Edinburgh Science Festival is Going Global

With the theme of Going Global, Edinburgh Science Festival – the world's first science festival – takes over the Scottish capital between 4 and 19 April!

Article Source: Edinburgh Science Festival
Last Updated: 12 February 2026 10:14

Image: Alex Howarth of Edinburgh Science as scientist/explorer at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. Image credit: Ian Georgeson

World’s first and still one of Europe’s biggest science festivals, Edinburgh Science Festival takes over the city during the Easter break, between 4 and 19 April, with a wide range of workshops, talks, exhibitions and much more, aiming to inspire people of all ages to get hands-on with science.

This year’s theme of Going Global reflects on science as a shared human story: connecting people across countries and continents, joined in scientific breakthroughs and failures, conducting experiments and sharing results. The Festival goes global while also celebrating the local: universities, laboratories, hospitals, schools and cultural spaces.

As Edinburgh Science’s Director and CEO, Hassun El-Zafar put it: “Discovery rarely happens in isolation. It travels, carried forward by many hands.”

He added: “Every year, Edinburgh Science Festival showcases what is possible when science, creativity and international collaboration come together. With this year’s theme of Going Global, our programme highlights the extraordinary work being done across borders to address our shared challenges, challenges that sit at the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From internationally renowned voices such as Britain’s first astronaut Helen Sharman and wildlife storyteller Hamza Yassin to artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan’s powerful exploration of scientific heritage at the National Museum of Scotland, the Festival celebrates how discovery flourishes when ideas move freely around the world.

“International partnerships lie at the heart of Edinburgh Science, whether through joint programming, global scientific dialogue, or supporting the next generation of innovators. This year’s Festival reflects that mission. It offers a platform where researchers, artists, families, and communities can come together to imagine and discuss a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs remind us that global problems require global solutions, and this programme is our invitation to everyone to be part of that shared endeavour.”

Edinburgh Science is a world expert in producing live science events and the 2026 Festival is the prime example of the power of bringing people together to explore the fascinating world of science, technology, engineering and maths and arts.

The Festival is pleased to continue the fantastic collaboration with the venues around the city, including National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, the Royal Botanic Gardens, The University of Edinburgh, and Dynamic Earth, each presenting a number of science events for children and adults. The Festival is spread across the city and includes 25 venues with new additions for 2026 including Central Hall, SS Explorer and Augustine United Church.

Festival team is also pleased to confirm that 60% of the speakers and artists appearing at this year’s Festival are female-identifying.

2026 KEY PROGRAMME EVENTS:

On 12 April, First British astronaut Helen Sharman shares her unique experience from the historic mission in 1991 aboard the Mir space station in conversation with Earth scientist and former BBC presenter Dr Hermione Cockburn. Helen reflects on the evolution of space exploration – from Tim Peake’s International Space Station mission to private space companies – and the growing international diversity in space programmes. The event takes place on the anniversary of the first person journeying into outer space (Yuri Gagarin, 12 April 1961).

On the same day, wildlife TV presenter and author Hamza Yassin – known to wider audiences for his Strictly Come Dancing win in 2022 – is in conversation with science presenter Siân Bevan, sharing stories of unique experiences and adventures as a wildlife cameraman.
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Due to considerable repairs required to the lift in the City Art Centre, the Festival is unable to present its usual programme at the venue but is pleased to run some of our favourite workshops at the National Museum of Scotland instead, under the name of Science Festival Favourites, further expanding the fantastic family offering at the Museum. Starting on 13 April, Science Festival Favourites includes Dig Up a Dino, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Splat-tastic!, Mini-Medics: The Body Show, The Rocket Show and free to access, drop-in Tech Decoded – altogether offering the perfect family outing, getting young sci-curious minds hands on with science.

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chairs a panel First Women of Science, celebrating some of the breadth of knowledge and expertise among the female scientists working in Scotland today and in the past. The event officially opens the Festival on 2 April and also features Astronomer Royal for Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans and author of The Edinburgh Seven, Janey Jones.

Commissioned by Edinburgh Science, artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan spent the last several months exploring the archives of various British museums, looking at science as a culturally embedded process shaped by social history, power and omission. The outcome of her research is The Great Instauration, large scale fantastical sculptures and prints taking over the Grand Gallery at the National Museum of Scotland. An Exclusive Viewing of The Great Instauration takes place on 4 April while Artist Tour: Dr Gayle Chong Kwan on 17 April allows audiences a greater understanding of this fascinating commission, hearing directly from the artist. Developed with support from Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Festival Expo Fund.

Accompanying The Great Instauration in the Grand Gallery is Science Under the Lens, a hands-on free exhibition for families delving deeper into the lesser-known scientific history of Scotland.

