Enjoy a night out at Norwich Science Festival

The city’s biggest celebration of science returns this month - and there’s still time to join us!

We’ll be back from Saturday 14–Saturday 21 February 2026, and while it may fall in half term, Norwich Science Festival isn’t just for kids.

Our tenth-anniversary programme is packed with fun and thought-provoking events created especially for adult audiences. From foodie favourites and bookish talks to a gig night with a difference, why not swap your usual evening plans for something unexpected?

These after-dark events offer the perfect chance to see science in a whole new light...

This year, we're kicking off the birthday celebrations early with our first-ever late-night opening of The Explorium (Fri 13 Feb, 7.30pm) at The Forum.

Just for adults (18+), this unmissable evening features a DJ and bar, an epic bubble show, a trio of fascinating talks and hands-on fun from LUSH Norwich, artist Alice Lee, BeanTastic Hummus and more! You'll also get a first look at the Microbe Zoo and immerse yourself in the teeny, tiny world of microorganisms. Your ticket includes one free drink - our way of saying cheers to ten incredible years!

Fancy a night out at the theatre… but not as you know it? Join adventurer and best-selling author Aldo Kane at Norwich Theatre Royal (Sun 15 Feb, 7.30pm) as he takes you from volcanoes to Everest, sharing jaw-dropping stories from his career.

In conversation with former soldier and podcast host Michael Coates, Aldo will reveal what it takes to survive, and thrive, in the world’s most extreme environments.

Shake up your Sunday plans with a flavour-packed evening of Kombucha and Cheese Tasting at Yalm Foodhall (Sun 15 Feb, 6.30pm). Watch live demonstrations, explore the science of fermentation and have a go at making your own kombucha starter with the award-winning Oichi team. You'll end the night sampling local cheeses paired with Oichi’s small-batch kombucha - a tasty, hands-on way to wrap up the weekend!

Or if music is more your thing, why not join singer-songwriter Hannah Rose Platt at Norwich Arts Centre? (Tue 17 Feb, 7.30pm). From the ‘hysterics’ of 19th-century Paris to the glowing tragedy of the Radium Girls in the 1920s, Hannah pairs her incredible original music with long-hidden histories of women’s health in this unmissable live show.

Ever left a bar because someone wouldn't stop whistling? Writer and poet John Osborne has, and he’s turned his noisy frustrations into a fascinating, funny and moving show especially for Norwich Science Festival.

A Fear of Whistling (Tue 17 Feb, 7pm) at the National Centre for Writing mixes humour, storytelling and science to explore misophonia and how everyday sounds shape our lives.

Book lovers - don’t miss Christie Watson and daughter Rowan Egberongbe as they explore communicating across generations in No Filters (Wed 18 Feb, 7pm). They’ll dive into what it’s like to be a Gen X mum and a Gen Z daughter today, exploring mother-daughter relationships alongside neurodiversity, mental health, social media and more.

Ever wondered what would happen if immortality wasn’t just fiction? Join Hannah Thomas Uose, author of Who Wants to Live Forever, and biologist-writer Simon Watt for a live conversation exploring alternate realities and scientific possibilities (Thu 19 Feb, 7pm). They’ll dive into Hannah’s prize-winning novel, which imagines a world where a miracle drug lets people live indefinitely, while Simon asks whether immortality could really happen in real life.

Don't miss a night of science, comedy, music and mayhem with the return of Nine Lessons for Norwich Science Festival (Fri 20 Feb, 7pm). Join MC Robin Ince and a plethora of special guests including Helen Czerski, Clara Nellist, Anjana Khatwa, and Simon Watt as they celebrate curiosity and creativity across the spectrum – from astronomy to art, poetry to primatology.

Norwich Science Festival closes with Out Thinkers (Sat 21 Feb, 7pm) at the National Centre for Writing – a friendly evening of talks from local researchers, as they share their work and lived experiences as LGBTQ+ people working in STEM. You'll get the chance to network with scientists, meet new people, and celebrate Norfolk's diverse STEM community!

Explore the Festival's full programme of events, shows, talks and workshops by clicking the what's on button below.