Dorchester Science Festival 2026
Friday 6th – Sunday 15th March 2026
We’re back this year with an exciting programme of events over 10 days aimed to inspire the budding scientist in you!
The Dorchester Science Festival is programmed as part of the national British Science Week to celebrate science, technology, engineering and maths. Activities will be hosted by a range of partner organisations across the town and include something for all the family!
Head to the Dorchester Science Festival Facebook or Instagram for more information.
Following the huge success of last year, Family Science Day returns on the 14th March 2026 from 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm, this time at the Corn Exchange. We’ve got over 20 stalls with a great range of hands-on activities and investigations hosted by local scientists. This year over half of the stalls are new, with some firm favourites returning as well. The day is sure to bring out the Marie Curie or the Albert Einstein in you with fun for all the family!
You will have the opportunity to; learn about forensics and fingerprinting, discover how to use wildlife tracking equipment, uncover the fascinating world of elephants, and use virtual reality to check out how good you are at recognising faces in a crowd! And much more!
Family Science Day is for ages 4 to infinity, with something for people of all ages to enjoy. Entry is FREE, booking is essential. If tickets are sold out before you are able to book one, do feel free to turn up on the day, either at 11am or 2pm to see if we have had any last-minute cancellations.
The event is being organised by Dorchester Town Council, Bournemouth University, with sponsorship from the Royal Society of Biology, the Institute of Physics, Dorchester Town Council, TKMS Atlas UK, and Wessex MAT.
Dorchester Science Festival features many more events throughout the week. This year, the programme includes…
- A variety of science talks for all ages
- An immersive art installation of the sun
- Science-themed crafts
- Investigations into the fascinating world of pond life
- Kitchen science experiments
- Interactive sessions at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery
- STEM Lego sessions
- Sensory Safe science day
- Biomedical talks at Dorset County Hospital
- Coding workshops
- Outdoor interactive astronomy walk
Dorchester Science Festival Events
Become a Museum Curator
Meet the curatorial team who care for thousands of fascinating objects and learn how artefacts are stored, protected, and preserved for future generations.
Sat 14th Mar - 10:30am
and 3 future schedules
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Family Science Day 2026
Come and meet a real scientist! Get involved with some fascinating hands-on learning and experiments. Lots of experts on hand to ask those tricky science questions.
Sat 14th Mar - 11:00am
and 1 future schedules
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Bone Builders: Can You Construct a Human Skeleton?
Meet the archaeology team from Bournemouth University who will be on site to reveal how excavations are carried out, what happens when human remains are uncovered, and how they are carefully reconstructed for conservation, research, and display.
Sat 14th Mar - 11:00am
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Mini Professors for British Science Week
Join Mini Professors for a unique and engaging science experience your little ones will love!
Sun 15th Mar - 1:00pm
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HELIOS by Luke Jerram
The sun comes to Dorchester Arts!
Sat 28th Mar - 10:00am
and 9 future schedules
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Programme of Science Talks
- Dragonflies to Diatoms at Sculpture by the Lakes
- Solar System Walk with Weymouth Astronomy Club
- Exploring the Cosmos: From Space Travel to Astrophotography with three local experts
- Underwater sound: Sea life to Submarines with TKMS ATLAS UK
- Cook or Kill at Dorset County Hospital
- Sounds of the Sky: From Bats to Bugs with two local experts
- Explosive Food with the Royal Institution
