Culture in Norwich: Norwich Science Festival

2 February 2026

Culture in Norwich: Norwich Science Festival

Norwich Science Festival is undoubtedly a much-anticipated mainstay in Norwich’s events calendar. And this year is no different. Celebrating 10 years of all things science, Norwich Science Festival returns for 8 exciting days this February half term (14 – 21 February)!

Based at The Forum- where you’ll find the ever-popular Explorium, you can expect a whole host of events, including hands-on activities, fascinating talks, exciting experiments and more in a variety of venues across the city centre. Ones made for children and adults alike.

So, whether you’re a budding scientist or lifelong aficionado, there’s so much to get involved with- both free and ticketed.

Here, we speak to the Festival’s Marketing & Communications Manager Danie Hadley about the events to look out for!

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Congratulations on Norwich Science Festival’s 10th anniversary! What a fantastic achievement for The Forum and for the city. How has Norwich Science Festival (NSF) changed in the last 10 years?

We can’t believe it’s been ten years since the very first Festival in 2016! In that time, NSF has grown into a much-loved feature in the city’s calendar and has become one of the biggest science festivals in the country. 

The aims of the Festival – to connect audiences to science in an enjoyable and accessible way and to showcase the incredible science that happens right here in Norwich – are still largely the same. We are just so pleased to be able to deliver such a far-reaching, lively and welcoming Science Festival for Norwich, with the help of our fantastic partners, including the University of East Anglia.

Are you doing anything special to mark this occasion?

Well, every anniversary deserves a party – and we’re opening our ever-popular Explorium after hours for a special Lates event (Fri 13 Feb)!  

During the day, the Explorium is usually visited by lots of wonderful families, children and young people who get fully stuck into lots of hands-on science fun. We felt like we wanted to give the grown-ups a chance to experience all that The Explorium has to offer – so we’re opening from 7.30pm for adults only! There’ll be a DJ, a bar, fascinating talks and loads of brilliant activities from organisations such as LUSH Norwich and the University of East Anglia, alongside local artist Alice Lee! It will be a great night out to enjoy with friends.

Tell us some of this year’s festival highlights. Are there any names we’ll recognise?

We’re delighted that presenter Maddie Moate is returning this year with a fantastic show at Norwich Theatre Playhouse – which has in fact already sold out! 

There’s still plenty of brilliant family shows to enjoy, including a dino-tastic adventure with Dinomania (18 Feb), who some viewers may have spotted on a recent episode of Dragon’s Den.  

At Norwich Theatre Royal on Sun 15 Feb, adventurer and author Aldo Kane will be sharing stories from his time spent in hostile and extreme environments. 

Plus, we have Robin Ince, Helen Czerski, Anjana Khatwa, Clara Nellist and Simon Watt all taking to the stage in unique science cabaret evening Nine Lessons (Fri 20 Feb) – not one to miss!

Norwich Science Festival takes place throughout February half-term, meaning it’s perfect for families. Which events and workshops do you recommend for children? 

There’s something to entertain the whole family at NSF – for the youngest ones, we’d recommend Groove on the Moon (Mon 16 Feb), which is a fantastic show aimed at ages 3+ featuring live music and interactive theatre, all inspired by Neil Armstrong’s trip to the moon! 

For older children, Henry Gee’s interactive talk on The Wonder of Life on the Earth will span billions of years of evolution – from the first bacterial cells to the rise of mammals and primates (Wed 18 Feb). 

And no trip to the Festival is complete without a visit to The Explorium (Sat 14 – Sat 21 Feb) – where science comes to life through interactive hands-on activities. Plus, it’s completely free!

And it’s not just for little ones. What are your top picks for adults?

We’ve got it all – something for the foodies or the music and history aficionados, and of course plenty for those wanting to get stuck into some serious science. 

Enjoy an evening of kombucha and cheese tasting – they pair very well together, apparently! – with the team from Oichi Kombucha at YALM Foodhall (Sun 15 Feb) or explore the history of women’s health with singer-songwriter Hannah Rose Platt (Tue 17 Feb).  

Or celebrate diversity in science with Out Thinkers where an incredible panel of LGBTQ+ scientists will share fascinating stories from their careers and their current projects in this supportive and friendly event (Sat 21 Feb).

From the last 10 years, what has been your favourite moment? 

Often my favourite moments is when we open the Festival on the very first day – and see our visitors finally get to enjoy everything that there is on offer!  

But I also must mention how much we loved hosting TV presenter and cameraman, Hamza Yassin, in 2024. He was such a warm, kind and generous presence, and so very inspiring to hear him speak. His event was fully sold out and there were long queues at his book signing – he took the time to chat to every single visitor and have a photo with them.

And finally, has Norwich Science Festival got any big plans for the next 10?

Well, Hamza, if you’re reading this – we’d love to host you again at a future Festival!

We will also continue to do what we love doing; bringing some of the biggest names in science to this brilliant city; inspiring visitors with all the incredible research happening right here in Norfolk; and bringing joy to as many people as possible during the February half term. Watch this space!

Norwich Science Festival takes place in The Forum and venues citywide from 14 – 21 February. Check out their website for the full programme!