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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
The Unthanks
‘The Unthanks are capable of such beauty that sometimes I can hardly bear to listen to them’ said Martin Freeman of the band who ‘ask you to consider everything you know and un-think it’. Using the traditional music of the North East of…
Alice Roberts: Domination
Who spread Christianity, how and why? Alice Roberts unearths the archaeological clues and challenges long-established histories, taking you on the remarkable story of the Roman Empire and Christianity.Trace how the Roman Empire crumbled in…
From Sound Waves to Brain Waves
Could sound repair the brain?Explore the power of sound and a future where soundwaves and exploding bubbles could become a new form of therapy with Professor of Biomedical Imaging Mark Lythgoe, ultrasound-mediated drug delivery expert…
How to Win the World Cup
Ever wondered what your favourite players are thinking during a penalty shootout? Curious about what science and football have in common? Uncover the psychology behind success in elite football and what it takes to perform at the highest…
Fantasia Orchestra with Jasdeep Singh Degun
Experience a unique and carefully constructed evening of hypnotic US minimalism, French Baroque delicacy and new work by a trailblazing orchestra and soloist.Composer and sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun has been on an extraordinary run of…
FREE - Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July
Fancy some Mozart with your mocha, cocktails with your crotchets or a beer with a side of Beethoven?
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…