Festival Information
East Of England
Overview
Norwich Science Festival is a city-wide celebration of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The festival brings together researchers, performers, educators and artists to create an accessible programme that invites curiosity, conversation and hands-on discovery.
At the heart of the festival is The Forum, where the building and surrounding Millennium Plain are transformed into the Explorium. This free, drop-in space offers interactive exhibits, demonstrations, talks and family-friendly activities throughout the week. Alongside this central hub, the programme extends across multiple venues in the city, including theatres, schools, and colleges.
The festival programme includes a mix of free events, low-cost ticketed shows, talks, workshops, performances and large-scale interactive experiences. While many events are designed for families and younger audiences, there is also a strong programme aimed at adults, students and anyone interested in science and society.
To explore the full programme in detail, including venues, event descriptions and booking information, the festival brochure can be downloaded via the festival website here: Norwich Science Festival 2026 brochure.
Line-up
View the official
What's On programme.
Note: Line-ups can evolve/change closer to the event — check back regularly to stay up to date.
Festival Capacity: ≈ 75,000+ (total visits)
An approximate total audience size across all venues over the full Festival, based on a recent edition reporting 75,131 visits and 10,738 tickets booked. These figures reflect cumulative attendance across free drop-in activity and ticketed events, rather than a single-site crowd at one time. Actual attendance varies by year and programme scale.
Location
Norwich Science Festival takes place across Norwich city centre, with its main hub based at The Forum, Millennium Plain, NR2 1TF.
Festival Hub
During the event, The Forum’s Atrium and the surrounding outdoor spaces on Millennium Plain are transformed into The Explorium – the heart of the festival’s free, hands-on programme.
The Explorium combines interactive science exhibits, live demonstrations, workshops, and family-friendly activities, with an additional heated marquee and outdoor performance areas creating a lively public focal point throughout the festival.
City-Wide Venues
Alongside activity at The Forum, the festival operates city-wide, with talks, shows, workshops, and performances taking place in around twenty venues across Norwich.
Key partner venues include nearby cultural spaces such as theatres, schools, colleges, and community venues, allowing the programme to extend beyond the city centre and reach a wide range of audiences.
Getting There
The Forum is centrally located and easy to reach by public transport, on foot, or by bike. Further travel information, including Park & Ride, coach services, and airport connections, can be found on The Forum’s official Getting Here page.
As events take place across multiple venues, visitors are encouraged to check individual event listings for specific location, travel, and accessibility details.
Tickets
Basic Price Range: Free – £22
Norwich Science Festival combines a large programme of free events and low-cost ticketed shows. Always check the official Norwich Science Festival website for current pricing and availability.
Many ticketed events are low cost, with a smaller number at the higher end of the range. Some partner venues may use their own price bands for certain shows.
Norwich Science Festival operates on an event-by-event ticketing model. There is no single festival pass, and tickets are booked individually for each performance, workshop, or activity.
To explore what’s on, visit the festival’s What’s On page and select the events that interest you. Each event listing includes ticket prices, capacity information, age guidance, and booking details.
Please note: While many events are free to attend, advance booking is often required due to limited capacity. For the majority of events, booking on the door is not available.
Booking Information
To get the most out of your festival experience, early booking is strongly recommended. Many events, including free ones, have limited capacity and can book up quickly.
- Online booking: Most tickets are booked directly via the Norwich Science Festival website.
- Venue bookings: For some partner events, tickets may need to be booked directly with the hosting venue. This will be clearly indicated on the event listing.
Drop-In Activities
Alongside ticketed and pre-booked events, Norwich Science Festival also offers a range of free drop-in activities throughout the week.
These typically include the much-loved Explorium at The Forum, featuring hands-on science experiences for all ages, as well as free science shows and demonstrations on the outdoor Atom Stage on Millennium Plain.
Opening times and drop-in availability can vary, so it’s recommended to check the festival website for up-to-date details.
Cancellations & Refunds
Tickets for paid events are generally non-refundable and non-exchangeable, except in the case of a cancelled or postponed event.
If you have booked a free event and can no longer attend, the festival asks that you notify the organisers so your place can be released to other visitors.
Accommodation
Norwich Science Festival is not a camping festival, you will need to make your own accommodation arrangements.
Visit Norwich website lists a host of accommodation options.
Packing Checklist:
Ensure you are fully prepared for your festival adventure with our Essential Packing Checklist.
Accessibility
Norwich Science Festival is committed to making the Festival as accessible and inclusive as possible. Information is available on the festival’s official Accessibility page.
The majority of Norwich Science Festival events, including the Explorium, take place at The Forum in central Norwich. The building has been designed with accessibility in mind.
Please note that for events booked through external venues, the venue’s own access policy will apply.
Essential Companion Tickets
Free Essential Companion tickets are available for events booked directly through Norwich Science Festival’s booking platform. One paid ticket allows the option to add one free Essential Companion ticket, with no proof of eligibility required.
Access at The Forum
- Step-free access throughout the building
- Accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities
- Step-free access to performance spaces, including the Auditorium and Library Rooms
- Accessible parking in The Forum car park
- Accessible & SEND-Friendly Events
- Quiet & Sensory Spaces
- Festival staff and trained volunteers are available throughout the event.
If you have specific access requirements or would like to discuss your visit in advance, you can contact the Festival team directly:
- Email: science@theforumnorwich.co.uk
- Telephone: 01603 727 950
