Southampton is hosting the British Science Festival 2026 through Sunday, 20 September, one of Europe’s longest-standing public celebrations of science. The British Science Association and the University of Southampton opened a programme of around 100 events, exhibitions, performances, installations and interactive activities on 16 September, spread across campuses and the city.

Events are free, although many require advance booking. The festival does not present science only through conventional lectures: sessions connect research with everyday life, art, music, climate, health and technology. The 2026 edition marks the festival’s 195th anniversary and its first return to Southampton since 1992.

From 18 to 20 September, “SOUNDSCALE: Our Sonic City” occupies the foyer of John Hansard Gallery. The University of Southampton and National Oceanography Centre project shows how underground fibre-optic cables can be used as vibration sensors through Distributed Acoustic Sensing. Hours are listed as Friday 17:00–20:00 and Saturday–Sunday 11:00–17:00; booking is not required.

Also running from 18 to 20 September, “The Skate Equation” takes geometry and the mathematics of movement into Guildhall Square, in a collaboration between Skate Southampton, John Hansard Gallery and the university’s mathematics department. Skateboarding demonstrations are listed for Friday 18:00–18:45, Saturday 13:30–14:15 (BSL interpreted) and Sunday 15:30–16:15.

On Saturday, 19 September, the programme includes “Music for climate action” at 12:30 and “Who’s influencing your health?” at 15:00, both at Mayflower Studios. The festival also uses Turner Sims, Mayflower and other city venues, with four Saturday events BSL interpreted.

Because venues and times differ from one activity to another, the calendar on britishsciencefestival.org remains the reference before travelling.

Image: Paul Gillett, Geograph Britain and Ireland, CC BY-SA 2.0. Guildhall Square, Southampton, not the 2026 installations. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: British Science Festival — official programme, Southampton 16–20 September 2026; Programme launches for British Science Festival 2026 in Southampton — British Science Association; SOUNDSCALE: Our sonic city — British Science Festival; The skate equation — British Science Festival.