SPIRou is the new near-infrared (nIR) spectropolarimeter / velocimeter for the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). SPIRou aims in particular at becoming world-leader on two forefront science topics, (i) the quest for Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of very-low-mass stars, and (ii) the study of low-mass star & planet formation in the presence of magnetic fields. The science programs that SPIRou proposes to tackle are forefront, ambitious and timely - ideally phased in particular with complementary space missions like TESS and later-on JWST and PLATO.

To address these two main science goal with SPIRou, 310 CFHT nights were first allocated over 7 semesters (2019a to 2022a) in the framework of a Large Programme (LP) called the SPIRou Legacy Survey (SLS). The SLS is divided into three main components, two of them dedicated to exoplanets around M dwarfs, and one focussed on large-scale magnetic felds & young hot Jupiters of pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars.

Following the completion of the SLS, a new LP of 174.3 CFHT nights, called SPICE (standing for 'SPIRou Legacy Survey - Consolidation & Enhancement') was allocated over 4 semesters (2022b to 2024a). SPICE focusses on a sample of late-M dwarfs, TESS candidates and pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars that were not monitored within the SLS. A final semester (2024b) was allocated to SPICE (as PI programmes on both F and C sides) to complete the ongoing observations of a few key targets.

After completion of SPICE and its 2024b extension, a third LP called PLANETS (standing for PLanets, Atmospheres, and Nativity of ExtraTerrestrial worldS) was awarded 240 CFHT nights over 4 new semesters (2025a to 2026b), with broadened science goals now including the study of exoplanet atmospheres.

SLS and SPICE observations aim at the following objectives: (i) accomplish selected large-scale community-defined scientific programs and (ii) provide the community with an extensive, homogenous, well characterized, and high quality database having the potential for a wide range of long-lasting scientific applications with a clear Legacy dimension.