This year’s Edinburgh Medallist is Dr Kay Redfield Jamison, world-renowned clinical psychologist recognised for reshaping global perspectives on mood disorders and their treatment, reducing stigma and expanding public understanding of mental illness. Her contributions have helped to define bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) as a distinct biologically driven illness and to influence the widespread use of lithium in its treatment.

Also an Edinburgh Medal recipient, Dr Jane Goodall was a remarkable ethologist, environmentalist and activist widely known for her 65-year-long study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, who passed away in October 2025. Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, Goodall was a remarkable example of courage and conviction, working tirelessly throughout her life to raise awareness about threats to wildlife, promote conservation, and inspire a more harmonious, sustainable relationship between people, animals and the natural world. The Science Festival is pleased to be able to present an event celebrating her legacy and featuring Dr Anthony Collins, whose 55 years working alongside Goodall in Gombe, Tanzania offer an unparalleled perspective, and Jasmina Georgovska, Director of Outreach at the Jane Goodall Institute UK.

The Festival programme is set to mark 300 years since the birth of James Hutton - Edinburgh-born geologist, farmer and thinker who revolutionised our understanding of the ground beneath us - with a walking theatre show at Dynamic Earth exploring his theory of a dynamic Earth. Additionally, Earth Matters - an exhibition at Inverleith House at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - will feature 30 artists looking into the living ecosystem of soil, its brilliance and beauty.

Also celebrating its 300th anniversary is Edinburgh Medical School. To mark the anniversary, the University of Edinburgh will present Faces of Edinburgh Medical School, an outdoor photography exhibition on the Mound (from 20 March, moving to Portobello’s Promenade after the Festival), which sheds light on people in the past and present who have shaped the School.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Climate emergency - Every year, the Festival presents a rich programme of events highlighting the climate emergency and some of the solutions to help address it. This year, Prof Tim Linton in Positive Tipping Points: How to Fix the Climate Crisis, takes an optimistic look at positive tipping points which become self-propelling once they gain momentum and make a positive difference, e.g. climate justice movement. In this year’s ARUP lecture, The Future of Water: Working In Tune with Nature, Dr Mark Fletcher outlines our options to restore the balance and address the global challenges of too much, too little or too polluted water. Author of Sink or Swim: How the World Needs to Adapt to a Changing Climate, Susannah Fisher tells the story of the tough choices that lie ahead and looks at ways we still have a liveable planet in an event under the same title.

Health and wellbeing - This year’s programme takes a closer look at women’s health with a couple fantastic events, including medical doctor known to her social media followers as the OBGYN Mum, Dr Brooke Vandermolen debunking myths in Bloody Powerful: The Taboo-busting Guide to Period, Menopause and Everything In-between. Looking at a global issue using a fascinating example from the remote Himalayas, Doing Science on the Roof of the World explores antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which threatens global health when bacteria stop responding to antibiotics – which is a major issue for Nepalese yaks crossbreeding with cattle. In Bad Influence – How the Internet Hijacked Our Health, Dr Deborah Cohen examines how social media became our helpline for healthcare questions. Shedding light on the hidden figures who changed the course of medicine and anatomy, Dissected From History takes its audiences on a global adventure through time.

AI and tech - Reflecting one of the most pressing issues humanity is facing in 21st century, technology and artificial intelligence are explored through a range of talks in this year’s programme.

(AI) Life Begins at 50 is a workshop for adults aged 50 or over, led by friendly AI academic researchers. Looking at harnessing the powers of AI for good, Health or Hype: AI in Biomedicine is an interactive event outlining how researchers are using AI in their daily work, e.g. detecting tumours. Truth, Trust and Trickery in the AI Age helps its audiences navigate the tsunami of AI-generated slop and chatbots hallucinations polluting our streams. Going further afield into outer space, AI: The Final Frontier looks at the role AI plays in interpreting the cosmos and in supporting complex space missions while Interacting (with) Galaxies explains the technology helping scientists represent and therefore understand collisions between galaxies.

Family - With half of the Festival programme devoted to the young sci-curious minds, exploring everything from coding and recording your own podcast through to the magic of science and creating your own stage show with the help of AI, to astronaut training and one-of-a-kind cinema experience at a planetarium – there truly is something for everyone! The below outline focuses on free activities.

Those who have experienced hands-on science in Science Festival Favourites and Science Under the Lens at the National Museum of Scotland can explore more free activities at the Hawthornden Court, including Tackling Food Security: One Potato at a Time looking at the humble potato and how it could be the key to tackling food security. The Quantum Zone explores how quantum technology impacts our everyday lives. At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, free activities include Plant Passport, exploring some of the 3 million plants in its Herbarium and World of Wonder, delving deep into the Garden’s Living Collection – using VR headsets!

