Aberdeen Science Festival is set to return in 2026 following a hugely successful fortnight of STEM events, talks and workshops.
The packed programme drew record audiences of more than 2,500, an increase from the rebranded festival in 2024, with almost half the events completely selling out.
Now an established staple of the Aberdeen cultural scene, Aberdeen Science Festival, powered by TechFest, will return next September, bringing a new selection of thought-provoking, challenging and fascinating events to the city.
This year’s event ran from September 14-27, with events including TV psychiatrist Dr T’s Aberdeen Memory Show, Hot Science – The Menopause Explained, Genetics Bingo and Psychology of a Magician leaving attendees feeling both inspired and entertained.
Alongside the planetarium at North East Scotland College, the University of Aberdeen, ONE Tech Hub and The James Hutton Institute, venues included pubs, museums, theatres and Hazlehead Woods – bringing science to life in locations not usually associated with STEM.
Sponsored by Equinor and supported by joint principal sponsors bp and Shell UK, the annual festival was previously known as the TechFest public programme.
It is primarily aimed at adults, including students and senior school pupils.
Dr Martha Gavan, managing director of TechFest, said the event had been a huge success.
“We are thrilled to have delivered another successful festival, which was attended by even more people than last year,” she said. “Many of the events sold out weeks in advance, which is testament to the diversity of the programme and the calibre of speakers and presenters we were able to bring to Aberdeen.
“We have received fantastic feedback from visitors, who felt the shows were great value for money, accessible and with informative and entertaining speakers. It was encouraging to see a mix of new audiences as well as loyal fans who continue to support TechFest and attend our events.
“We’d like to thank our sponsors and supporters, Equinor, bp and Shell UK, as well as all the venues, presenters and audiences who have engaged with us or shared their experiences on social media.
“Aberdeen Science Festival is now a highlight in Aberdeen and we look forward to bringing a programme of insightful, exciting and interesting events back to the city next year!”
Camilla Salthe, senior vice president Equinor UK Upstream, said: “At Equinor we are committed to fostering a passion for STEM and innovation. We are proud to have supported TechFest in its delivery of such fantastic programmes across Aberdeen, and I want to congratulate everyone who made this year’s Aberdeen Science Festival a success.
“STEM is at the heart of solving the world’s greatest challenges and unlocking new opportunities, and events like this play a vital role in bringing communities together to explore, discover, and imagine. It is fantastic to see so many people embrace this opportunity, and I hope everyone who took part enjoyed the event and left feeling inspired.”
For more information about TechFest’s work throughout the year or Aberdeen Science Festival, visit https://techfest.org.uk/festival/aberdeen-science-festival
