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Cheltenham Science Festival 2026
Cheltenham Science Festival has always been a place where ideas spark change.
Now, it’s time to press start. 🕹️
Tickets for the 2026 programme are officially ON SALE.
Across six days (2–7 June), step into a world of brilliant minds, bold thinking, hands-on discovery and ideas that challenge how we see the world.
Featuring voices including Maggie Aderin, Tim Marshall, Adam Rutherford, Deborah Meaden, Julia Shaw, David Larbi and Adele Zeynep Walton – with many more inspiring thinkers and changemakers to discover.
This is science that moves us forward.
Build your schedule. Book your favourites. Game on.
Get your tickets nowWe believe in a world where everyone can explore and create culture
Our charity brings joy, sparks curiosity, connects communities and inspires change year-round through four world-class Festivals in Jazz, Science, Music and Literature and projects for education, community and talent development
What's On What's on
Risk Averse
Have we lost our bottle? What can we learn from Scandinavia, where risk is baked into play and integral to everyday life?Early Years expert Megan McGee is joined by Professor Lucy Easthope, a specialist in risk and hazard, to explore the…
VOICEBOX: THE MUSIC WORKS: LENZO
Don't miss music from Lenzo, a Gloucester-based artist originally from San Diego, California. Working across poetry, storytelling and spoken word, Lenzo creates melodic, lyrical new age trap and rage inspired by the underground, which…
Why Are We Obsessed with True Crime?
Get to grips with humanity's dark side with psychologist and co-host of the Bad People podcast Julia Shaw, former forensic scientist-turned-comedian Ria Lina and psychologist and behavioural geneticist Kathryn Paige Harden. Whether it's…
Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra
In a new celebration of Gloucestershire’s outstanding musical talent, the Festival welcomes the winner of the Gloucestershire Young Musician Award to perform one of the greatest and most beloved violin concertos ever written. Superbly…
How to Support Your Immune Health
We are surrounded by bold claims and quick fixes for improving our immune systems. Leading immunologists Jenna Macciochi and Daniel Davis take us on a tour through the body to explore what we need to stay well and thrive. Immune health is…
FREE - Friday 5 June
Why not make the most of your Science Festival visit by exploring all the free events and activities we have to offer in the Festival Village and ...around town. From breakthrough local music to comedy, poetry and cocktails.View the full…
Keep up to date with Festival news See all news
Important Notice: Fraudulent Communications
Friday 5 June 2026Cheltenham Festivals has recently been made aware of fraudulent emails and messages circulating that falsely claim to represent Cheltenham Literature Festival.These communications appear to target authors, agents and speakers, inviting…
Cheltenham Jazz Festival Celebrates Record-Breaking 30th Anniversary Year with Record Ticket Sales
Wednesday 13 May 2026Cheltenham Jazz Festival has celebrated its most successful year to date, with its 30th anniversary edition welcoming record numbers of festival-goers to Montpellier Gardens, connecting over music across a sun-soaked Bank Holiday weekend.
Cheltenham Science Festival Announces 2026 Programme Showcasing Science’s Power to Change the Way We See the World
Tuesday 31 March 2026Maggie Aderin | Russell Arnott | Angela Gallop Saira Hameed | Claudia Hammond | Julia King Mark Langtry | Tim Marshall Deborah Meaden | Hugh Montgomery Alice Roberts | Adam Rutherford | Josh Smalley Richard Susskind | Jimmy…