The free programme over at Dynamic Earth includes University of Edinburgh: 7 Days, 100 Scientists, offering a unique chance to meet the bright minds tackling some of the greatest challenges we face – visit the Festival’s website for daily line-ups between 7 and 13 April; Meet the Marine Scientists presents a range of hands-on activities exploring ocean currents and how our climate is influenced by these vast bodies of water; similarly, Meet the Scientists: Heriot-Watt University & Edinburgh Napier University includes activities and demonstrations of the latest research helping mend the world around us – from robots and AI to nature and design.

And then go further afield to other Festival partner venues, including Edinburgh Zoo, to explore what else the Festival has in store for families.

The wide-ranging offer includes a Visit the SS Explorer, a free tour of the UK’s very last steam sidewinder trawler which studied fish stocks, fishing practices and equipment which played crucial role in the fishing industry and developing our understanding of the seas. Roslin Glen Country Park explores the history of the rocks of Midlothian in The Rocks of Roslin: Swamps and Streams while the National Museum of Flight presents a range of events, including Flying High which looks at the history of Scottish inventions that made international travel possible. Over at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Dr Suzie Edge guides audiences through the fascinating world of Wee, Poo, Snot! (free to access)

At Panmure House, The Algorithm Adventure explains how our favourite apps always know what we like (free to access). Heriot-Watt University scientists showcase their ground-breaking space research at a hands-on Wonders of Space Family Festival at Archerfield Walled Garden. In AI for All: Designing Responsibly 2025 at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh researchers offer an insight into Natural Language Processing (NLP), an area of AI underpinning technologies we use every day, such as voice assistants or ChatGPT – how do we ensure they are fair and accountable?

STEAM - Crossing the borders between STEM and arts, every year the Festival presents a range of exhibitions and events, highlighting the fascinating beauty of the world of STEAM, including a new major arts commission or exhibition. This year’s The Great Instauration from artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan takes over the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland, showcasing Dr Chong Kwan’s research into scientific instruments, Scotland’s historical connections with slavery, the botanical origins of medicine, infirmaries, and contemporary community gardens in Edinburgh, among others.

At Printmakers, Modern Alchemy explores the similarities and differences between chemistry and art, presented by artist Susan Aldworth in her printmaking. In Sphaerosymphony: The Music of the Air, creative technologist David Oxley and Piera Morlacchi, Associate Professor at The University of Edinburgh invite audiences to listen to the air as their technology transforms real-time air quality data from cities around the world into an immersive visual and musical experience. Inviting audiences to step into the Botanics’ green pharmacy, Herbology is a new exhibition celebrating 20 years of its contemporary herbology course and the enduring power of plants.

Out of the ordinary - The Great British Bake Off stars, Dr Josh Smalley, 2023 finalist and science communicator, and Edinburgh’s own Peter Sawkins, 2020 winner present two events at this year’s Festival: Giants in the Kitchen: Big Science, Up Close, inviting children to explore the science of baking inspired by colossal creatures like dinosaurs and Bake It Global: The Science of Scotland’s Food and Drink – a mouth-watering tour of Scotland’s iconic exports, from whisky to salmon.

FameLab is back in Scotland with regional finals taking place at the National Museum of Scotland on 10 April. Packed with FameLab’s 3 Cs – content, clarity and charisma – the competition sees best new voices in science, technology and engineering convey scientific concepts to the expert panel of judges and audiences in just three minutes!

In The Science of Origin, a panel of experts including Prof Dame Lorna Dawson of The James Hutton Institute use the examples of organised crime, illegal mining and gold trading to explore the science of provenance and explain how scientists determine authenticity and link objects or people to places, including crime scenes. Are We Alone? What Faith Says About Extraterrestrials is a fascinating talk from Dr Shoaib Ahmed Malik looking at what the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence would mean for our religious beliefs such as human uniqueness, and asking if non-human beings could be morally superior to us or closer to God than us. Psychology and human-animal interaction experts uncover the science behind our love for our pets in Why We Love Our Pets while Dr Niamh Shaw shares her truly global adventures in Arctic, Antarctic...and a Dash of Mars.

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “The science festival returns this year with an exciting programme entitled Going Global. This will be one of the many highlights of our cultural calendar.

“With a fantastic line-up of speakers and events, the festival reflects the best of Edinburgh as an outward-looking city whilst showcasing he depth of knowledge and expertise we have here in our city.

“There truly is something for everyone to enjoy and get involved with – it’s the perfect way to enjoy the Easter holidays!”

Explore the full festival programme at edinburghscience.co.uk

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Edinburgh Science Festival is Going Global

With the theme of Going Global, Edinburgh Science Festival – the world's first science festival – takes over the Scottish capital between 4 and 19 April!

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