors remained in the theater to chat with fans and take pictures. Gina Yashere was chatting with a group of us until the theater was practically empty. It was so amazing to see all of these new Trek actors really embrace the fandom!”
Katie Nickolaou
Class Has Commenced!
By choosing the American Museum of Natural History for its debut, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy anchored its premiere in a place dedicated to understanding our past, present, and potential futures. It was a fitting launchpad for a series that aims to inspire the next generation of dreamers, leaders, and explorers.
The show premieres its first two episodes on Thursday, 15th January, on Paramount+. New episodes will be released weekly, every Thursday, throughout its ten-episode first season.
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