Southampton to host
British Science Festival 2026
The British Science Festival, run by the British Science Association, is one of the longest-standing science festivals in Europe, welcoming over 10,000 visitors each year. Travelling to a different host university every year, the festival aims to showcase the transformative research and innovation taking place at each university and their wider region.#As Southampton gears up to host the festival on 16 – 20 September 2026, Ben Littlefield (BSc Chemistry with Ocean and Earth Sciences, 2008 and PhD Chemistry, 2013), Head of Public Engagement at the University of Southampton, talked to Hartley News about what we can expect.
Why is the British Science Festival important for Southampton?
Hosting the festival is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the research, people and stories happening at the University of Southampton, the city of Southampton and across our region in surprising and unexpected ways.
Having over 100 activities that challenge what we think of as ‘science’, the festival is a welcoming, inclusive opportunity to discover, get involved with and connect with research and researchers at the University and beyond. Previous events have included activities such as paddle-boarding yoga to help conversations about research into health and wellbeing, using sculpture to explore the beauty of maths, and even stand-up science comedy.
How do public engagement events like the British Science Festival help the University connect with local communities and inspire interest in science?
I believe that commitment to public engagement, and our role as a civic university, is at the heart of what makes the University of Southampton special. As a university which holds egalitarianism and collaboration as core values, public engagement provides a family of approaches, ranging from participatory research and citizen assemblies through to activities like festivals which give the opportunity to connect, share, listen and collaborate for mutual benefit.
The British Science Festival, like our incredible home-grown festivals – Southampton Science and Engineering Festival and Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival – gives a space to stimulate debate, to showcase what is going on across the University and region, to delight, invite, inspire and importantly listen to what our local communities and beyond think, feel and want. These types of events are vital to remain relevant, to build trust and to be held accountable to society as well as inspire future generations and improve research and its impacts for everyone.
How can Southampton’s alumni and supporters get involved?
The simplest way to get involved is to add the date to your diary – 16– 20 September 2026 – and join us! There will be activities, events, performances, art installations, interactive stands, debates, and much more to get involved in and you are all invited. With the breadth of topics on offer and a commitment to interactivity and creative approaches, there will be something for everyone. Although exact locations are not currently set, there will be activity both at our University campuses and across the city of Southampton.
There will also be opportunities to take part more directly in the festival via an open call that will happen in November of this year, or you can have a key enabling role by becoming a festival sponsor.
What are your goals and aspirations for the University’s hosting of the festival, and how will it differ from previous years?
Unique to our hosting of the British Science Festival is a commitment to weaving arts and culture throughout, working in partnership with our local and regional communities and embedding considerations of equity and social justice in every activity. Although described as a ‘science’ festival, we are expecting the programme to be filled with activities that are carried out in partnership across disciplines and sectors, and I recommend having a look at the 2025 programme of the British Science Festival, held in Liverpool, to give a flavour of what might be on offer.
The British Science Festival will take place across Southampton from 16 – 20 September 2026.
