Save the date, tickets on sale Thursday 27 November

It’s official! Tickets for Norwich Science Festival 2026 will go on sale Thursday 27 November!

Join us from Saturday 14–Saturday 21 February 2026, in February half term, as we take over every corner of the city with our epic celebration of science.

From a roaring prehistoric adventure to a pancake-flipping family science show, our milestone 10th anniversary Festival features a whopping 200 events across 20 venues! 

Make sure you set your alarms as the full line-up of explosive shows, insightful talks, and hands-on fun will be revealed on 27 November, with tickets on-sale online here at norwichsciencefestival.co.uk

But, if you just cannot wait for the full line-up reveal, how about some Festival headliners? Drumroll please…

Say hello to your 2026 Festival Headliners

We’re incredibly excited to welcome world-renowned adventurer and best-selling author, Aldo Kane to Norwich Science Festival!

Aldo will be kicking off the opening weekend with his talk Lessons from the Edge at Norwich Theatre Royal (Sun 15 Feb, 7.30pm) as he takes us on a journey to the world’s most hostile and awe-inspiring environments.

From volcanoes and jungles to warzones and Everest, Aldo will share gripping stories, behind-the-scenes tales, and unique insights into risk, resilience, and human performance under pressure. An unmissable event for anyone interested in adventure, leadership, and behind-the-scenes filmmaking!

Tickets for Lessons on the Edge with Aldo Kane go on general sale Friday 28 November, at 10am. Book online at norwichtheatre.org

Celebrate Pancake Day in style with chemist, science communicator, and Great British Bake Off finalist Josh Smalley! He'll be uncovering the surprising science behind the perfect stack in a family-friendly, pancake-flipping show (Tue 17 Feb).

Expect live demonstrations and eye-opening experiments, with a side of liquid nitrogen ice cream as Dr Josh takes us From Batter to Bubbles!

Award-winning comedian, broadcaster, and author Robin Ince will be joining us at next year’s Festival!

Host of BBC Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox, Robin Ince explores what it is to be human and the incredible diversity of our minds in his event, The Universe and the Neurodiverse at Norwich Theatre Playhouse (Thu 19 Feb). Get ready to be entertained with stories of chimpanzees and astronauts, of star light and falcons, in this unmissable show about mental health, creativity, and what it means to embrace our uniqueness.

Tickets for The Universe and the Neurodiverse go on general sale Friday 28 November, at 10am. Book online at norwichtheatre.org

And the return of Festival favourite, Maddie Moate! BAFTA-winning children’s TV presenter, YouTuber, and author Maddie invites you on an interactive adventure into the workings of everyday machines in her family show, How Does it Work? (Fri 20 Feb).

From fridges and fire engines to microwaves and roundabouts, Maddie will uncover how things work through live demonstrations, fun games, quizzes and lots of audience interaction!

Tickets for How Does it Work? With Maddie Moate go on general sale Friday 28 November, at 10am. Book online at norwichtheatre.org

Brand-new for 2026

As it’s our milestone 10-year anniversary, we had to celebrate with some exciting new additions to the Festival!

We’re taking the Festival outside with the brand-new Atom Stage – bringing free pop-up talks, performances, and demonstrations to the heart of the city. You’ll be able to meet dinosaurs and decapods and watch amazing science experiments outside The Forum, every day of the Festival! (Sponsored by RWE, CIM and AVIVA).

For the first time ever, we’re opening our hands-on science experience, The Explorium, up after hours, with our adult-only event - The Explorium Lates! (Sponsored by RenEnergy).

Grown-ups will get the chance to play, experiment and get stuck into a variety of hands-on science activities throughout the night – including an epic bubble show and the unique Microbe Zoo experience. You can also explore the ethics and science behind cloning, dive into how AI is reshaping pop culture, and uncover the hidden biases coded in the algorithms we trust, in a trio of fascinating talks. So gather your friends and get ready to discover The Explorium after dark!

Join us at next year’s Festival

From comedy and talks for adults, to explosive family shows and interactive workshops for kids, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Norwich Science Festival.

We’d love for you to join us and early booking is recommended to secure your spot! Almost all events, including the free ones, must be pre-booked and have limited capacity.

Tickets will go on-sale online here at norwichsciencefestival.co.uk however for certain events, you will need to book directly with the venue – please check each event listing on our website for additional information. For events at Norwich Theatre venues, book online at norwichtheatre.org/whats-on from Friday 28 November, at 10am.

Soon, you’ll also be able to pick up a copy of the Norwich Science Festival 2026 brochure at The Forum and get a head start on planning your visit.  

We can’t wait to see you there!