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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
Our Brains, Our Selves
What makes us who we are? Friendship, family, love – or something more fundamental? Royal Society Book Prize-winning neurologist Masud Husain shares how our brains shape our sense of self, in conversation with broadcaster Claudia…
Deborah Meaden Talks Money
Renowned entrepreneur, investor and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden shares her personal journey and practical advice on taking control of your finances. Build healthy money habits and understand the stock market with Deborah's clear…
Dudù Kouate and Shunya
Due to popular demand, we've added another performance... Renowned for his mastery of pan-African traditional instruments, many of which he creates himself, Dudù Kouate journeys through his cultural influences in this rare duo appearance…
Pizza Chemistry
How do you perfect pizza dough? What makes melted cheese so gooey and stretchy? Why do herbs, tomatoes and tiny microbes make pizza so delicious? Find out the secret science behind pizza with scientist and Great British Bake Off finalist,…
Guided 'Awe Walk' with Claudia Hammond
Join Claudia Hammond for a guided 'awe walk' designed to help you discover the extraordinary in the everyday. Starting at the Science Festival in Imperial Gardens, she'll lead you through Cheltenham, inviting you to slow down and see the…
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…
Keep up to date with Festival news See all news
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…
Be a Part of Cheltenham Literature Festival 2026
Tuesday 31 March 2026Would you like to be part of The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival from 9 – 18 October 2026? We’d love to include you in this year’s programme! We're looking for a host of writers, creatives and performers to be part of…