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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
Shakespeare's Sisters
Mothers and mistresses, saints and sinners, fairies and murderers, witches and wenches – this recital puts Shakespeare’s female characters centre-stage and lets them speak their minds. Harriet Walter (Succession, Killing Eve, The Crown and…
Hana Chang
BBC New Generation ArtistHana Chang has emerged as a unique and gripping violinist and performer. After a spectacular rise to prominence following her winning the 2023 Young Classical Artists Trust and Concert Artists Guild International…
Mixtape x Squidsoup
Mixtape returns in 2026, refreshed by a brand new collaboration with world-leading arts collective Squidsoup, masters of beautiful immersive lighting design. Grab a drink, sit, stand, or lie back and get lost in the magical interplay of…
The Science of Fermentation
Josh Smalley, Kenji Morimoto and Emily Leeming give you all the information you need to start your adventure of fermented food, whether you want to make pickles, prepare miso from scratch or discover flavour-packed recipes to cook with…
Sara Seager: The Smallest Lights in the Universe
Kavli prizewinner Sara Seager has always been in love with the stars: so many lights in the sky, so much possibility. Now a pioneering planetary scientist, she searches for exoplanets – especially that distant, elusive world that sustains…
Sweet Shop Science
Dive into the delicious science of sweets with Diatom Dave from Fun Science Cheltenham. Discover what makes some sweets so toe-curlingly sour, fabulously fizzy or like a silky spiderweb! Sweeten the morning/afternoon by making your own…
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…