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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
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…
The Allotment
Contributors to This Allotment: Stories of Growing, Eating and Nurturing, JC Niala and Sui Searle join us to talk about their allotment and what it means to them.Allotments can do more than just grow food. By gardening and looking after…
VOICEBOX: THE MUSIC WORKS: SOMETIMES ELEANOR
Hear live music from Sometimes Eleanor, who layers heartfelt lyrics over danceable beats, blending introspection with infectious energy.
The Science of a Short Walk
Broadcaster Claudia Hammond explores the latest science behind the benefits of a short walk with Professor of Behavioural Medicine Amanda Daley and journalist and author Caroline Williams.We’ve all heard of ‘10,000 steps a day’, but how…
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 Mark a Death: Rituals and Traditions
Death is handled very differently from country to country and within different faiths – but in all cultures are rituals and superstition around it. Where do these rituals come from and do we need them as humans? How does the way we handle…
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…